The career of Ju-on has been incredibly successful! Starting out as a video rendition, it has been made into a feature film and then a Hollywood-version remake, spanning over two cultural paradigms. With both video versions, director SHIMIZU Takashi has achieved the level of horror that is unprecedented, instantaneously gripping horror flick fans with his uncanny abilities to fine-tune terror and shock. Word of mouth has turned them into a horror legend, eventually leading to the production of a feature film version. Ju-on: The Grudge is also the most successful box office hit in Korea, for a Japanese movie: the suffocating tension and spook are highly appealing to Korean audiences. To fully appreciate its magnitude, one must see the video renditions first, though the difference is moderate (yet palpable). The pace at which terror is administered is probably what sets the two formats apart. The video versions offer continuous terror attacks whereas the feature version showcases upgraded special effects and enriched visual gadgets, though with compromised impact. Despite too many shock attempts, Ju-on: The Grudge is still one of the scariest movies you’ll ever see. (KIM Jong Chul)