Sadako vs Kayako (2016)

The spirits at the root of the curses from The Ring and The Grudge have a face off.

'Sadako vs Kayako' is a Japanese horror that follows the mythology of the famous franchises of the Ring and The Grudge with a film in which the vengeful spirits face each other. With a ridiculous premise such as this, the film actually continues in an interesting way, with the built up started from just the idea begining to seem meaningful and the horror effects becoming the main attractive element. A guilty pleasure for the fans!

Director:  Kôji Shiraishi   

With: Mizuki Yamamoto, Tina Tamashiro, Aimi Satsukawa, Misato Tanaka

Rating: 8/10

Noroi (2005)

A documentary filmmaker follows his current subject wherever it takes him, the subject being the mythology and incidents related to the demon Kagutaba.

'Noroi' is a horror film, filmed in a documentary style. The subject of the film has its merits, but the execution and the events unfolded on screen are often childish, senseless and feel dragged-out.

Gets some points for the few scenes that are somewhat terrifying and mysterious enough.

Director:  Kôji Shiraishi       

With: Jin Muraki, Rio Kanno, Tomono Kuga, Marika Matsumoto

Rating: 6/10

Ju-on: Origins (2020– )

A series of events over a period of 15 years that precede the events of the film The Grudge.

A horror series that deepens the mystery of the house from the movies in The Grudge series - the original Japanese ones or their American version. It experiments quite satisfactorily with various horror genres, including body horror in the neo-French extreme style, offering a detailed version of the linked stories that generate enough interest in the viewer. The style is mixed and yet consistent. It gets a little frustrating towards the end, when instead of a conclusion we realize that everything will be continued in season two.

Director:  Shô Miyake   

Production:  Netflix     

Duration:  1 season of 6 episodes(25-30 minutes each)   

With: Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Yuina Kuroshima, Seiko Iwaidô 

Rating: 7/10

Honogurai mizu no soko kara/Dark water (2002)

La momentul cand am vazut Dark Water - remake-ul american, nu gasisem si originalul, asa ca a trebuit sa ma multumesc cu ce am gasit. Plus ca Jennifer Connelly mi-e tare simpatica. Am fost dezamagita. Un film incomplet si dureros de ineficient. Mult stil, efecte speciale reusite, o drama materna bine alimentata si evidentiata dar all in all - ineficient. Ok. Si, de ceva timp am reusit sa gasesc Dark Water originalul, cu alte cuvinte "Honogurai mizu no soko kara". Dupa experienta cu primul, am ezitat ceva timp pana mi-am luat inima in dinti sa-l vad pe asta. Si rezultatul - a few good scares:D. Scenele scary sunt bine dozate si eficiente, momentele alese bine, si efectul este cel scontat. Doar ca impresia unui film incomplet apare si aici. Si unde? Tocmai acolo unde varianta americana sta bine. Imaginea duce lipsa de stil aproape in totalitate, tonalitatea intre scenele intense e cam stearsa, si apar chiar momente goale care nu se cereau necesare deloc. Ideea e ca din cele doua filme combinate iesea un horror in adevaratul sens al cuvantului.

Stilul, imaginea(de aici presupun ca si bugetul) celui american si impreuna cu fiorii autentici ai variantei japoneze ar fi facut o echipa foarte buna. Pacat. Poate ar fi trebuit sa-l lase la carma regizorala pentru remake tot pe Hideo Nakata asa cum au facut la The Ring Two.