3 Horror Movies That the US Adapted from Japanese Originals
Did you know that some of your favorite horror movies such as The Ring (2002), One Missed Call (2008) , and The Grudge (2004) had story concepts that existed far before their US release, and with a Japanese take? The Japanese horror movie industry has had a major impact on the horror movies made here in the US, and while the originals and the remakes may share the same ideas, they are portrayed differently on film.
One Missed Call (2003) / One Missed Call (2008)
Miike Takashi’s 2003 One Missed Call (Chakushin Ari in Japanese) is a movie about an angry spirit seeking revenge through leaving creepy voicemails of the receiver’s future self detailing how they will perish. This film was followed by 2 sequels as well as a spin off television series. Takashi used Jaw-style direction throughout the movie so you rarely see the spirit, a popular avenue to take in lower budget films.
Eric Valette’s 2008 remake of Takashi’s original One Missed Call was not as successful as the original. Valette’s take on the story was the same concept, as a woman suspects that the death of her two friends was a result of a mysterious voicemail they received just days before. Many reviews of this movie describe it as very cliché, hitting the expected horror tropes with predictability.
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) / The Grudge (2004)
Takashi Shimizu’s Ju-On’s successful horror franchise’s third film, Ju-On: The Grudge, released in 2002 was the first film in the series to hit the theaters. This film revolves around a child spirit that haunts a home in Nerima, Tokyo. This film had mixed reviews, but was still followed by two more movies in the Ju-On franchise.
In 2004, Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures remade The Grudge, resulting in a major box-office hit. Starring the American actress, Sarah Michelle Gellar, The Grudge remake also takes place in Tokyo, and revolves around the same child spirit, Kayako. The success of this film resulted in two more sequels, as well as a 2020 remake that was not well received.
The Ring (1998) / The Ring (2002)
The Ring is arguably the movie that popularized the trend of American adaptations of Japanese horror movies. Hideo Nakata directed the 1998 The Ring where he used the Jaw-Style technique while introducing new horror tropes that have been picked up ever since. Nakata was not the first director to pick up the storyline of The Ring, but was the first one to find success in the adaptation of Kōji Suzuki’s novel. The Ring’s plot involves a cursed video tape that is closely followed by the death of whoever watches it.
Gore Verbinski’s 2002 remake of The Ring starring Naomi Watts started a successful franchise. The Ring received great reviews and proved that movies adapted from Japan can be a huge hit in the US.
