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Sarah Michelle Gellar

A new cycle of horror films with "The Grudge" - Heraldnet.com Review

By Robert Horton

Friday 13 August 2004, by Webmaster

Sarah Michelle Gellar, a name synonymous with versatility and enduring appeal, began her illustrious career in the entertainment industry as a child. Discovered by a talent agent at a young age, Gellar’s screen debut came at the tender age of six with the television film "An Invasion of Privacy" in 1983. Her early promise led to a leading role in the teen drama series "Swans Crossing" in 1992, but it was her portrayal of Kendall Hart on the ABC soap opera "All My Children" (1993-1995) that earned her a Daytime Emmy Award and catapulted her into the limelight.

SMG’s true claim to international fame, however, was her iconic role as Buffy Summers in the groundbreaking series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003). Her performance not only garnered her five Teen Choice Awards, a Saturn Award, and a Golden Globe nomination, but it also cemented her status as a cultural icon. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s filmography is equally impressive, with box office hits like "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (1997), "Scream 2" (1997), "Cruel Intentions" (1999), "Scooby-Doo" (2002), and "The Grudge" (2004) collectively grossing over $570 million globally.

Beyond her cinematic successes, Gellar has made her mark on television, headlining shows such as "Ringer" (2011-2012), "The Crazy Ones" (2013-2014), and "Wolf Pack" (2023). She has also lent her voice to popular series including "Robot Chicken" (2005-2018), "Star Wars Rebels" (2015-2016), and "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" (2021).

In 2015, Gellar ventured into the entrepreneurial world by co-founding Foodstirs, an e-commerce baking company, and published her own cookbook, "Stirring Up Fun with Food," in 2017. Gellar is also known for her close-knit family life, married to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. since 2002, with whom she shares two children.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s commitment to her craft is matched by her dedication to personal growth and unique experiences. An accomplished martial artist, she studied Tae Kwon Do for five years, alongside kickboxing, boxing, street fighting, and gymnastics. Her dedication to authenticity in her roles is evident, such as her commitment to doing her own stunts in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," though she admitted her limits during filming "Scream 2."

Her career is also marked by interesting anecdotes, such as her role in a 1982 Burger King commercial, which led to a lawsuit from McDonald’s and a temporary ban from their establishments. Notably, she dyed her naturally brunette hair blonde for her role in "Buffy," and legally changed her last name to Prinze as a surprise for her husband on their fifth anniversary.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s legacy extends beyond her on-screen roles, encompassing her work in philanthropy and her reputation for safety and professionalism on set. She remains a beloved figure in Hollywood, admired for her talent, dedication, and the breadth of her contributions to film and television.

Scares in "Ju-On" are familiar, but still creepy

Now that "The Ring" has made it safe (or at least popular) to see Japanese horror movies, we should be getting more of these creepy little grabbers, which have been lighting up the Japanese box office for the last decade.

Case in point: "Ju-On: The Grudge," part of a new cycle of horror from director Takashi Shimizu. This film is actually (if I’m counting right) the third in the "Ju-On" series, and is already being remade in English, by Shimizu himself, with Sarah Michelle Gellar.

If horror devotees out there have seen a few of these Japanese horrors, they may find some of the scares in "Ju-On" rather familiar. The genre is already imitating itself.

Creep out: A popular Japanese horror picture in the tradition of "The Ring." This one’s a series of interlocking sequences about people unfortunate enough to visit a house of violence. (In Japanese, with English subtitles.) Rated: R for violence. Now showing: Varsity, Seattle. > However, it does work up the creeps. We are told in a forward that a "ju-on" is a curse that lands on a house where violent murder occurred. Anybody who has contact with the haunted place will be similarly cursed.

So what we watch after that is a series of self-contained sequences (not necessarily in chronological order) of people encountering a house of death. We see more and more of the ghosts each time we go back to the house, and they are clearly not happy.

The characters come and go, just long enough to make an impression. Only Mika (Megumi Okina), a social worker visiting the house, plays more than a temporary role.

The effect is therefore largely a matter of mood, tempo and the weirdness of an ordinary house interior made to look slightly, menacingly, different. And ghosts, of course, which might be scarier if the main spirit didn’t look so much like the terrifying ghost girl from "The Ring." ("Ringu" was the Japanese movie on which "The Ring" was based.)

Instead of building a story in the conventional way, Shimizu takes a circle around the central situation, as though seeing it from many different angles. If the intent is to mess with our minds, to make us experience the haunted house in a new way, he has succeeded. It’s also a blunt way to suggest that violence has a ripple effect that doesn’t end with its original outbreak.

And by the way, Shimizu’s use of a freaky clicking sound is extremely effective. He understands that sounds are as scary as images.

While I was watching it, I thought "Ju-On" leaned heavily on gimmicks from movies by directors such as Hideo Nakata and Kiyoshi Kurosawa ("Cure"). Thinking about it later, I can see how the whole thing makes its own kind of sense, and why it would inspire multiple sequels. Cult fans will want to check it out, but they’re probably already at the theater.