Sarah Michelle Gellar

Jason Behr, who plays the boyfriend of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character in the upcoming horror remake The Grudge, told SCI FI Wire that the new version remains true to the spirit of the original Japanese film, Ju-On. "The Grudge, I think, [is] the best of both worlds, because it doesn’t lose any of that Japanese sensibility," he said in an interview. "It definitely has a different flavor, in that way that Ju-On was very unique. But The Grudge is that with American actors in Japan telling that story. It’s pretty terrifying."

The Grudge was filmed in Tokyo under the direction of Takashi Shimizu, who also directed the original Ju-On. Though Shimizu and the rest of the crew spoke little English, Behr said that he didn’t have too much trouble with the language barrier on the set. "With the obstacles we had at the beginning, the whole language barrier, [it was amazing] being able to overcome those and still make the movie that we made," he said. "Shimizu was a friendly guy. He’s got a wicked sense of humor, one that doesn’t often need translation."

Behr (TV’s Roswell) added that it helped that he and Gellar had previously established a working relationship when he guest-starred in a second-season episode of Gellar’s television show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "Working with her on Buffy, I don’t know how long ago, and then coming back to work together again, it was great to have a friend in Japan," he said. "She hasn’t changed a whole lot. She’s still the same person that I knew way back when." The Grudge, which is in post-production, is slated for release Oct. 22.