The Grudge (2004) Movie Review
Written By: TJ
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Producers: Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Takashige Ichise
Writers: Stephen Susco
Date Released: October 22, 2004
Cast:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Karen Davis
Takako Fuji as Kayako Saeki
Grace Zabriskie as Emma
Jason Behr as Doug
William Mapother as Matthew
Clea Duvall as Jennifer
Bill Pullman as Peter
Rating = 3/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Studying social work in Japan, exchange student Karen Davis (Sarah Gellar) agrees to cover for a care worker who did not show up for work. She had a hard time locating the house but after some tips from the locals, she is soon able to find it. Seeing the insides disheveled, she discovers Emma (Grace Zibriskie), the elderly woman she’s assigned to take care of, lost in a catatonic state. As she is tending to the stricken old woman, she hears a mysterious scratching from upstairs. Karen gathers her courage and investigate the room where she discovers a journal with photographs attached, as well as a boy looking frightened and battered. Upon further research, she learns that a curse has been rooted in that house 3 years ago, and anyone who gets involved will taste a vengeful rage. As more people die, Karen is pulled into a cycle of horror and is necessitated to stop it before it’s too late.
Gore Factor
The Grudge (2004) has a fair share of gore and scares throughout the film. Needless to say, the movie actually became an icon in the horror genre for making its viewers’ hair stand on end. Aside from the iconic appearance of the main ghost who has a very long black hair, mechanical body movements, and the noise she makes that sounds like it’s coming from a motorbike, you will also see some stomach-churning products of prosthetics and makeup. Prepare for a crime scene featuring a bloody human jawbone with flesh still attached to it, then later on leads to a ghoulish-looking woman and erstwhile owner of the missing jawbone. There are also corpses found in the attic or inside a plastic bag, as well as on the roadside pooling on his own blood. The Grudge surely made an impact to its viewers when it comes to jump-out-of-your-seats moments, but if you have a high tolerance with gore and scares, then this film might not satiate your entertainment meter.
The Grave Review
The Grudge, originally set in Japan has been remade by Takashi Shimizu, only this time it’s composed mostly of American actors. Some critics who’ve watched both films say that the remake loses its intriguing opportunities to contrast American and Japanese cultures by allowing everyone to speak in English. Suffice to say, I agree with the statement because after watching the remake, I thought that the production just wanted to tape in Japan but still wanting to bring their American ways into the foreign land.
The Grudge (2004) takes a more complex approach of telling a story. The story is laid in fragments starting on the middle event, then to the current one, then to the backstory, and then repeat, so make sure that you pay attention to details. The plot is well-written, I’ll give it that, it’s even the scariest film for most of its viewers. However it takes its toll on the story itself. Kayako Saeki created an immense hatred after being killed for the mistake she originally did. She fell in love with someone even though she already had a husband and a child, for goodness sake. And now she haunts and kills anyone who unwittingly gets involved. It would be more reasonable if she is killed because of something she didn’t do, or something that she is forced to do. But killing innocent people because you cheated? Totally a no for me.
Based on the premise of restless spirits and curses, The Grudge (2004) could’ve easily turned into a crappy film like any other. But thanks to the unsettling sound effects and camera angles that truly bring out the horror that lies within the setting, it works. They show you a quick glimpse of something with musical sounds added for extra scare value. They have also presented the images in such a great way that it creates a creepy atmosphere in the film.
Substantial dialogues can be pretty scarce since we have American actors on foreign land that doesn’t speak much of the English language. Also, the elderly woman, Emma, doesn’t speak much at all. Special effects can be considerable, but not astounding. The characters have no development, but the actors’ performances are life-savers. Although they are not very astonishing, they somehow managed to pull through this film. If you’re interested in watching The Grudge because it is popular, take my word when I say it’s just the hype.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives The Grudge (2004) three graves out of five graves.
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