Ju-On (the Grudge): The First Four Films

If you just aren't ready for Halloween season to be over, join Byrd, Tom, Kevin, Lux, (and Trev, kind of) for a talk about one of Japan's biggest horror franchises, Ju-On (also known as the Grudge)! This introduced the vengeful ghost Kayako and her son Toshio to the horror world and they have since become some of Japan's biggest horror icons. The series by Takashi Shimizu originally started with two shorts as part of the School Ghost Stories tv specials, which later spun off into two full length direct to video films, Ju-On: The Curse and Ju-On: The Curse 2 in 2000. They were successful enough that a third film, Ju-On: The Grudge was made for theatrical release in 2002, which led to the series becoming a global phenomenon (leading to Shimizu's own American remake starting a Hollywood branch of the franchise). It was quickly followed by Ju-On: The Grudge 2 and many more sequels after. As we discuss the first four movies and the history of the franchise, we'll discuss haunted houses, ghost children, time loops, and more! Grab your leftover Halloween candy and enjoy the conversation!