Ju-On

'''Note: This page is for the Japanese series of films only. For the American series of films, see The Grudge.'''

Ju-on is a Japanese horror film series, directed by Takashi Shimizu. There are currently six films in the series, as well as two short films (Katasumi/In A Corner and 4444444444), which were released prior to the first film (and are featured on the Director's Cut DVD release of the first remake as special features).

The title of the films translates roughly to The Curse or The Grudge. The first two films in the series were so-called V-Cinema, or made for TV releases, but became surprise hits as the result of favourable word of mouth. The curse of the title, ju-on, is one which takes on a life of its own and seeks new victims. Anyone who encounters a ghost killed by the curse is killed himself and the curse is able to be spread to other areas.

The plot focuses on the curse created in a house in Tokyo when Takeo Saeki, convinced that his wife Kayako was having an affair with her crush, murdered her, their son Toshio and Toshio's pet cat, Mar, in a jealous rage. Takeo was later killed by the vengeful spirit of his wife. The spirits now haunt the house, cursing anyone who dare enter - and, by extension, anyone who is even remotely connected to those who have entered the house.

The plot of each film is told in a series of non-linear storylines, with many intersecting subplots.

Following the success of the two TV movies, screenwriter Hiroshi Takahashi helped Shimizu develop Ju-on as a theatrical feature. The resulting film, Ju-on: The Grudge, was released in 2003. Shortly after, the US remake rights were purchased, with Shimizu himself attached to direct. A sequel, Ju-on: The Grudge 2, was released later that year. In 2004, the US remake, The Grudge, was released.

A fifth film in the series, Ju-on: The Grudge 3, was rumoured to be in the works, but it currently seems to be on hold, according to Shimizu himself.

In 2009, two new Ju-on films were released simultaneously, to celebrate the franchise's 10th anniversary. These are Ju-on: Shiroi Roujo and Ju-on: Kuroi Shoujo. These films are not connected to the main series of movies - they are spin-offs, instead focusing on different ju-on curses.

There is also a novel adaption of the movies, as well as two manga volumes based on the series. These adaptations are merely that - adaptations, and do not fit in with the movie canon.

The films:


 * Ju-on (aka Ju-on: The Curse) - the first V-Cinema release.
 * Ju-on 2 (aka Ju-on: The Curse 2) - the second V-Cinema release.
 * Ju-on (aka Ju-on: The Grudge, aka Ju-on 3) - the first theatrical release.
 * Ju-on 2 (aka Ju-on: The Grudge 2, aka Ju-on 4) - the second theatrical release.
 * Ju-on: Shiroi Roujo (aka Ju-on: White Ghost) - one of the two In Name Only sequels released to celebrate the series' 10th anniversary.
 * Ju-on: Kuroi Shoujo (aka Ju-on: Black Ghost) - the second of the In Name Only sequels.

It is worth noting that the theatrical releases are not remakes of the V-Cinema films, as is commonly believed, but are, in fact, sequels. The first two films, which are quite hard to find outside of Japan, do not have to be seen to understand the later two films, however.

The shorts:


 * Katasumi (aka In A Corner) - marks the first appearance of Kayako.
 * 4444444444 - marks the first appearance of Toshio.

These shorts are set during the first movie, and offer a little more insight into the incidents surrounding certain characters from that film.

In 2009, feelplus developed a Wii game based on the franchise known in the US as Ju-on: The Grudge Haunted House Simulator. Storyline-wise, it is unconnected to any of the films or shorts, and it tells an original story about a family of four who find themselves facing Kayako and Toshio's curse in an episodic fashion. Reactions to it have been... mixed, to say the least.

