Ju-on: The Grudge(呪怨じゅおん)

Los Angeles Times by

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.

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.

Village Voice by Dennis Lim

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.

Variety by Derek Elley

A haunted-house one-trick pony.

Film Threat by Eric Campos

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.

New York Daily News by Jami Bernard

Its shapelessness and the cultural differences in acting style will keep this version filed under "cult oddity."

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.

L.A. Weekly by Ron Stringer

Occasionally scary, never coherent.

New York Post by V.A. Musetto

The story is told in fractured time. This might not be a problem if his visuals were more fear-inducing.