Introduction
the series Ju on: The Curse (呪怨), also known as simply Ju on, is a 2000 Japanese V Cinema supernatural horror film and the first installment in the Ju on franchise, following two short .the series Ju on: The Curse (呪怨), also known as simply Ju on, is a 2000 Japanese V Cinema supernatural horror film and the first installment in the Ju on franchise, following two short .
The film was written and directed by Takashi Shimizu and is divided into six parts, chronicling the experiences of tenants of a cursed house where a man, Takeo Saeki (Takashi Matsuyama) killed his wife, Kayako (Takako Fuji), in a jealous .The film was written and directed by Takashi Shimizu and is divided into six parts, chronicling the experiences of tenants of a cursed house where a man, Takeo Saeki (Takashi Matsuyama) killed his wife, Kayako (Takako Fuji), in a jealous .
It was followed by Ju on: The Curse 2 in the same .It was followed by Ju on: The Curse 2 in the same .
Plot
After discovering his wife Kayako has a deep crush on her college friend Shunsuke Kobayashi, Illustrator Takeo Saeki murdered her, their son Toshio and the family cat Mar, then deserted his .After discovering his wife Kayako has a deep crush on her college friend Shunsuke Kobayashi, Illustrator Takeo Saeki murdered her, their son Toshio and the family cat Mar, then deserted his .
The anger and sorrow surrounding the murder created a curse that turned its inhabitants into .The anger and sorrow surrounding the murder created a curse that turned its inhabitants into .
Whoever enters the house in Nerima, Tokyo, or even those associating themselves with someone who has entered the house will be affected and claimed by the curse, spreading its influence at the place they die and claiming more .Whoever enters the house in Nerima, Tokyo, or even those associating themselves with someone who has entered the house will be affected and claimed by the curse, spreading its influence at the place they die and claiming more .
Kobayashi, who happens to be Toshio's elementary school teacher, notices his repeated absence from .Kobayashi, who happens to be Toshio's elementary school teacher, notices his repeated absence from .
He visits the Saeki house, leaving his pregnant wife Manami at .He visits the Saeki house, leaving his pregnant wife Manami at .
He finds Toshio, who refuses to speak with him, forcing him to wait for the .He finds Toshio, who refuses to speak with him, forcing him to wait for the .
Kobayashi grows weary of the strangeness surrounding the .Kobayashi grows weary of the strangeness surrounding the .
After accidentally stumbling upon Kayako's room, he learns of her unrequited love for him and finds her bloody corpse hidden in the .After accidentally stumbling upon Kayako's room, he learns of her unrequited love for him and finds her bloody corpse hidden in the .
Panicked, Kobayashi tries to escape with Toshio until he receives a call from Takeo, who has gone to his apartment and forcefully aborted Manami's unborn fetus, killing .Panicked, Kobayashi tries to escape with Toshio until he receives a call from Takeo, who has gone to his apartment and forcefully aborted Manami's unborn fetus, killing .
In shock, he is unable to respond properly as Kayako's corpse reanimates and kills .In shock, he is unable to respond properly as Kayako's corpse reanimates and kills .
Meanwhile, Takeo carries the dead fetus in the street and is killed by .Meanwhile, Takeo carries the dead fetus in the street and is killed by .
Sometime later, the Saeki house is occupied by the Murakami .Sometime later, the Saeki house is occupied by the Murakami .
The daughter Kanna is with her tutor Yuki until she remembers that she has to go to school to feed the school .The daughter Kanna is with her tutor Yuki until she remembers that she has to go to school to feed the school .
Yuki, who has a phobia of cats, backs up towards Kanna's closet when a black cat suddenly appears in the .Yuki, who has a phobia of cats, backs up towards Kanna's closet when a black cat suddenly appears in the .
Hearing strange sounds from the attic, she investigates and is killed by .Hearing strange sounds from the attic, she investigates and is killed by .
Unaware of the incident, Kanna's brother Tsuyoshi leaves for school to meet his girlfriend Mizuho .Unaware of the incident, Kanna's brother Tsuyoshi leaves for school to meet his girlfriend Mizuho .
Tsuyoshi never makes it to the school and Mizuho is forced to wait in the teacher's room while a teacher inspects the school once .Tsuyoshi never makes it to the school and Mizuho is forced to wait in the teacher's room while a teacher inspects the school once .
There, she is spooked by Toshio until she receives a call from "4444444444" (the Japanese word for 4 (四, shi) is pronounced similarly to the word for "death" (死, shi), at which point Toshio appears directly beside .There, she is spooked by Toshio until she receives a call from "4444444444" (the Japanese word for 4 (四, shi) is pronounced similarly to the word for "death" (死, shi), at which point Toshio appears directly beside .
Detective Yoshikawa and his aide Kamio investigate the mutilated body of high schooler Hisayo Yoshida, one of the two students scheduled to feed the school rabbits, and a human jaw .Detective Yoshikawa and his aide Kamio investigate the mutilated body of high schooler Hisayo Yoshida, one of the two students scheduled to feed the school rabbits, and a human jaw .
Back at the Murakami house, mother Noriko has just returned home when she notices a disheveled Kanna entering her .Back at the Murakami house, mother Noriko has just returned home when she notices a disheveled Kanna entering her .
Her daughter moves to face her, showing her without her jaw, causing Noriko to scream in .Her daughter moves to face her, showing her without her jaw, causing Noriko to scream in .
Sometime later, the Nerima house is taken over by the Suzuki Real Estate, owned by Tatsuya Suzuki, for .Sometime later, the Nerima house is taken over by the Suzuki Real Estate, owned by Tatsuya Suzuki, for .
Tatsuya contacts his spiritually aware sister Kyoko to visit the .Tatsuya contacts his spiritually aware sister Kyoko to visit the .
She immediately feels discomfort upon entering and becomes further disturbed after a brief meeting with .She immediately feels discomfort upon entering and becomes further disturbed after a brief meeting with .
After taking a gulp of sake, Kyoko tells Tatsuya that anyone who wants to purchase the house has to drink the sake; if they spit it out, they should not buy .After taking a gulp of sake, Kyoko tells Tatsuya that anyone who wants to purchase the house has to drink the sake; if they spit it out, they should not buy .
She makes a hasty escape from the house, leaving her brother .She makes a hasty escape from the house, leaving her brother .
A while later, Kyoko is informed that the house has been sold to the Kitada .A while later, Kyoko is informed that the house has been sold to the Kitada .
She decides to check on the house once more and is shocked when she discovers that the wife, Yoshimi Kitada, has been possessed by .She decides to check on the house once more and is shocked when she discovers that the wife, Yoshimi Kitada, has been possessed by .
Release and reception
Ju On: The Curse was released on home video on February 11, .Ju On: The Curse was released on home video on February 11, .
AllMovie called it a "surprisingly effective low budget horror video from Japan", writing, "while the plot never quite comes together —it 's haphazard and confusing —the movie succeeds because of its unnervingly creepy atmosphere and consistently mournful and unsettling ".AllMovie called it a "surprisingly effective low budget horror video from Japan", writing, "while the plot never quite comes together —it 's haphazard and confusing —the movie succeeds because of its unnervingly creepy atmosphere and consistently mournful and unsettling ".
Stage adaptation
A stage play adaptation of Ju On was developed in .A stage play adaptation of Ju On was developed in .
It adapts the plots from this film and its .It adapts the plots from this film and its .