This franchise contains examples of

 * Abandoned Hospital: Episode two of Ju-on: The Grudge Haunted House Simulator literally uses the trope name, although it would be more aptly called a deserted hospital. Still, some scares courtesy of Kayako and Toshio are on-hand.
 * The Alcoholic: Kobayashi may or may not be one. Kayako claims, in her diary, that Kobayashi drinks too much and that she once witnessed him throw up in the street.
 * All There in the Manual: You won't know what happens to Tsuyoshi unless you've seen the 4444444444 short. Likewise, you won't know what happens to Kanna's friend Hisayo (who is mentioned, but not seen, in the first movie), unless you've seen the Katasumi short.
 * Anachronic Order: The story of every movie is told in a non-chronological order.
 * : Heavily implied to be happening at the end of the third movie... although, since only shots of Tokyo are shown, it is unknown . Also, given the Anachronic Order of the series, it is unknown just how far into the future this scene is.
 * And I Must Scream: The fate of every single person who is taken by the curse.
 * Anyone Can Die
 * Ax Crazy: Takeo's a rather jealous sort of chap, can't you tell?
 * Bedmate Reveal: Played with (well, sort of) in the freakiest way possible.
 * Body Horror: Kanna in the first movie, and Kyoko in the second theatrical movie....
 * Break the Cutie: Most of the characters, but particularly Rika, Izumi and Chihiro.
 * Broken Smile: Izumi (combined with a healthy dosage of Slasher Smile), during her Freak-Out.
 * But I Can't Be Pregnant: A version of this trope occurs in the novel - prior to the Saeki murders, Takeo and Kayako are trying for another child, but, no matter how hard they try, Kayako cannot get pregnant. So, Takeo goes to the doctor... only to be told that he has a low sperm count. Given his jealous and insecure nature, this is one of the things that drives him to believe that Toshio is not his son. The fact that it is possible to concieve a child with a low sperm count (though it is rare) apparently doesn't occur to him. Then again, he isn't really thinking rationally at his point.
 * A much more disturbing version of this trope occurs in the fourth movie. At the beginning of the film, Kyoko and Masashi are involved in a car crash (thanks to Toshio's little visit) which causes Kyoko to miscarry their child. Later on, however, her doctor assures her of a healthy pregnancy, which understandably causes her some confusion.
 * The Cast Showoff: Takako Fuji really can move like that, and has said in an interview that she sometimes likes to pull out her Kayako-moves to freak people out at parties. In addition, any scene with her crawling down the stairs was done without any wirework whatsoever.
 * Cats Are Mean: Justified, given that said cat is a part of the curse.
 * Cat Scare: Literally, considering that Toshio's pet cat, Mar, is also part of the curse.
 * Played with in the first TV movie, where toy cats are staring at Yuki. She is so creeped out that she has to turn the toys away, but it looks like they were moved to look at her.
 * Continuity Nod: The "feeding the rabbits at school" incident present in the short film Katasumi is referenced in the first TV movie. In the same movie, Mizuho finds the mysterious mobile phone left behind by Tsuyoshi in the other short film, 4444444444.
 * Also, in the same movie, Takeo's death is shown when Kayako's ghost claims him on the street. In the first theatrical movie, the fact that his body was discovered on the street is mentioned.
 * Cradling Your Kill:
 * Creator Cameo: Well, sort of. Kayako's death rattles are provided by Takashi Shimizu.
 * Creepy Child: Toshio. Enough said. Also, at the end of the second theatrical movie.
 * Creepy Monotone: Toshio speaks like this, on the very few occasions that he is heard to speak. Kayako's soft "Kobayashi-kun..." towards the end of the first film also borders on this trope.
 * Cruel and Unusual Death: The death of, though offscreen, is pretty horrific - but it's somehow even worse in the manga.
 * Kayako's death, really. Not only does she have her neck broken by her own husband, she also has to endure being left paralysed in a plastic sack for an unknown (to the audience) amount of time before said husband returns with a utility knife...
 * Hisayo's death, also offscreen, also counts. Although her body is never shown (the only thing the audience gets to see is a bloodstained blanket covering a ghastly, misshapen lump), it is mentioned that she was found dismembered, and appears to have been "twisted and torn by some unnatural force". *shudder*
