The Grudge Reviews

Scary...

This is the film that Sam Raimi desribed as one of the scariest movies he's ever seen, and I have to agree with him-this film freaked me out. I'm a fan of the others in ths genre-Ring, Dark Water, The Eye, but this is the scariest of them all. The Japanese horror directors certainly have a talent for making creepy, disturbing films, and this is the scariest I've seen so far.

I had read a number of reviews before seeing the film, most of which criticised the lack of story and character development, but it seems to me that the purpose of the film is to scare, so it doesn't really matter.

I wont go into the story in much detail, but it centres on a house which has some sort of curse attached to it, due to a murder, and a body that was never found.

Scene after scene is set up, showing what happens to anyone who has come into contact with the house, and I mean scary scene after scary scene! I'm not one to usually be affected by these films (although I found Dark Water very creepy) but this had me almost looking away from the screen about every 10 minutes. There's nothing particularly gory here, it's all to do with the atmosphere created. A lot of scenes just made me jump, like normal horror films, but others just made me feel uneasy, even when I knew what was coming.

I'd recommend this to anyone who liked the other films I mentioned-I thought it was closest to Dark Water in terms of creepy atmosphere, and I'd recommend watching it alone, in the dark!

[Highly rated reviewer]

What a load of old arse.

Not to mention ripped-off, secondhand, extremely pretentious, plotless, pointless and boring. I am so over this post Ring wave of thoughtless, rushed-out, shameless money-spinners. The supposed horror comes in the form of using irrelevant 'spooky' imagery that has absolutely nothing to do with the thin plot. You know what I mean; scary kids, scratchy noises, reversed filming etc. Can some one start making proper horror films again!? Jesus. The yanks only make horror films for kids, or awful remakes, and the Japanese can't get over Ring.

Korea is the new Japan.

[Highly rated reviewer]

More scary dead girls with long black hair

The Japanese obsession for scary dead girls with long black hair should be getting a little tiring by now. The Grudge is the latest addition to that roster. It’s more bizarre than “Ringu” and lacks that movies unassailable creepiness, but at times it is incredibly effective in creating nerve lacerating tension and one or two scenes showcase incredible imagination and are genuinely unsettling.

The idea of taking urban myths and transforming them into drama was utilised very effectively by “The X Files” during it’s long run and this is what the makers of The Grudge have done, transforming a spark of superstition and folklore into a cohesive whole. Actually that’s not strictly true, as the script is a bit all over the place, lacking in any characterisation of most of the victims. We barely meet many of them before they are despatched and the links between them are too tenuous at times.

It’s rare for me to advocate a film being longer but I believe an extra fifteen minutes plot and character development would have improved the films impact, linking together the terror scenes more fluidly and making them even more effective and powerful.

The use of sound is superb in this movie, and with a surround sound system is truly alarming at times, and it is this rather than the sometimes lack lustre production values that make The Grudge such a terrific horror film.

As scary as a movie can get

I dont want to go over the top about this movie, as I found it hard to follow (even though I watched the dubbed version), and I am still unsure as to whether I truly got what it was all about.

Having said all that, it certainly is probably one of the most nightmare inducing films I have ever seen. I suppose a film can only be so scary when watching it from the comfort of your own lounge. The true test is how it plays on your mind afterwards.

After watcing this, that same night my wife had to wake me up as I was screaming at the top of my voice whilst sat upright in bed with a look of panic on my face! I still dont remember what I was dreaming about, but I can only asusme it was this film that did it.

[Highly rated reviewer]

What's your problem love?

Asian horror movies have fast become the leading contender to Deaths bloody crown. Tense, gripping and scary as Hell, even Lucifer himself may be having trouble sleeping after the likes of 'Ringu', 'The Eye', 'Dark Water' and 'One missed Call'.

But just what is it about these creepy Asian girls and their inability to walk straight? Why do they only appear in the shadows with one eye open and, lets be honest, what the Hell is your problem love!?!

Get over it, will you.

The Grudge is yet another tale of a female spirit who takes her revenge on anyone who enters her home. An incredibly creepy home it has to be said. The Grudge succeeds in the fact that it ups the jump factor ten fold over even the likes of Ringu, sadly though, where it gains sweaty palms it loses points for storyline and character development. It's very hard to care about a character if all you get to know about them is their first name. But hey, at the end of the day this is a real rollercoaster of a movie. You will jump, you will hide behind your girlfriend and you will ask that all important question, excuse me love...

Grudge Dread

I really resisted this film for a long time. Possibly Sam 'The Sell-out' Raimi put me off it. Anyway, my mum bought it for me for Christmas, which just goes to show how square Japanese horror is these days, and so I finally watched it and after spending the first twenty minutes trying to persuade myself that it really was the worst kind of cliched bilge that I'd seen a thousand times before, I had to force myself to grow up and admit that this is a damn fine horror movie. The plot? Some ghosts live in a big suburban house. They kill people. They chase them around. They send zombie school-girls after them. They hide in their beds. They crawl head first down the stairs apparently dislocating every joint in their body in an effort to look completely disturbing. Try doing that one day. You can't criticise that kind of commitment to freaking you out. If they gave out Oscars for actually acting... jeesh. And averaging a fresh stiff every ten minutes or so, it certainly moves at a fair old clip. There are few examples of the genre so hell-bent on entertaining you at any cost. Definitely one I'd recommend, not one I'd take incredibly seriously, but by 'eck its good fun. Just thinking about it makes me grin from ear to ear.

chinese my arse

good film great scary moments but they all talk chinese???

Its rare but it happened

It is very rare that i watch a film and want to turn it off though fear, but can't, the reason being that it is so SO good!!!

I am not easily spoked but this film is scary, the way it is set up, the visuals, music and sound effects make this one of the most creepy films i have ever seen. If you like horror you MUST rent this film!!!

enjoy and have a spare pair of underwear ready!

Not convincing

This movie has some good moments, but overall fails to make the viewer identify with the large number of characters suffering and dying. The story is weak and fails to introduce you into a haunting atmosphere (as done beautifully in 'The Exorcist' and 'What Lies Beneath'). Presentation of scary ghosts and zombies is based on make-up rather that special effects. But the make-up is not convincing and makes them reminding you characters from a greek tragedy. Rent it only if you are easily scared (by your wild imagination).

Wooooo - scarey!

For those unlucky enough not to have encountered modern Japanese horror films, this is a good place to start. As mentioned in the previous reviews, the plot is a little confusing at times, and doesn't stick with any one character long enough, but this film is about scaring the pants off you. And it works.

I didn't find the child particularly scary, but knew that once he is around, his creepy mother is sure to follow . . .

I would give this five stars, but found it a little derivative of Ring. Nevertheless, still highly recommended.

I also recommend you watch the subtitled version, as dubbing, no matter how professionally done, always manages to cheapen the mood of a movie, and will make a great film feel simply OK.