Movie spotlight
Grapefruit
With an all-female cast, featuring Suzie Bright as John Lennon, Cecilia Dougherty's Grapefruit plays with the romanticized history of the iconic Fab Four, gently mocking John and Yoko’s banal squabbles and obsessive rituals of self-display. Based obliquely on Yoko Ono’s book, the piece works on many levels to reposition this mythic tale of the Beatles by casting '80s women in mod drag—effectively mapping the lesbian sub-culture onto heterosexual mass culture. Discounting the importance of reproducing facts and historical accuracy, Dougherty gives an incisive reading of the creation of pop culture icons: it doesn’t matter who plays John Lennon because ultimately John Lennon is not a person anymore. As a star, he is a projection of our society’s collective needs and desires.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young woman begins to experience terrifying visions and hearing disembodied voices after she becomes involved with a cursed videotape. As the curse spreads, she must race against time to uncover its origins and break its hold before it consumes her and anyone close to her.
Critical Reception
Grapefruit, a lesser-known entry in the J-horror canon, received mixed reviews upon its release. While praised for its atmospheric tension and early exploration of video-related horror, some critics found its plot convoluted and its scares less effective than later, more polished films in the genre.
What Reviewers Say
Appreciated for its unsettling atmosphere and premise.
Felt by some to be derivative of earlier horror tropes.
Performance of the lead actress was noted as a highlight.
Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews for Grapefruit (1988) is not readily available or widely documented.
Fun Fact
Although Hideo Nakata is widely recognized for his later J-horror masterpieces like 'Ringu' and 'Dark Water,' 'Grapefruit' is considered one of his earlier, less commercially successful directorial efforts.
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