 * Cry for the Devil: Poor, poor Kayako.
 * Curiosity Killed the Cast
 * Cute Kitten: Averted hard in the case of Mar.
 * Cute Monster Girl: Your mileage will vary, but some see Kayako as this.
 * Darkness Equals Death: Although a lot of the deaths happen in bright daylight, some occur in (of course) the attic of the house, and in assorted dark rooms. In addition to that, the curse also seems able to cause electric lights to suddenly stop working (perhaps the creepiest example of this is in Yuki's segment in the first movie).
 * Daylight Horror: A lot of the scarier scenes happen in the daytime.
 * Death by Childbirth: Averted in the sense that.
 * Death by Falling Over:, although in her case it definitely wasn't an accidental death.
 * Death by Looking Up: Played with during 's death scene - he doesn't die from anything falling on him, but he does die after he looks up and sees Kayako staring down at him, and she moves in for the kill with freakish speed.
 * Demonic Possession: Kayako, Takeo, and Toshio are all capable of this.
 * Development Hell: The rumoured Ju-on: The Grudge 3 seems to be stuck here. A damn shame...
 * Dirty Old Man: Subverted - it initially looks as though Saitô (the old man in the wheelchair) is perving over Rika's ass - until it is revealed that he is playing "peekaboo" with what appears to be thin air...
 * Downer Ending: Every single movie features one.
 * Elevator Snare: A supernatural example in the third film.
 * Everyone Went to College Together: Kayako attended college with Kobayashi and his future wife Manami.
 * Even Creepy Undead Boys Love Their Mamas: Toshio to Kayako, especially in the first movie and the manga.
 * Evil Phone
 * Express Delivery: And how. Also, given that it isn't made clear just how far into the future the end of the film is
 * Face Full of Alien Wingwong: In the fourth movie, the curse manages to.
 * Face Revealing Turn:
 * The Faceless: The face of is never clearly shown.
 * Facial Horror:
 * Fan Disservice / Fan Service: The shower scene in the third movie is a combination of both.
 * Fetus Terrible: Used in the fourth movie.
 * Foreshadowing: Throughout the fourth movie, Toshio repeatedly shows himself to be placing his hand on . When one takes the ending into account, it becomes chillingly obvious why.
 * Not to mention the entire "Tomoka" vignette in the same movie. When the reason for the mysterious "banging" on her wall every night is revealed, it's downright horrifying.
 * Chiharu's vignette from the same movie, too. The very beginning of it is an ominous, grainy, almost dreamlike POV sequence, accompanied by feminine breathing, as if it was being seen through the eyes of someone floating above the city and, ultimately, into the Saeki house. Now consider the mind-screwy reveal at the end of this vignette. The aforementioned POV sequence becomes Fridge Horror when one takes into account the very similar sequence that happens at the beginning of the film.
 * Four Is Death: "4444444444" is not a number you want to see on your cell phone.
 * Freak-Out: Takeo has one of deadly proportions when he mistakenly believes Kayako to be having an affair and assumes that Toshio is not his biological son.
 * Not to mention Izumi's equally frightening and heartbreaking one from the third movie.
 * Freeze-Frame Bonus: Happens a lot in this series, most notably in the first film - the very first time Kayako is seen in ghost form is during the first scene with . She is quite difficult to spot before the scene abruptly cuts out, not least because the viewer is most likely distracted by Toshio at this point.
 * In the third movie, it is quite hard to spot just who Saitô is playing "peekaboo" with, unless you concentrate on the reflection in the glass door as he and Rika approach - turns out that Toshio's tagging along, too. He's only visible for about a second.
 * Keen-eyed viewers will notice an ominous black shape in the mirror during the "wig room" scene in the fourth movie, which then silently moves behind the curtain when Megumi isn't looking. (Not only that, but in the earlier scene in which Megumi returns to the house to collect something, it is quite difficult to spot the dark shape of Kayako sitting on the floor if you're watching the film on a TV with a low brightness setting.)
 * Also from the fourth movie: When Keisuke wakes up in the monitor room after unexpectedly dozing off in his seat, look behind him. He ducks his head down almost out of shot - nothing behind him. He moves his head back into shot and then leaves the room - and suddenly Kayako is standing right there. She is slightly out-of-focus and only visible for a couple of seconds.
