Title Sequence Analysis - The Grudge (American Version)

We are going to analyse the title sequence of 'The Grudge', which is the American remake of 'Ju-on: The Grudge'.  

The Sequence first introduces the production and distribution companies, Columbia and Ghost House Pictures. A slight drone begins to play though the Columbia title which turns into eery music through the Ghost House title.

The title sequence then goes on to quote,  

'WHEN SOMEONE DIES IN THE GRIP OF A POWERFUL RAGE... A CURSE IS BORN.

THE CURSE GATHERS IN THAT PLACE OF DEATH.

THOSE WHO ENCOUNTER IT WILL BE CONSUMED BY ITS FURY.'

The quote is in capitals, and starts off black, but when the quote fades the highlighted words turn red and stay on screen a while longer, creating suspense and fear.

After the quote an establishing shot is used, which shows a river and some houses. The camera pans to the left and tilts upwards until we see a man looking outside of the window. A women in the bed of the flat asks 'Peter are you okay?' his response is to turn around and give her a face full of anger without saying a word. 'You're up early today' she says to try to get a response. Peter grunts and throws himself off the building.After the woman looks out the camera goes to streetwalk view of Peter, and from the little Japanese that I know I can tell that the woman are saying 'Oh my God, It looks so painful'. The scene is the start of the quotes shown before. Eery music begins to play again when the scene fades out and the next set of text is shown.

Sam Raimi and Columbia Pictures present 

A ghost house pictures production

A film by Takashi Shimuzu 

Sarah Michelle Gellar
They are shown in this format, the red is repesentative of blood, effects have been used to make the text appear to be a sea of blood... with a non diegetic sound of ocean waves. There are only 4 credits in this style which tells us these must be the most important people.


The next set of credits are on a red background with black text. A hand comes through the Japanese characters which show that the red is a pool of blood. As the credits appear, strands that would seem to be hair sway across the blood bath.


Japanese Charcaters (meaning The Grudge).

The Grudge
Jason Behr
Kadee Strickland
Grace Zabriskie
Rosa Blasi
Ryo Ishibashi
William Mapother, Ted Raimi
Yoko Maki, Takako Fuji
With Clea Duvall
and Bill Pullman

The next set of credit are in white, but fade out to red whilst playing over the film. This is done to help speed up the film and disguise the title sequence. 

Casting by Nacy Nayor Battio, Kelly Wagner

Music by Christopher Young

Editor Jeff Betancourt

Production designer

Iwao Saito

Girl starts to enter a house, calling for someone.

Director of photogrpahy Hideo Yamamoto

Girl reads note 'out for a walk, back later -jennifer'

Co producers Micheal Kirk, Aubrey Henderson, Shintaro Shimsosawa.

Executive producers Joe Drake, Nathan Khane, Carsten Lorenz

Executive producers Roy Lee Doug Davidson

Produced by Sam Rami, Rop Tapet, Taka ichise

Based on 'Ju-on" The grudge' Writen and directed by Takashi Shimizu

Screenplay by Stephen Susco

The Japanese Characters on scrolls, and archetexture tell us that the film is set in Japan, despite being an American remake.

Yoko hears a noice and goes to investigate it in the attic, we see a strange face just before Yoko is taken or eaten by it, we can also hear a growling sound whilst she screams.

Directed by Takeshi Shimizu

As Takeshi Shimizu is the last name to be shown in the sequence we know that he is important in the production of the film, also because he is the director. The last set of credits which play through the opening of the film are names of others who were important in the production such as producers, executive produces, and co producers.

The conventions of a title sequence: 

• -Production and distribution company logo.
• -Director, Producor, Top actors.
• -Film title.

- Main actors

-Film Directors

-Film title

-Executives, Editors, Music, Costume, Screenplay.

-Director/Producer.

The Grudge's title sequence differed, It first introduced the production and distribution company logos,

 then went to a quote. Other than the quote, the film more or less kept to the conventions, showing the 

most important people last.