The Grudge(2004) - Takashi Shimizu

We have looked at some horror film openings to learn techniques and get a better understanding of a good opening sequence, for my own analysis of an opening i chose 'The Grudge'.
The Grudge is a 2004 remake of a Japanese film called Ju-on: The Grudgeand is currently thefirst film in a 3 part series, which should change to a four part series next year, it was directed by Takashi Shimizuwho also directed the original, Japanese version. The Grudge describes a curse that is created when someone dies as a result of a powerful rage or extreme sorrow, the curse then goes on to kill anyone who encounters it so it is reborn to kill another victim, as it peruses this endless chain of murder.
We looked at the mise-en-scene, camera angles and movement, editing and sound there is a video of me doing my presentation in class where i go through the majority of the main points, i haven't got hold of that yet but here are the notes that i used, and the link for the video that i used to analyse:
I began the video at 3:20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Kjg6jLgQ8
Notes

3:20 - The credits are coloured with red and black relating to death and bloodetc. Thestrange patterns of the black lines almost look like hair and slightly sharp, could be togive the sensation of annoying presence which would be similar to the grudge.
The screen then gets covered in the black pattern as it represents the grudge it could be showing how it overpowers it’s victims and black is commonly associated with death so by combining the two ideas you get the idea that the grudge is kills people.

3:41 - She enters the scene coming out of a dark shadow, we don’t know much about her so it could be to demonstrate the fact she is quite a mysterious character. Also black is typically a colour that we associate with fear/the unknown so it sets the mood for the film.

3:40 – 4:07 - This part also edited and filmed with a combination of match on action and jump cuts because by using the locatio

n and setting around her you can see that they are jumping to different places, to savetime and bored

om, however it has been filmed to look like match on action because she enters each shot in the same way she left the previous one.
It is very slow, smooth and long camera movements between cuts which is quite in keeping with her cycling movement. Also the way the camera follows her gives the feeling that we are watching her, and clearly shows who we are supposed to focus on.

4:09 - The house is overgrown with unwanted plants/weeds which can be to show how the house is ‘overfilled’ with life because the grudge is about strange creatures living in the house. It can also be there to show how the house hasn’t had much attention paid to it and is quite old, as it has just been left to become like that.

4:10 - The bar coming across the ca

mera definitely creates the sense that we are secretly hiding whilst watching her, it’s almost as if we are the grudge sneaking around watching her. The slow panning movement makes it feel as if we are trying to move slowly and quietly.
The sound follows a similar pattern to the sound nearer the scary part however this is a lot softer and in tune and not as ha

rsh.

4:22 - The mess and

chaos in the house could be ther

e to represent the clutter and confusion of the old woman’s min

d, it can also show the fact that she has not been able to keep it together and that she is very unstable.
4:26 - Both wearing similar colour but the older

woman is wearing a dark blue and the young woman is wearing a very pale blue, this can show that the older woman has been more effected by the grudge than the young woman. Also the chairs are even darker blue which would suggest they are even more affected, which makes sense as they are part of the house.

4:56 - Again, this also gives the sense that we are looking at her, but this time we are looking down upon her which makes her seem like a much easier target and that we are more powerful than her, which ties with the idea of us being like the grudge.The camera shots do not move with her, they all remain shot from the same place instead of moving as she does, this enhances the sense of watching her.

5:15 - The light in the window shining behind the victim, almost highlighting the target. A long shot is used here which shows the surroundings of the narrow hallwa

y that makes it seem as if there is no escape for her, making her quite small and powerless. However this power suddenly feels reversed when she starts walking towards you as it feels like you were in the same position she was.

5:46 - This is an unusual shot because it sho

ws her from a low angle, which should make her more intimidating but knowing that she is quite scared doesn’t make us feel intimidated. The slow panning, looking up is to show that the creature is above the ceiling, it also gives a slight sensation of disorientation which could be to present the confusion that she has.
The Sound is very high pitched and out of tune, almost enhancing the sense of disorientation.

5:57 - 6:21 - This is a quite a long, drawn out shot between cuts, I think it makes the film feel more realistic, I also think it would have been used to build tension for the audience. Very slow sound, long pauses between notes, enhancing the drawn out shot.

6:23 - It becomes very dark and dull, a sign to show there is more danger approaching, it also sets the atmosphere for the audience as th

ey can immediately relate the lighting to fear.
As soon as she enters this part the sound gets a lot deeper almost as a threatening sound to the audience.

6:33 - Again, another high camera angle, making her seem more intimidating and powerless, also the fact she was in a confined space shows she cannot escape the problems she will face

6:37 - The stringing cobwebs show that the attic has been shut away and forgotten or left alone. I also believe it is a typical horror film design as it can be related to the standard horror film scenes that include the monster.

6:45 – 7:15 - The light created from her lighter flickers a lot and almost gives the sense that she is shaking with fear. Again more cobwebs, they are used by spiders to catch their prey and the presence of them in this scene could suggest the same with the grudge.
The sound in this scene is hollow, eerie and louder and definitely related to the typical ghostly sound.
7:19 - Hair coming over its face showing that it likes to be hidden away or to show that it’s unknown to people, the hair is used with the lighting to create a shadow that almost hides it even more. The light also reflects off its eyes to make them seem more piercing and angry.