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Ju-on 2POSTED BY JASON FETTERS, August 26, 2012 Share
It is time to be creepy again. As is so often the case in horror movies, late at night, a couple is driving home and then the guy driving stops, scaring the woman next to him. He tells her he thinks he hit something and opens the door to investigate. There is a small furry creature in the middle of the road that turns out to be a black cat. The woman looks out and sees something running up to inspect the cat. The man hops back in the car and takes off in a hurry. As he drives on a pale ghost boy has he’s hands on the steering wheel with a ghoulish look in his eyes. You know this is not going to end well for the couple. Then the invertible car crash happens and Ju-on 2 begins.
Just like the first movie, this is told in a series of character based segments that focus on one character’s perspective. It reminds me of Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat, because you have to pay attention to the small details to get the complete story.
This time around, the vengeful curse goes after the cast and crew of a TV variety show. The show’s director decides, in true stupid horror movie character fashion, to film inside the old creepy house in Nerima, (a Ward in Tokyo and the haunted house from the first movie,) where a housewife was brutally murdered.
As soon as filming begins, things happen. While Kyoko, the reigning Horror Queen, is walking down the stairs with Tomoka, the show host, a weird sound is heard by the Sound Technician that stops production. This sets in motion the curse that will go after everyone involved.
Ju-on 2 is a lot like the first movie. It has the same segment structure. It even has the same situational horror scares. However it dare lack the suspense of the first movie. There just aren’t enough surprises, slow suspense build ups, or psychological horror, to make Ju-on 2 scary. It does have some humorous moments but it won’t make you afraid to sleep with the lights out. There are no cool in your face scares like when the woman or the ghost boy jump out at you. The tension is gone and you get a watered down version of the first movie. I prefer Ju-on: The Grudge any day, and watching Ju-on 2 won’t explain anything new. Plus, the ending was a predictable letdown, which is bad for horror movies.
The acting, sound, editing, music, and effects were good but not enough for a recommendation.
2.5 out of 5 Stars
"The Asian Aperture" is ©2012 by Jason Fetters. All contents of Crazed Fanboy are ©2012 by Nolan B. Canova and Terence Nuzum.
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