The Grudge 2
Hello, horror fans and fiends! I bring you this blog from thousands of feet above the Pacific Ocean, en route back to The States after spending two days in glorious Tokyo, Japan, where the cherry trees are blossoming and The Grudge 2 movie production is in full swing.

I was invited by Sony Pictures to tour two sets on Stage 7 at Toho Studios (the place where all the Godzilla movies were shot!), and interview the creator and director of The Grudge, Takashi Shimizu.

Also on set were Takako Fuji (Kayako, the famous broken-boned ghost), Amber Tamblyn (who’s playing Aubrey, the sister of the Sarah Michelle Gellar character), and Edison Chen (he plays Eason, an investigative photo-journalist who specializes in paranormal shenanigans).The plot of this sequel to the 2004 hit – which is not a remake of any of the Japanese versions of Ju-on – basically follows Aubrey from the U.S. to Tokyo, where she is searching for her missing sister. (Sarah Michelle Gellar will soon be filming some scenes, but it’s not known whether these will be flashbacks, or part of the ongoing story.)

Along the way Aubrey meets Eason, whose got troubles of his own – namely, Kayako showing up in his darkroom and not approving of the developments in his investigation. Despite his fear of the grudge, Aubrey talks Eason into helping her solve the deadly mystery of Karen’s disappearance.

When I asked Edison which of his “leading ladies” he likes better, he laughed, “I definitely prefer Amber!”

For the first time, we’ll step back into the past and into Kayako’s troubled childhood. Toshio, Kayako’s ghostly, cat-clutching son, is also back for more meows; but a new 10-year-old actor has been cast to play him. His name is Ohga Tanaka (spelling not confirmed) and The Grudge 2 will be his cinematic debut.

The movie will be released on Friday, October 13, 2006.

Check back soon for a full set report, complete with details and interviews.

horror.about.com   4/04/06  Staci Wilson