It is the beginning of the monumental Ju-on sequels. Although about 10 years have been passed, we still remember the shocking impact of the first appearance of Ju-on directed by SHIMIZU Takashi. As SHIMIZU was planning for a late night program of a broadcasting company, he was suggested by a producer ICHISE Taka to make this video movie, which hit the record high sales upon the release and drew significant attention. The word-of-mouth was spread that story and image of this 70-minute movie is extremely scary, which was followed by a number of sequels. Did SHIMIZU and ICHISE know that their film could go such far away? Of course, the environment for this new horror movie was created. In 1998, ICHISE opened a new chapter in the Japanese horror film as he successfully drew the audience to Ring (1998) jointly with TANAKE Hideo. SHIMIZU made the fear lurking in our everyday and it was scary enough to play a decisive role in creating this environment. After seeing the characters of revenge ceaselessly encountering with each other with cursed grudges, the audience feel horrified even by their bed at home. It is not easy to find such as successful case that the basic goal of making the movie scary is so fully fulfilled.

The impact of Ju-on is not only confined in Japan. Both the video and theater movies hit a record also in overseas countries and made a significant impression to those in the movie industry. The original target could have been Japanese audience but the fear created by SHINIZU had a power that could largely appeal to the audience around the world. In this regard, it is very meaningful to see the original Ju-on in that we can share the historic moment when transition of horror movie happened. (KWON Yong Min)