Ju-on; The Grudge - Opening Sequence Analysis

Ju-on; The Grudge – Opening sequence analysis

 

 

The film begins with on screen text telling us about the legend of the ju-on curse, that it is a ‘curse born of a grudge held by someone who dies in the grip of anger.’

We are then shown an establishing shot of a dark narrow street. The camera has a fuzzy type effect, it then cuts to a shot of a specific house, and the noise of a cat can be heard. Next there is a close up of what appears to be blood, running down a wall. While in none of these shots we see an event taking place, there is certainly a dark mood being set. Along with the film there is creepy sounding music playing in the background, adding to the tense feel.

Next we are shown a close up of someone’s leg, which is twitching up and down quickly. We can also see scissors on the floor and what appears to be a cut up photograph.  Another close up is used next, of a man who appears to be nervously chewing his bloodied fingers.  From what we are shown we can guess that this man is perhaps not mentally stable, and certainly nervous about something. The fact that we don’t know what yet makes us eager to find out, although slightly nervous ourselves as to what the event that has taken place is.

A montage of bloodied walls and the man is shown, followed by close ups of what appears to be a bloodied corpse, and finally the cat which we have been hearing. Whilst we are shown many different things during this sequence, it is all done in close ups and medium close ups, so we are never able to see the full picture. This adds to the sense of mystery. We see the cat get grabbed by the neck violently, and as the camera cuts to a shot of a small child drawing, we hear a sound, which is most likely the cat being killed. Once again we do not see this on screen, but instead the film suggests it to us.

 

Quick shots are used, and we only see flashes of the scene, but we are able to make out spatters of blood in every shot, and a cutaway to a small knife being wielded by the man shows us that he is perhaps behind the gruesome scene. We are also shown a close up of the dead characters face, which is pale and completely still, but with wide eyes, maybe showing that she was shocked when she died. We can come to the conclusion that this was a family, the male, his wife and his child and pet. The opening sequence ends with the title of the film being displayed.

 

Low key lighting and a fuzzy camera effect are used throughout the sequence, both contributing to the dark feel of the film, and the fuzzy effect might be representative of the male characters insanity. All of the events taking place are suggested rather than shown, through various mediums, making the audience piece together the clues themselves, and therefore involving them more. We can guess that the remainder of the film will explain in more detail of the events, and show perhaps why what happened what happened, and what will happen next. Straight cuts are used, giving the sequence a fast paced and jumpy feel.