The Grudge Movie Review: By Adam Mast, ZBoneMan.com

The Grudge is a remake of an Asian horror film (Ju-on). This should come as no surprise as that seems to be a hot trend at the moment. We’ve already seen an Americanized version of The Ring (it’s sequel opens this March), and soon, we’ll see remakes of The Eye and Dark Water. What is surprising about this new ghost story, is that it isn’t half as scary as last week’s Asian gone American epic, Shall We Dance.

In The Grudge, Sarah Michelle Gellar goes from vampire slayer to ghost buster as Karen, an American living in Tokyo. After taking a job as a care provider for a helpless woman, her life is plunged into complete and utter supernatural chaos as she quickly discovers the woman she’s taking care of, lives in a haunted house.

The title of the film refers to a legend that states when a person dies in the grip of a terrible rage, their spirit haunts the space where they perished. Once you’ve come in contact with the evil poltergeist, you’re dead and so are those around you.

I haven’t seen Ju-on, but I have a sneaking suspicion it’s better than this picture. And that’s a damn shame given that both movies were in fact directed by the same film maker (visionary Takashi Shimizu).

The Grudge does offer up some creepy (if repetitious) images, but the scares are completely telegraphed. This movie features characters doing all sorts of stupid things. Things that anyone who had ever seen a horror film before would never do. You know – running upstairs after hearing a strange noise, or poking your head in a cob web infested attic because you hear thumping. Hell, The Grudge even goes so far as to feature a black cat as a supporting player. BORING!!!!

The screenplay is full of holes, presenting one lack of explanation after another. Those of you familiar with my tastes are well aware that I have been known to like movies that offer little explanation (i.e. The Ring, Mothman Prophecies etc.). That is very true, but the previously mentioned films benefitted from a creepier tone and characters that I gave a damn about.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Karen, is hardly compelling. In fact, I didn’t give a rat’s ass about her or her beau (played by Jason Behr). Maybe if these parts would have been played by Scarlett Johannson and Bill Murray, we might have been on to something. I liked Bill Pullman who clocks in a whopping five minutes of screen time as the freaked out Peter. Despite his ultra limited appearance he’s effective, particularly in the classic opening sequence. I also enjoyed the creepy turns by Takako Fuji and Yuya Ozeki as restless spirits (they also appeared in Ju-on).

The effects work is decent. There is some CGI stuff, but it meshes well will with the live action elements of the movie. The ghostly villain is certainly creepy, but is shown far too often, which greatly lessens any sort of tension The Grudge has to offer. There will be much talk of the evil spirit’s freakish walk down the staircase, but for my money, Reagan’s spider crawl in the director’s cut of The Exorcist was far more chilling. What really heightens the chill factor in The Grudge are the eerie sound effects. Most notably the odd , moan/clicking sound the supernatural presence makes. While slightly overused, it was incredibly unsettling.

Shimizu has an interesting eye, and for the most part, I liked the atmosphere he creates, but sadly, much of the screenplay is downright laughable, and the cast does virtually nothing to rise above the weak material. The Grudge isn’t a terrible film. It isn’t They or Darkness Falls bad, but it brings nothing new to the genre. And with a wildly energetic movie like Shaun of the Dead barely making a scratch at the American box-office, I say spend your money on it. It’s far more entertaining.

Grade: C

Adam Mast, ZBoneMan.com