40
The film's repetitious, episodic structure seems to unnecessarily alleviate the building tension, making it a far less frightening film than it might have been.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
40
The New York Times by Dave Kehr
Because there is a new hero to identify with every 10 minutes, the viewer isn't drawn into a sustained suspense, but is merely subjected to a series of more or less foreseeable shocks.
40
Ju-on never snaps into focus like a "Go" or a "Pulp Fiction," and what at first registers as sloppy plotting starts to seem positively diabolical.
50
A haunted-house one-trick pony.
60
Basically, what you have in Ju-On is a collection of effectively scary sights and sounds - sound effects play a huge part in rolling that chill down your spine – and that's about it.
25
New York Daily News by Jami Bernard
Its shapelessness and the cultural differences in acting style will keep this version filed under "cult oddity."
60
TV Guide Magazine by Maitland McDonagh
Shimizu generates a sense of palpable dread in each segment, expertly manipulating tried-and-true scare tactics supplemented by a truly inspired use of spooky sound effects.
30
Occasionally scary, never coherent.
50
The story is told in fractured time. This might not be a problem if his visuals were more fear-inducing.