Review of Grudge, The (Director`s Cut)

Introduction

Having already made four `Ju-on` films in Japan and following the commercial success of the remake of Hideo Nakata`s `Ringu`, it was only a matter of time before Takashi Shimizu was asked to bring his horror series to America. Under the watchful eye of Sam Raimi, Shimizu brought American actors, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr and Bill Pullman to Japan for a remake of 2003`s `Ju-on: The Grudge`.

This is the director`s cut which restores the concessions made to secure the original release a PG-13 certificate rather than a `R`. Lingering shots of bodies and the more intense elements of the film are reinstated to make this the version of the film that Shimizu wanted.

Video

The 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer is clear and has excellent colour definition.

Audio

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is very good and mixes the dialogue with the subtle noises and big shocks beautifully.

Features

The commentary by director Takashi Shimizu, producer Taka Ichise and actress Takako Fuji who plays Kayako is in Japanese with English subtitles and has its moments but is not as interesting or revealing as it could or should have been.

The sixteen deleted scenes can be seen individually or, using the `play all` function, together and run at over 33 minutes in total. I can`t think of any that would have improved the film so it`s probably for the best that they ended up on the cutting room floor.

Takashi Shimizu`s original `Ju-on` short films `In a Corner` and `44444444444` show the genesis of the `Ju-on` films and are worth a look.

The rest of the extra features which comprises behind the scenes footage, the storyboard art of Takashi Shimizu, the production designer`s notebook: the sketches of Iwao Soto, video diaries by Sarah Michelle Gellar and KaDee Strickland and `The "Grudge" house: an insider`s tour` can be watched individually or as one long feature. They are of varying interest and quality: Gellar`s video diary is far too short, but Strickland`s provides an interesting viewpoint of an American in Japan.

Conclusion

It`s strange that one of the weaker Asian horrors should provide one of the slicker re-makes. It helps that Takashi Shimizu has made so many `Ju-on` films that he knows the subject matter like the back of his hand; this makes the appointment of Stephen Susco as screenwriter all the more puzzling. Although an enjoyable film with plenty of well-worked `jumps`, this is a pale shadow of the Japanese original.

In terms of the other recent remakes of Japanese horrors, `The Ring` and `Dark Water` featured film actors: `The Ring` had Naomi Watts and Brian Cox; `Dark Water` boasted Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, Tim Roth and Pete Postlethwaite, whereas `The Grudge` had actors predominantly known for their TV work: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr and Clea DuVall. There is also a problem with the `Hollywoodization` of the film so it loses some of the mystique of the Japanese films and resorts to shock tactics rather than a slow burning psychological approach. I never felt that the `Americans in Japan` worked and it may have been better relocating the entire film to the US rather than attempt a horror version of `Lost in Translation`.

Whilst better than Gore Verbinski`s dreadful `The Ring` but not as thought provoking or accomplished as Hideo Nakata`s remake of his own `Dark Water`, `The Grudge` has some moments that would make this an unsettling experience for those of a nervous disposition, but is still a poor installment in the `Ju-on` series and a weaker film than it`s Japanese counterparts.

It`s been a while since I saw the theatrical version of this film and the reinstated cuts didn`t stand out and, judging by the commentary, they were only slight extensions of scenes rather than never before seen footage. If you already own `The Grudge`, I can`t see that enough has been added to this `director`s cut` to make you want to rush out and buy it. However, the extras and the new material may make this worth a rent for those who own the theatrical version and a disc worth purchasing for those who like the movie but do not yet own a copy.