Juon 2 (Korean Version) DVD Region 3

At the time of this writing, there have been two direct-to-video movies, two feature films, and an American remake. Not only that, but director Takashi Shimizu is said to be prepping both The Grudge 2 and Ju-On: The Grudge 3. Considering how horror films depend primarily on a "fear of the unknown," can a certifiable horror franchise continue to scare us?

In a word, yes. But the kinds of shocks that Ju-On: The Grudge 2 achieves are, for the most part, pretty cheap. The pasty little ghost boy Toshio elicits plenty of creepy shocks when he pops up unexpectedly throughout the film, but he's more tragic than terrifying. His vengeful mother Kayako, on the other hand, fares a little better in the chills department, but her power, too, suffers a bit due to overexposure. So how can a horror movie succeed when its very premise seems to have run its course? Simple: reinvent the formula.

And that's exactly what Shimizu does in this sequel. But instead of just throwing out all the rules (which would frustrate audiences), the film creates a new twist that makes sense within the story. That isn't to say the film isn't without its faults. Certain plotlines go nowhere, and some scenes are unintentionally hilarious, but overall, Ju-On: The Grudge 2 makes compelling ninety minutes of entertainment. Although the film could have been a bland rehash of the first film, Takashi Shimuzu seizes the opportunity to make this sequel an exercise in cinematic creativity. And hey, you can't begrudge him for that.