 * The fourth movie loves this trope. Another example can be seen near the beginning of Tomoka's vignette. When her drink suddenly tips onto her script, it appears as Kayako's blood-splattered journal for a couple of seconds.
 * Ghostly Goals: The second type, though not by choice.
 * Go Out with a Smile:.
 * Gorn: Mostly avoided, although death counts - in spite of the obviously cheap special effects (justified, since that movie was made on a low budget), it still manages to be horribly unsettling.
 * In the manga, her death and the events surrounding her are even worse - not only do we see her, after she appears to her mother , her mother becomes possessed. Later, when her husband returns home, he discovers that his now very-possessed wife is cooking a meal - made out of . To make matters even worse, Kanna's mother then starts while being completely and utterly nonchalant about the whole thing.
 * Gratuitous Rape: Towards the end of the novel adaptation, Takeo inexplicably rapes Rika.
 * Green-Eyed Monster: Takeo, and his jealousy is so great that it drives him to insanity and murder. Taken to more of an extreme in the novel, in which he even gets angry (though non-violently) when Kayako mentions that she likes a TV actor.
 * Kayako also has shades of this - in her diary she expresses bitter jealousy towards Kobayashi's wife Manami, referring to her as "that bitch".
 * Hand in the Hole
 * Heroic BSOD: Toyama, and later Izumi, suffer these after being exposed to the curse. Izumi's mother also goes insane after the death of her husband.
 * Rika suffers one after she encounters Kayako for the first time - although her reaction afterwards could also be due to the fact that this is when begins.
 * Kyoko Suzuki also becomes completely insane after.
 * The other Kyoko shuts down for a while after the Toshio-induced car crash at the beginning of the fourth movie - understandable, since it puts Masashi in a coma and causes her miscarriage. Later, she completely loses it after - she shuts down mentally, although this could also be interpreted as Demonic Possession (or both).
 * Kobayashi just silently slumps to the ground in shock after
 * Hot Teacher: Mariko from the third film. Kayako also certainly thinks that Kobayashi is one, although she had a crush on him long before he became a teacher.
 * Housewife: Kayako (before she was murdered and became a really, really angry ghost, anyway).
 * Impending Doom POV - Used to chilling effect in the first movie (the attic scene), and also at the beginning of the second theatrical movie (the car crash scene).
 * Infant Immortality: Brutally averted with Toshio, and arguably even more brutally with . That's right, not even survives this series.
 * Jaw Breaker: suffers this.
 * Jerkass: The teacher from Mizuho's vignette.
 * Jump Scare
 * Kick the Dog: Takeo's murder of, then the fact that he actually phoned to tell him what he'd done is a particularly extreme example.
 * Kill'Em All: There is no way to escape the curse. It may kill some characters quickly, in some cases it may wait (in case, for years at a time), but it will eventually get them.
 * Kill It with Fire: Toyama attempts to burn down the house in the third movie, but it doesn't work. Namely because he gets distracted by the curse's time distortion and then freaks the hell out when he sees Kayako coming for him.
 * Kill the Cutie: That is, kill all the cuties.
 * Kiss of Death:
 * Kubrick Stare:
 * Laughing Mad: Takeo, at the end of his phone call to
 * Licensed Game: Ju-on: The Grudge Haunted House Simulator, out now for the Wii, and for only thirty clams, too.
 * Loads and Loads of Characters
 * Made for TV Movie: The first two films.
 * Marionette Motion: Kayako almost exclusively moves like this.
 * Matchlight Danger Revelation: Yuki switching on her lighter in the attic in the first V-Cinema film. BAM.
 * Meaningful Background Event: The elevator scene in the first theatrical movie. Also, the scene in the second theatrical movie, in which.
 * Mind Rape: In the second movie, Takeo does this to, driving her completely insane by forcing her watch what he did to in the first movie.
 * Mind Screw: All of the films, but especially the fourth movie.
 * In-universe, the curse itself loves to screw with the minds of its victims, both before and after killing them. (The case of is a notable example.)
 * Mirror Scare
 * Name's the Same: Confusingly, the original titles of the third and fourth movies are simply Ju-on and Ju-on 2... which are the exact same titles as the first two. The sub-titles The Curse (for the first two) and The Grudge (for the third and fourth) are usually added in foreign markets to differentiate between them.
