The Contraband

Issue date: 10/27/04 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: © Copyright Columbia Pictures Kadee Strickland in Columbia Pictures´ "The Grudge"

Each Halloween, Hollywood scrambles to throw together a plethora of scary movies for America to choose from. But, as of late, it has become painfully obvious that new ideas are running low, and remakes are a sure-fire quick fix.

With classic horror films like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Dawn of the Dead" recently released on DVD with a new cast, new scares and sometimes new plot lines, fans of the creepy genre are getting restless for new material.

Those desperate enough to search for something innovative and bone-chilling have known that Japan's horror film industry is booming.

But moviegoers who are a little less adventurous have missed out on the opportunity to be scared out of their wits by Japanese filmmakers.

Then came "The Ring." Based on the Japanese film "Ringu," "The Ring" quickly gained a massive American following after it was released in the United States.

Audiences were shocked and horrified at the creepy new approach to the horror genre. The movie was lacking the typical cheap scare tactics, with which American fans have been acquainted. It was fresh, smart and scary as hell.

"The Ring" was successful. So why not try this new remake technique again? Hollywood had found a new source of ideas, and there was a new hit on which to start production, "The Grudge."

"The Grudge" is the story of an exchange student, Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who is living and working in Tokyo. She is assigned to help with housework at the home of an American family, but when she arrives at the house, a curse is beset upon her.

Unbeknownst to her, a husband had murdered his wife, child and household cat three years earlier in the house. And, according to Japanese legend, when someone dies in the grip of terror, a curse is born, and a "stain" is left in the place where the victim died.

Hardcore horror fans will most likely be disappointed with this newest remake. Because this film is based on not one, but four Japanese movies - entitled "Ju-On," two were made for television, and two were theatrical releases - it has a hard time tying up all of the loose ends.

Audiences will leave with a lot of unanswered questions, but still a little jumpy.

Both the original and the remake were directed by Takashi Shimizu, so there are no surprises for those familiar with the original version.

Continued...

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