Written by: Michael Den Boer on June 23rd, 2011
Theatrical Release Dates: Japan, 2009 (Ju-on: White Ghost), Japan, 2009 (Ju-on: Black Ghost)
Directors: Ryûta Miyake (Ju-on: White Ghost), Mari Asato (Ju-on: Black Ghost)
Writers: Ryûta Miyake, Takashi Shimizu (Ju-on: White Ghost), Mari Asato, Takashi Shimizu (Ju-on: Black Ghost)
Cast: Hiroki Suzuki, Ichirôta Miyakawa, Natsuki Kasa, Akina Minami, Marika Fukunaga, Chie Amemiya, Aimi Nakamura, Akiko Hoshino, Eiichi Ôkubo, Sumire Arai, Yasuo Gotô, Mihiro, Chinami Iwamoto, Shûsei Uto, Takuji Suzuki, Yoshinori Edagawa, Tsuyoshi Muro, Chikako Isomura (Ju-on: White Ghost), Kôji Seto, Kuniteru Shigeyama, Kana Tsugihara, Ai Kago, Shinji Nomura, Michiko Iwahashi, Yuno Nakazono, Ichirôta Miyakawa, Hana Matsumoto, Ayato Kosugi, Kôzô Satô, Masanobu Katsumura, Ryôta Matsushima, Shûsei Uto, Yuri Nakamura, Ryûnosuke Hashino, Yoshimi Tachi, Maria Takagi (Ju-on: Black Ghost)
Approximate running time: 60 minutes (Ju-on: White Ghost), 61 minutes (Ju-on: Black Ghost)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Interlaced (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese, Dolby Digital Stereo Japanese (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
BluRay Release: Well Go USA
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $26.98
Ju-on: White Ghost and Ju-on: Black Ghost, are a continuation of a series of Ju-on (The Grudge) films that were directed by Takashi Shimizu (Tomie Rebirth / The Shock Labyrinth 3-D). In all he would direct a total of six Ju-on films, including the first two American remakes The Grudge and The Grudge 2. A third American Grudge film would mark the first time that someone besides Takashi Shimizu would direct a Ju-on film.
Ju-on: White Ghost - A family moves into a cursed house in which the former occupants were murdered.
Ju-on: Black Ghost - A young girl’s deteriorating health is somehow linked to her twin sister, who died at birth.
Just like the previous Ju-on films, these two film’s center around a malevolent spirit that terrorizes those who cross its path. Narrative wise both are told in a non-linear way. The plot has been broken down into chapters, one for each character. Of the two films, Ju-on: White Ghost is easily the stronger of the two. It also is the one that most resembles its predecessors, while Ju-on: Black Ghost is basically your standard ghost story dressed up as a Ju-on like tale. And while there are no genuinely frightful moments in either of these films. Both of these films have an abundance of creepy imagery (a old woman carrying a basketball) and a sufficient amount of eerie moments. Overall when compared to what has come before, both of these film’s pale in every way to their predecessors.
The BluRay:
Ju-on: White Ghost / Ju-on: Black Ghost comes on a 25 GB single layer BluRay. The film is presented in a 1080 Interlaced anamorphic widescreen. There image looks crisp, colors and flesh tones look accurate and black levels look very good. There are no problems with and DNR while present, it is never too intrusive.
This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Japanese and a Dolby Digital Stereo mix in Japanese. Both audio mixes sound clean, clear and robust when they need too. Also channel separation is very good and the more ambient aspects of the soundtrack are well represented. Also included with this release are removable English subtitles that are easy to follow and error free.
Extras for this release are limited to trailers for other titles also available on DVD and BluRay from Well Go USA. Overall Ju-on: White Ghost / Ju-on: Black Ghost gets a good audio / video presentation.
Note: Well Go USA are also releasing Ju-on: White Ghost / Ju-on: Black Ghost on DVD.