Ju-on: The Grudge 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Ju-on: The Grudge 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 6, 2023

Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of Arrow Video's Ju-on: The Grudge Collection.

In a commentary included on Ju-On: The Grudge, film historian David Kalat, who kind of jokingly states that, yes, he did write the (or at least a) book on so-called J Horror, offers a fun and interesting overview of the entire Ju-On franchise, documenting how the "first" film is in actuality at least the third, and, if you include a couple of shorts that started the whole thing going, even further down an ordinal list. Kalat gets into the fact that at least some of the sobriquets assigned to various films in the series (like The Curse and, yes, maybe even The Grudge) are actually the creation of fans (not that there's anything wrong with that), but one way or the other, Arrow has aggregated six Ju-On films in this set, offering all of them on 1080 discs, with Ju-On: The Grudge also getting 4K UHD treatment. As is typically the case with Arrow releases, the supplements are bountiful, at least with regard to the two films bearing Grudge in their titles.

Perhaps because writer and director Takashi Shimizu had the benefit of paving the way for this feature film with his two straight to video releases, Ju-on: The Curse and Ju-on: The Curse 2, there's a certainty of purpose to this film, which even commentator David Kalat mentions can be almost the exact polar opposite of what most people might expect from a "horror" film. This is slow, deliberate and at times almost painstakingly refracted so as to offer a rather bizarre feeling that combines entanglement with dissociation. An intentionally nonchronological presentational strategy adds a bit of subterfuge, which may in and of itself help to establish a feeling of being ill at ease.

At their core, all of the Ju-On films flirt pretty aggressively with some kind of tragedy (often, several kinds), with death being just the first repercussion. One of the interesting things about this franchise's foundational aspect is not just that ghosts stick around to haunt a given locale, but that simply interacting with that locale can then "infect" someone new, who can spread that "disease" elsewhere. That gives this film and its siblings an almost eerily prescient "take" on what the world has been through over the past couple of years in terms of incipient paranoia about catching something untoward.

The film details a number of characters who, depending on which part of the timeline is being depicted, are heading toward disaster, or who have in fact already encountered it, and may or may not still be living as a result. As David Kalat gets into, this is a film that doesn't depend on hoary tropes like startle effects erupting from the bowels of the subwoofer, but manages to layer an increasingly unsettling vision of almost zombie-like ghosts, in that they can shamble menacingly in their vengeful attempts to contact the living.

Ju-on: The Grudge 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc.

Ju-On: The Grudge is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with a 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet for this set lumps all of the films together on one page of verbiage about the transfers:

Ju-On: The Curse and Ju-On: The Curse 2 are presented in their original aspect ratio of 1.33:1 with stereo sound.

The films were shot on standard definition video and have been sourced from the original tape masters supplied by Kadakowa Corporation.

Ju-On: The Grudge is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with 5.1 and stereo sound and has been exclusively restored by Arrow Films.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K 16 bit resolution at Tokyo Genzosho, Japan. The film was restored in 4K and graded in HDR10 & Dolby Vision at Silver Salt Restoration, London.

The audio mixes were remastered by Kadakowa Corporation. The restoration was supervised by James White and James Pearcey, Arrow Films.

Ju-On: The Grudge 2 is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with 5.1 and stereo sound.

The film was produced in 35mm and the HD master was supplied by Kadakowa Corporation. Additional grading and picture restoration was completed at R3Store Studios, London.

Ju-On: Black Ghost and Ju-On: White Ghost are presented in their original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 with 5.1 surround sound and stereo sound.

The films were produced in high definition video and have been sourced from the original tape masters from Kadakowa Corporation. Additional grading was completed at R3Store Studios, London.

This package includes both 1080 and 2160 versions of this new restoration, and this frankly may be another case where some might prefer the 1080 to the 2160 due to the prevalence of rather thick and, especially in the 2160 format, kind of "multicolored" grain that often has flecks of yellow and purple in it that kind almost resemble chroma anomalies. A lot of the 4K UHD presentation features rather nicely tight resolution of grain, especially in the more brightly lit outdoor scenes, but those interested might keep an eye out for brighter interior backgrounds, as in any number of scenes featuring white walls, where grain can almost swarm across the image. That possible qualm aside, the 4K UHD version offers some noticeable upticks in fine detail and HDR and/or Dolby Vision do present a number of really interesting palette nuances, including everything from the spooky face paint of the ghosts to more mundane items like the bright colors a couple of the female characters wear.

