Takeshi Shimizu announces follow-up to 'The Grudge'

Riding high on the success of his American re-make of 'The Grudge,' Takeshi Shimizu is preparing to start work on his next project 'The Death'.

Nov  2 2004

It's been a big week for Japanese film director Takeshi Shimizu. Not only did his English-language debut continue to rule the roost at the American box office, but Shimizu also announced that the next project on his slate will be a mysteriously-monikered movie called 'The Death'.

Little is known about the film at present, although as part of the Lions Gate J-Horror franchise, launched earlier this year with Japanese producer Taka Ichise, chances are it’ll be mean, moody and scary as hell. One thing is for sure however - it won't be a sequel to 'The Grudge', which should come as a welcome relief to Shimizu, having re-made his original straight-to-video ghost story no less than three times previously.

The Lions Gate franchise itself has already churned out two Japanese scare-fests in the shape of ‘Infection’ (Kansen) and ‘Premonition’ (Yogen), and while they have yet to open worldwide, the company are confident that they can repeat the success of ‘Ringu', ‘Dark Water' and the slew of eastern horror films that have recently taken the west by storm.

Cameras are all set to roll on ‘The Death’ in Japan in March 2005, but until then Shimizu can bask in the glory of ‘The Grudge', a film that has already grossed over $70 million at the American box office and may well turn out to be the horror hit of the year. Meanwhile British horror fans can find out what all the fuss is about when the film opens here on Friday November 5.

A full review of 'The Grudge' is available online and in Time Out London November 3-10 2004. Issue No. 1785.

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