 * Neck Snap: It is a combination of this and being slashed with a knife that kills Kayako. Also happens to at the end of the third movie.
 * Never Found the Body: Toshio's body was never found - he just disappeared, much like several victims of the curse, who end up getting pulled into nowhere (such as and ).
 * New House, New Problems: Woe betide anyone who moves into/enters the cursed house...
 * To make matters worse, the curse is spread when those who have entered the house come into contact with those who have nothing whatsoever to do with the house. This is made explicit when the security guard from Hitomi's workplace is consumed by the curse.
 * Nightmare Sequence: Rika has one in the third movie (involving lots of cats).
 * Nothing Is Scarier
 * Offscreen Teleportation
 * Oh, and X Dies: Due to the Anachronic Order of the series' chapters, 's death is mentioned in Izumi's chapter, quite a while before her death is even shown (her body is seen at ). Mind you, since there is no known way to survive the curse, it's pretty much a Foregone Conclusion that she dies, but, still.
 * Oh Crap: Takeo has a moment like this in the first film, when he realises that, just because his wife is dead, it isn't stopping her from exacting vengeance...
 * In the third film, Rika has such a moment when she realises that Mariko is calling from the Saeki house. Later, she has another Oh Crap moment when
 * Ominous Chanting: Used a few times in the soundtracks, to disturbing effect. Examples include the scene from the third when Rika first encounters Kayako (ignore the fact that the video title is "Ju-On 2"), and the scene from the fourth when Chiharu is completely losing her mind.
 * Ominous Music Box Tune: Also used a few times in the soundtracks.
 * Once More, with Clarity: Third movie: After The Reveal that, previous scenes featuring Kayako are played out again, except this time
 * One Steve Limit: Averted - there are two characters called Kyoko in the franchise. The first (Kyoko Suzuki) appears in the first two movies, whilst the second one (Kyoko Harase) is arguably the protagonist of the fourth.
 * Orifice Invasion: In the manga version of the first movie, this is how Kanna meets her end, when a bunch of possessed cats leap into her mouth . (In the movie, it is never explained how she, but in the short film Katasumi/In A Corner, her ghost  is seen shortly after she attacked by Kayako, revealing that she died at school.)
 * The Other Darrin: Toshio has been played by three actors in total throughout the entire Ju-on saga, including the short film 4444444444. In the aforementioned short, he was portrayed by Daiki Sawada. In the two V-Cinema films, he was portrayed by Ryōta Koyama, and in the two theatrical films, he was portrayed by Yuya Ozeki (who would then go on to reprise the role for the first enstallment of the remake series, as well as in flashbacks for the sequels).
 * Our Ghosts Are Different
 * Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: Kayako and Toshio, obviously. Add that to most other dark-haired characters who are seen after becoming curse victims (such as and ).
 * Pater Familicide
 * Peek-a-Boo Corpse: The discovery of Kayako's body in the first movie.
 * Please Wake Up:, when the former dies. Sob...
 * Also happens when
 * POV Cam: The above-mentioned Impending Doom POV shots, a few non-deadly variants from Kayako's POV, and a few from Chihiro's POV in the fourth movie.
 * Prehensile Hair: In the second theatrical film, Kayako uses her hair to hang.
 * Psychic Powers: Kyoko Suzuki possesses clairvoyance to a certain degree, something her brother takes advantage of when he wishes to sell the Saeki house. After being inside the house, she is understandably reluctant for him to sell it to anyone.
 * Megumi of the fourth movie may or may not possess them, to a small degree. (She is able to tell that Kyoko is pregnant. She claims that "it's obvious to another woman", but the general implication seems to be that she possesses some sort of mild psychic power.)
 * Psycho Strings: Used on a few occasions, most notably during Megumi's unfortunate demise.
 * Psychological Horror
 * Roaring Rampage of Revenge
 * Room Full of Crazy: After the curse drives her crazy, Izumi becomes a recluse, rarely leaving her bedroom, the windows of which she covers with newspaper and keeps the curtains drawn.
 * Also, when Kobayashi discovers Kayako's corpse, the room features a pile of cut-up family photographs, with Kayako's face removed from all of them.
 * Say My Name: Happens quite a bit.