Ju-on: The Grudge 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ju-On: The Grudge features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks in either the original Japanese or an English dub. I didn't notice any material difference between the two tracks in terms of mixes or overall amplitude. The surround activity here is consistent, though kind of commendably subtle given the film as a perceived "horror blockbuster". As mentioned above, even David Kalat goes out of his way to mention how the film doesn't really rely on tried and true tactics like bursts of LFE or (in the visual realm) jump cuts to establish its spookiness, and as such it's "little" moments like sudden scuttling noises panning through the surround channels that can help to create unease. Ambient environmental sounds are not necessarily limited to outdoor scenes and also engage the side and rear channels effectively. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Ju-on: The Grudge 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Options and Commentaries

  Audio Commentary by David Kalat

  
  

  Audio Commentary by Sam Raimi and Scott Spiegel

  
  

  English dubbed version is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

• Extras

  Haunting in Monochrome: Takashi Shimizu on Ju-On (HD; 13:47) is subtitled in English.

  
  

  Being Kayako: An Interview with Takako Fuji (HD; 12:23) is subtitled in English.

  
  

  The Evolution of Ju-On (HD; 27:21) features Tom Mes and Zach Davisson discussing the series.

  
  

  Through a Glass Darkly (HD; 31:21) is an archival interview with Takashi Shimizu. Subtitled in English.

  
  

  Whispers in the Dark (HD; 17:16) is an archival interview with Megumi Okina. Subtitled in English.

  
  

  Fade to Black (HD; 9:42) is an archival interview with Kayoko Shibata. Subtitled in English.

• On Set Interviews are subtitled in English:

  Takashi Shimizu (HD; 5:26)

  
  

  Megumi Okina (HD; 1:34)

  
  

  Misaki Ito (HD; 1:11)

  
  

  Misa Uehara (HD; 00:59)

  
  

  Yui Ichikawa (HD; 00:54)

  
  

  My Most Terrifying Experience (HD; 5:04) features cast and crew relaying scary moments from their lives.

• Deleted Scenes

  Sachie's Vision (HD; 00:52)

  
  

  Izumi and her Mother (HD; 1:46)

  
  

  Chiharu and Miyuki Visit Izumi (HD; 1:24)

  
  

  The Shrine (HD; 1:16)

  
  

  Bathroom Visitation (HD; 00:48)

  
  

  Alternate Ending (HD; 5:22)

• Behind the Scenes

  Setting the Scenes of Terror (HD; 16:22)

  
  

  Rika's Story (HD; 10:44)

  
  

  Hitomi's Story (HD; 10:49)

  
  

  Izumi and Chiharu's Story (HD; 8:19)

• Ju-On True Stories (HD; 10:48) is almost an audio extra, with Hiroyoshi Kihara narrating two "tales of terror". Subtitled in English.


• Trailers

  Original Japanese Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:37)

  
  

  UK Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:10)

  
  

  US Trailer (HD; 1:30)

• Image Gallery (HD)


• Introduction by Takashi Shimizu (HD; 2:12) is accessible under the Play Menu. Subtitled in English.

Ju-on: The Grudge 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ju-On: The Grudge is a good, old fashioned creepy ghost story, and if it doesn't have the jump scares and startle effects in its soundtrack that so many cookie cutter horror efforts tend to, maybe that's a good thing. It's really interesting to see how Takashi Shimizu went about altering certain aspects of the story for this first feature film creation, and if there's maybe just a bit of a rote aspect to elements like the police investigation, a lot of Ju-On: The Grudge is decidedly sui generis, if at times at least tangentially reminiscent of Ringu. Technical merits are generally solid, though this is another case where some may actually prefer the 1080 version to the 4K UHD version. Supplements are numerous and outstanding. Recommended.