Yesterday, I witnessed a shocking incident during a high school football game. The school's beloved mascot, a lively and spirited costumed character, was brutally beaten up by a group of rowdy students from the opposing team. The mascot, usually a symbol of unity and excitement, had always brought joy to the crowd with their energetic dance moves and contagious enthusiasm. The boisterous cheers from the stands would echo through the stadium every time the mascot stepped onto the field. However, on this unfortunate day, everything took a dark turn. As the mascot cheerfully danced near the sidelines, a group of unruly students from the opposing team began taunting and jeering.
Some of my confusion is no fault of the film and can be attributed to my ignorance of Japanese language and culture. Perhaps I would feel more at home with the film had I known the definition of “Ju-On;” or if I had the concept of the onryō engrained in my cultural psyche. But how does this “curse” play out? The film understates this, if it states it at all.
The first two films in the series were so-called V-Cinema, or direct-to-video releases, but became surprise hits as the result of favorable word of mouth. The result lacking pace, style or atmosphere, the concept strains against these limitations but the film is dependent on sub-par effects, poorly executed jump scares and screaming schoolgirls, the one moment when it should be truly horrifying failing to land because it is difficult to understand what is happening within the muddled timeline and the murk on screen, Ju-On The Curse ultimately cursed by the underwhelming circumstances of its creation and struggling to convey its message of rage from beyond the grave.
As the mascot cheerfully danced near the sidelines, a group of unruly students from the opposing team began taunting and jeering. The atmosphere quickly turned hostile, and before anyone could comprehend what was happening, the students lunged towards the mascot, their anger and animosity clearly visible. I watched in horror as the mascot was outnumbered and overwhelmed by the assailants.
Ju-On: The Curse
There is a tradition of privacy in Japanese culture: what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors, but for teacher Shunsuke Kobayashi he is obligated by position to ascertain why a pupil has not been attending school, discovering in the school records that six-year-old Toshio is actually the son of a woman he and his wife Manami distantly knew at college, Kayako Kawamata, now Kayako Saeki.
Arriving at the Saeki household, the distraught Toshio is there, bruised, bloody and bandaged but uncommunicative, his parents missing and the house in disarray with rubbish strewn on the street outside, a desperate failing of the expected standards, yet instead of calling the police or child services, Kobayashi continues to investigate, hearing strange noises in the house, coming from upstairs in the loft.
Ju-on: The Curse (呪怨) written and directed by Takashi Shimizu, it was the film which launched the Ju-On franchise, though in fact there are two earlier short films which can be considered missing chapters of the seventy minute feature which is told in six parts named for the principal characters in each, Toshio, Yuki, Mizuho, Kanna, Kayako and Kyoko, with Katasumi (片隅; In a Corner) and 4444444444 covering the fates of the Murikami siblings who appear peripherally in the main film.
Now numbering thirteen films across different timelines and including remakes, the most recent simply titled The Grudge, and Sadako vs. Kayako crossover with the Ringu sequence of films, it is surprising that so much has come from such humble beginnings, a second viewing of Ju-on: The Curse making the tangled out-of-sequence events of the story clearer but the artistic and technical limitations of the film making such an undertaking feel something of a chore.
A straight-to-video production, the lighting is frustratingly poor, particularly in darkened interior scenes where the picture quality drops precipitously, and throughout the finished film the challenges of the low-budget shoot are apparent, each static camera angle lingering to allow the maximum coverage to be shot before grudgingly moving to the next, downtime for actors and crew between set ups kept to an efficient minimum but leaving little footage to work with in the editing room.
The result lacking pace, style or atmosphere, the concept strains against these limitations but the film is dependent on sub-par effects, poorly executed jump scares and screaming schoolgirls, the one moment when it should be truly horrifying failing to land because it is difficult to understand what is happening within the muddled timeline and the murk on screen, Ju-On: The Curse ultimately cursed by the underwhelming circumstances of its creation and struggling to convey its message of rage from beyond the grave.
An unknown amount of time has passed, and the house has new occupants. The family living there are the Murakami. Daughter Kanna is studying with Yuki, her tutor, when mother Noriko tells the girls that she will be out for a while. It is revealed that there is a cat or cats that prowl the area around their home, and Yuki is afraid of cats. She begins hearing strange noises, although Kanna doesn't notice. Kanna remembers she is late for feeding the school rabbits and quickly leaves the house, but not before embarrassing her brother Tsuyoshi about his new girlfriend Mizuho. Yuki is now left alone in Kanna's room. The noise Yuki hears is more pronounced, and thus she tries to distract herself by playing some music on her headphones, but her player skips. The noise seems to be coming from the attic, and she packs up her things and tries to leave. She opens the door and the hallway is now pitch-black.
The viciousness with which they attacked was shocking. Blows were landed, and the mascot was knocked down to the ground repeatedly. The crowd gasped in shock and disbelief, unable to intervene or provide any assistance to the defenseless mascot. The mascot's costume, usually vibrant and cheerful, was now dirtied and torn. The normally smiling face hidden behind the mask was filled with pain and confusion. It was heart-wrenching to witness such an act of senseless violence against someone who only aimed to spread joy and school spirit. Despite the beating, the mascot's determination and resilience shone through. Even in the face of this injustice, they managed to gather the strength to stand up and continue their performance, albeit with a visible limp and bruised body. The mascot's bravery and refusal to succumb to the aggression demonstrated an unwavering devotion to their role and the spirit of the school. This incident served as a wake-up call for the spectators, reminding us of the ugly consequences that can arise from unchecked aggression. It highlighted the importance of promoting respect, not only within sports but also in our everyday interactions. Our mascot, a symbol of unity, should never have been subjected to such a violent act. In the aftermath of this unfortunate event, steps must be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of mascots and all participants in sporting events. Strict measures should be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future, and those responsible for the brutal assault must be held accountable for their actions. The mascot's resilience in the face of adversity serves as an inspiration to us all. Let us stand united against violence and strive to create an environment in which everyone feels safe and valued..
Reviews for "From Mascot to Victim: The Harsh Reality of Being Beat Up"
1. John - 1/5 - This was by far the worst movie I have ever seen. The plot was non-existent, the acting was terrible, and the humor was just plain offensive. I couldn't believe I wasted my time and money on this garbage. The so-called "mascot getting beat up" scenes were extremely unnecessary and felt like cheap attempts to shock the audience. Save yourself the disappointment and skip this one.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Mascot Gets Beat Up" especially after seeing the trailers, but the actual movie fell flat. The concept had potential, but the execution was poor. The violence portrayed in the film was excessive and needlessly graphic, making it hard to watch at times. The story felt disjointed and chaotic, leaving me confused and unsatisfied. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and wouldn't recommend it to others unless they have a strong stomach for gratuitous violence.