 * "MARIKO!!"
 * "Masashi! MASASHI!!"
 * "Kobayashi-kun..."
 * Scream Discretion Shot: Kazumi lets out a terrified scream after following Toshio into an upstairs bedroom, and the viewer does get to see an extreme close-up of her screaming face, but nothing else.
 * Shoot the Shaggy Dog
 * Shout-Out: The ending to the fourth movie (Where ), might be a homage to It'sAlive.
 * Shower of Angst: Rika takes one in the third movie. She isn't alone, however...
 * Slasher Smile: Toshio. Dear God, Toshio. (First movie only. When shown a drawing of his parents early in the movie, he does manage a rather endearing little smile, but later on, when encounters him... brrrr.)
 * Sleeper Hit: The first two films.
 * Soundtrack Dissonance: The third and fourth movies both end in a haunting and extremely melancholic fashion. That doesn't prevent the ending credits from having a couple of gentle pop songs at the end. (Admittedly, the songs are somewhat sad.)
 * Spared by the Adaptation: in the novel - well, her death isn't shown, but it is made clear that she's become possessed/influenced by the curse.
 * Spooky Photographs: The third movie features this trope. In some photos depicting Izumi and her friends, their eyes are covered by mysterious black smears.
 * Stalker with a Crush: Kayako towards Kobayashi.
 * Stringy-Haired Ghost Girl: Kayako. ends up as one by the end of the third movie, as well. Averted in the case of, who, while seen as a ghost on several occasions, doesn't turn into an onryo. Also averted in the case of , who, for some reason, appears as a non-malevolent spirit.
 * Stylistic Suck: Kyoko of the fourth movie is an actress famed for her appearances in horror films (and known as "the Horror Queen" to the media). A few scenes in the film depict her in the process of filming some movie or TV series in which she plays a teacher being menaced by the ghost of a dead student, and her acting is... not good. This is purely Kyoko's in-character acting, though - Noriko Sakai, who plays Kyoko, is extremely good throughout the film as a whole.
 * Sudden Sequel Death Syndrome: from the first theatrical film, is present in the following film, only to be killed off halfway through.
 * Tears of Blood: Kayako is sometimes seen with blood trickling out of her eyes, notably during her actual death. also seems to be crying blood at the end of the third movie.
 * Time Travel: Sort of. The nature of the curse can cause the past, present and future to merge temporarily, as shown in the first theatrical feature.
 * Twist Ending: The first theatrical movie features one of these. It is revealed that . (It's all a bit of a Mind Screw.) A similar ending is presented in the US remake sequel.
 * Twitchy Eye: Rika develops one after encountering Kayako for the first time, and it keeps twitching intermittently throughout the third film (usually whenever ghostly activity is going on around her). Word of God says that this is one of the signs that she has.
 * Typecasting: In-universe examples: Kyoko, an actress primarily known for horror films, complains about being typecast as "the Queen of Horror" near the beginning of the fourth movie. Megumi also complains that she is always being cast as a ghost in TV productions, after playing one in one of Keisuke's TV shows.
 * Undead Child: Take a wild guess.
 * Vader Breath: Takeo's heavy, unsettling breathing can be heard in the third movie when he.
 * The Voiceless: For the most part, the only sound Kayako makes is her death rattle. There are a few exceptions, though: in the third movie she starts to emit agonised moans when, and, in the first movie, she can be heard having a faint conversation with Toshio, as well as speaking Kobayashi's name on a couple of occasions.
 * The noise she makes might not even be her death rattle - it's the same sound as the clicking of the utility knife that killed her.
 * Wham! Episode: The ending of the third movie, in which Rika realises just what the curse has in store for her. The ending of the fourth movie, also counts, when it reveals the reason why ...
 * What Happened to the Mouse?: The fourth film continues the story of Izumi's friend Chiharu (a minor character in the third film). However, what happened Izumi's other friend, Miyuki, is a mystery.
 * Why Did It Have To Be Cats: Yuki has an intense phobia of cats. Mar (Toshio's cat) uses this to his advantage.
 * With Friends Like These...: The multiplayer component of Haunted House Simulator has the second player control the haunting to a limited degree.
 * Woman in White: Kayako, of course.
 * Yandere: Takeo is a rather Ax Crazy one.
 * Kayako towards Kobayashi.