OK, I know Ju-On: Origins isn't a movie, but I did not want to create a whole new category for TV shows so just roll with it, yeah?
Ju-On: Origins is a Japanese horror television miniseries based on the Ju-On franchise, and is directed by Sho Miyake and the cast includes Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Yuina Kuroshima, Ririka, Koki Osamura, Seiko Iwaido, Kai Inowaki, Ryushin Tei, Yuya Matsuura, Kaho Tsuchimura, Tokio Emoto, Nobuko Sendo and Kana Kurashina.
This Netflix horror series takes us on a journey through the infamous Grudge house, with paranormal investigator Yasuo leading the way, and is set between 1988 and 1997 and the show unfolds the backstory of the cursed house and its dark history.
Unlike the American remakes that fell flat, Ju-On: Origins stays true to its Japanese roots and delivers a fresh story, and this series takes a different approach, focusing on the origin story of the curse, rather than relying on the iconic Kayako character, so, don't expect to see her in this series as she is on holiday.
While it may be confusing at times, with different stories taking place at different times, everything connects back to the central storyline and the cursed house, so you need to pay close attention to catch all the intricate details and piece together the puzzle, and since it is only one season you can find time to re watch it too!
Instead of relying on jump scares, the series uses subtle sounds, creepy footsteps, and disturbing scenes to create a sense of unease, with one particular scene in episode four involving a pregnant woman and a jealous husband being a standout moment.
And if you want to know what Ju-On means, it means resentment curse. Happy to help.
The episodes all follow an episodic naming convention too, so instead of specific titles, each episode is simply referred to by its number, which I personally quite liked.
As the episodes jump between different characters and timelines, and as said it can be a bit confusing at times, but this non-linear storytelling ultimately serves a purpose.
Don't be scrolling Tik Tok while watching this one.
Each story, no matter how disconnected it may initially seem, ultimately connects back to the central storyline and the cursed house.
The psychological scares, the unsettling atmosphere, and the storytelling had me hooked and I binged it all pretty quickly.
Each episode is an average of 25 to 31 minutes each, so this series is a breeze to watch, and you can easily binge-watch it in one sitting since we all have busy lives and short attention spans,
Ju-On: Origins gets bonus points for keeping it quick and entertaining, no need to worry about committing to long, drawn-out episodes here.
It doesn't rely on cheap jump scares or predictable storylines either, and instead it takes a more subtle and calculated approach to scare the living daylights out of you, or at least try to.
The series is just different to a lot of what I have seen before TV show wise, and it works very well.
Part of me wants a 2nd season, but you know, sometimes, less is more, and since no season 2 has not been announced yet I think it is safe to say this will be a one season wonder anyway.
Ju-On Origins is a very quick watch that every horror fan should see.
The psychological scares, the unsettling atmosphere, and the storytelling had me hooked from start to finish.
If you like the Grudge movies and want to see what a series like this on Netflix can do, check this out because you won't be disappointed at all.
Just remember to pay attention.
I would rate this a 75% on my horror nerd-o-meter
What was your thoughts on the Ju-On: Origins TV series? Would you like a 2nd season?
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Check out some other horror movie reviews:
The Wretched movie review
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Psycho II movie review