Ju-on: The Final Curse Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: The disgraceful, and hopefully, final entry in the Grudge franchise.

Review: Okay, I've put off this review long enough. Unquestionably, this is the worst entry in the entire series. Not even joking, I have seen fan films on youtube better and more faithful to the Grudge legacy than this entry. How in the hell do you fuck up this badly?! And I thought "Ju-on: The Beginning of the End" was shit...goddamn. What happened to this franchise? I consider "Ju-on: The Grudge 2" one of the scariest movies ever, and yet this series has been reduced to the sheer idiocy displayed here? I mean, I get that this is the shitty sequel to a shitty reboot--so my expectations weren't exactly high--but it still managed to disappoint. Fuck. There's just so little to say positive here...this is a disgrace...that's all I can think about.

What is the premise this time around? Well, if you read any bullshit promotional material claiming this was about trying to end the curse, I can tell you none of that happens. It's more hapless victims who don't have a fucking clue in the world as to what's happening or who's killing them; I didn't even get the impression that the characters knew who Kayako was. As with the pathetic remake, Toshio is the primary antagonist and Kayako is merely background dressing. Seriously, did the makers watch the original films at all? Kayako IS what makes this franchise work! Toshio is a retarded kid in tighty whities meowing like a fucking cat! That is more comical than scary.

The story focuses on the sister of the main chick from the last film mixed with Toshio's aunt like it's some big twist. This movie claims Toshio never was killed by Takeo yet he is still a ghost magically. Oh goodness gracious. Toshio astral projects his ghost form or something and can kill people because...well, why not, right? He is simply killing people for the lulz, and the entire concept of a "Ju-on" is irrelevant if he never died to begin with. Forget the rules about going into the Saeki house or anything we've come to know about this series. In fact, the Saeki house is finally destroyed, but it has absolutely no bearing on the plot nor do they emphasize the significance of such a gesture. Kayako is running around simply because the plot demands it. She looks terrible with her mouth perpetually opened as if they used a mask instead of makeup effects. Hell, maybe they did--she was blurry as hell. They also tried to make a jump scare out of a piece of paper which was amusing to say the least. Another stupid point was when Kayako was held at bay by a cabinet. Who knew that's all it took? And what is all of this stupidity building toward? You'll love this! Apparently, Toshio transfers his ghost self into a dying little girl at a nearby hospital. So now Toshio is a girl and that accomplishes...I have no idea. The movie simply ends with the main chick seemingly dying and nothing is resolved. What exactly makes this "the final curse" by the way?

Let me get this moronic plot straight. Takeo and Kayako Saeki move into a house. The house is somehow haunted by Toshio who possesses a crazed Kayako that is obsessed with having a child. We are never told where Toshio came from conveniently. Kayako gives birth to Toshio through immaculate conception, but Takeo suspects Kayako merely cheated on him. In a supposed rage, Takeo kills Kayako and the cat, but Toshio's ghost form kills Takeo? For whatever, unknown reason, this lame killing spree was soooo powerful it created a "Ju-on," a cursed hatred that spreads to whoever goes into the home. However, this is insignificant since Toshio carries on as normal until his teacher and other flunkies die. Taken in by his aunt, Toshio dicks around until deciding he wants to become a girl. And that's it. That's all that happens. This is acceptable to the idiots who wrote that shit reboot and this abomination? This is seppuku worthy.

If you are a fan of this franchise, I would suggest to avoid this entry at all costs. Simply pretend this and the reboot do not exist. There is nothing new unless you've always secretly desired for Toshio to become a little girl. Kayako is useless, looks horrible, and is not scary in the least--what a disrespectful depiction of one of Japan's most iconic villains. The production felt cheap, the story is nonsensical, and they're clearly out of ideas at this point. For what it's worth, I'm still looking forward to "Sadako vs. Kayako" if only for the so bad it's good potential. Beyond that, this franchise is all but milked to death.

Notable Moment: When that one chick is saying she and her friends should watch horror movies and eat pizza. What's this...a girl after my own heart? That's practically proposing to me.

Final Rating: 3.5/10