The truly frightening thought is how long this franchise, like the curse itself, can continue to be reborn.

| Feb 23, 2012

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 7, 2008

... a film that, perhaps better than any other ever made, conveys the disturbing sense of the uncanny -- of fear that goes beyond reason or explanation ...

| Jul 4, 2008

| Original Score: 2/4 | Dec 27, 2007

Ye olde cursed-house-cuz-child-and-mom-were-killed Japanese midnight flick.

| Original Score: B- | Jun 21, 2007

With just a little bit of editing and some disorienting sound effects, Japanese director Takashi Shimizu can create more tension and jolts than most filmmakers can with oceans of blood.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Feb 18, 2007

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 7, 2006

There are too many characters and few of them are portrayed in a way that would allow audience to really care about their fate.

| Original Score: 5/10 | Jun 25, 2005

The immoderation extends to the acting, which is frequently histrionic. Both elicit laughs from the audience where there should be only the clickety-clack of nails bitten.

| May 4, 2005

Ju-On features more matted black hair than you'd find in the locker room shower drain of an Italian soccer team -- but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 1, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 16, 2005

There is nearly enough atmosphere and general creepiness to make you forget that the film doesn't really add up to anything.

| Original Score: B- | Nov 6, 2004

If you are new to horror that places atmosphere and psychological intensity over gore, Ju-On is a good place to start.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 5, 2004

Those who are patient will find that this one is a creepier, more effective movie than its American clone.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 29, 2004

What this version has that the remake lacks: a few more intriguing subplots and some Kabuki-like visual flourishes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 29, 2004

... succumbs to terminal stupid-itis, the very same ailment that's demolished plenty of other horror movies through the years.

| Original Score: C | Oct 25, 2004

Exists in its unsettling ability to cloak the audience in a mood of chilling dread.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 20, 2004

It's creepy, all right. It's just that how it goes about creeping you out is sometimes just plain cheesy.

| Oct 15, 2004

It's much harder on you than mere fright: It's... creepy.

| Oct 15, 2004

Shimizu is obviously impatient with dull exposition and wants us to get straight to the good scary stuff.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 8, 2004