What happened to the cursed boy in The Scream? He scared us all, but he disappeared from Hollywood – Cinema News

In the early 2000s, Hollywood turned Asian horror remakes into a global phenomenon. Japanese titles gained new versions and reached the top of the box office, such as The Ring and The Scream. Released in 2004, the film directed by Takashi Shimizu grossed 187 million and introduced many viewers to one of the most disturbing characters of the genre: Toshio Saeki, played by Yuya Ozeki.

Before the American remake, however, the Japanese franchise already had a long history. The mythology of Ju-On began in 1998, with two Shimizu shorts, and expanded to direct-to-video releases before hitting the big screen in 2002, with The Scream. It was there that Ozeki took on the role of the boy who, after the violent death of his mother Kayako, becomes part of the curse that haunts the house.

The role that turned a boy into a Japanese horror icon

Ozeki reprized Toshio in the second Japanese film and also in the American remake. Although the Hollywood version simplified the narrative and expanded the presence of Kayako and Toshio to win over Western audiences, Ozeki became, for many, the definitive image of the character. His pale appearance and Toshio’s trademark unsettling meow came to symbolize the entire franchise.

After that, other actors played the boy in different timelines of the series, as the chronology of The Scream is divided between multiple versions of the same tragic event. In all cases, Kayako’s death and Toshio’s brutal end remain the core of the story, whether in Japan or in the American adaptation, where Takeo’s father drowns him in the bathtub.

Ozeki still appears credited in The Scream 2, but only with archive material. From then on, he was replaced — something common among child actors in long-running franchises. Interestingly, while Takako Fuji continued to bring Kayako to life for years, Ozeki stepped away from recording completely.

Yuya Ozeki’s quick farewell to cinema and the mystery after The Scream

After the peak in The ScreamYuya Ozeki has not returned to film or TV consistently. He is listed in productions such as Hotel Concierge (2014), but it does not actually appear. His last real work remains The Scream.

Like many child actors who shine in a single memorable role, Ozeki seems to have ended his career early, something common in the industry. He came, scared the whole world and that’s all he needed to do. Today, the cursed boy lives only in the memories of fans and in the legacy of one of the most iconic figures in Japanese horror.