The Grudge (DVD, 2005)

Leave that freaking house alone.

Rather than beat all of you reading this down with the whole "Hey, did you know they only made this movie because of the success of The Ring? And did you also know that this is also a remake of a Japanese horror movie directed by the same guy who directed the Japanese version? Huh? HUH?" - I'll move on and talk about the movie. Oh, and no Buffy references either. You don't need to be bludgeoned over the head with those bad jokes.

Some bad stuff happened in a house a few years back in Japan - and when the new owners move in, they find out about this curse thing where if someone dies in an intense way - they stick around to haunt. Sarah Michelle Gellar plays the role of a house cleaner (caretaker) working her way through college who gets hooked up with this house, and subsequently, gets to share in the goolies.

First of all, the movie is creepy - despite some bad reviews. The director wields a lot of suspense for a movie that actually shows the payoff right from the beginning. And that's a difficult feat. The crazy, pale Japanese ghosts with eyes about as big as an anime cartoon get under your skin adequately enough. So props go there.

And props go to the screenplay. It's nice when a horror movie isn't wrought with way too much exposition and over-explaining. In fact, even though I'm trying not to draw comparisons, I felt The Ring suffered a bit from those very problems. Not here though. The creepy starts from the beginning and keeps on coming, without much time for the whole "why is this happening" speech. To tell you the truth, it's refreshing.

However, the non-linier storytelling can become a bit confusing for those not paying attention. When it goes in flashback mode - you better be on your toes or you'll be scratching your head and getting frustrated. It didn't bother me so much, but I did find it could have been done more effectively.

The big issue with this movie is simply its lack of depth. Sure, there are scary moments - but there is nothing here that will stick with you. The good scary movies are the ones that make you think twice about turning out the lights. The Grudge doesn't do that.

And as a side note - it did seem like a give up that they set the movie in Japan...but put some Americans in it. I mean, why not just show me the original?

The extras are not bad as you get cast and crew commentary that's better than normal (some funny stuff in there too), a five-part "making of," and a little documentary on fear and film audiences that ends up being fluffy. So, buy it if you like this kind of stuff.

This is not your usual Horror film, filled with blood and violence. This takes me back to the time where you sat in a dark theater. When you and your date would jump at the same time. And you would see some people covering their eyes, so as not to jump the next time.

Yes this movie is a supernatural tale. And it is scary. There is more then one part that will make you jump. And that is what I like about this movie. It can scare you without all the unnecessary violence and blood. The level of expectation is kept up throughout the whole movie. It kept my suspense level almost peaked the entire movie.

The story is well written. It gives you time to think. And the horror seems to never end. Just keeps coming and coming...it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I would recommend watching this in a dark room with friends. Those who scream and jump will just add to the suspense for you.

I first saw the Grudge in the movie theatre with my 18yr old daughter. I was delighted to be able to watch a "horror" film that did not feel they had to throw in a gratuitous sex scene and a dialog infused with swear words. The ability of the director to give you a good jump and goosebumps with out buckets of blood was also very refreshing. I bought it as soon as it came out on DVD and have enjoyed watching it with my other daughters and family friends several times since then. As a member of the Freddy, Jason and Michael generation I am pleased to be able to share a tamer yet just as frightening show with others and am looking foward to watching it with my son when he is a little older (he is only 10)I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a good jump and shiver without being grossed out.

Just remembering scenes from the movie is scary let alone watching it. I'm not a fan of Buffy, but she's actually good in this, or least doesn't get in the way.

This one was actually scary. Not exorcist scary but pretty darn scary. If you saw the ring, I would say this is a little less scarier than that. I saw it in the theatres and thought it was scary but a little corny b/c it was based on a japanese movie. So there is always the thought "don't go in the house, you idiot". but again and again, someones keeps going back into the house. But I have to admit, it is pretty scary. If you loved the Ring, you'll like this. Its better than the Ring 2. On a scream scale of 1-5, i would put it at a 3 1/2

Okay this is one of those reviews I have to jump to the movies defense. I heard everything from its like the ring..... NOPE didn't think so,to it wasn't scary.... (UM tell me you didn't get the heebie jeebies when you saw that thing with her jaw hanging off)oh yeah and (tell me you didn't need to change your underpants when that thing crawled down the stairs and got up in sarahs pretty face real close. HELLOOOOOO I am a huge horror fan I have seen just about everything or read it. Leatherface didn't do it for me, the hills have eyes thought was just gross, the ring was OK, but seriously other than the exorcist which I am now 36 and have now finally gotten the courage to watch it all the way through (if thats being a wus don't know cause seriously the most scary thing about that is how could they do all that back then ya know we didn't have the technology for some of those tricks) but I still can't get past the part and this is rare footage I believe where she bends over backwards and walks down the stairs on her fingertips with blood dripping out of her mouth....NOPE CAN'T DO IT! So that leaves me with The Grudge my next favorite scary movie. WELL DONE, BRAVO, yes I can watch this one all the way through but have to turn on all the lights in the house after or have my hubby walk me to my bed at night and don't even get me started about the impression it leaves on you.... my preschooler came home and said she learned a new noise she opened her mouth and made that loud creaking sound we all think is cool when we are little I chased her around the kitchen for an hour saying "Stop that""Don't do that""Seriously mommy isn't joking" cause of the same sound that thing makes in this movie. Til this day I swear to god when I hear that sound the heebie jeebies come rolling into town. I think this show was underated I thought it was awesome, effective, creative, and wow I seriously can't beleive it got such a cold shoulder from all the horror fans out there I couldn't even sell it when I was done with it and I got it free from blockbuster and I loved it.I also saw ju-on but thought this version was way more effective. The little boy with the cat sounds didn't scare me but come on the thing crawling around with the big eyes I am sorry guys I give this one a horror girls "heck yeah" on the goosebump scale and I have read about serial killers,, seen slasher movies nothing made me look under the bed like this. Honestly this girl is having a hard time waiting those couple of days for the second one to come out. I don't even think I can go see it in the theatre I want to be in the comforts of my own home so nobody laughs at me in my jammies with a "wubby" bowl of popcorn and a big, mean, looking just as scared as me, husband .That way there is no proof I ran and jumped on my bed,couldn't even think of looking under it.My husband won't tell nobody if I scream and jump and say "I think I peed a little" just kidding but I swear to god if my husband runs around for the next week making that creaking sound again I will superglue all his tools to the workbench!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
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This movie is right up there on the cheap scale with The Blair Witch Project. Me & my husband went to the movies to see this on it's opening night. Halfway through the movie, people started leaving, that's all I remember because I feel asleep. My husband said I didn't miss anything. We both love horror movies, but this movie absolutely sucked!!!!!

This movie is the cheapest made movie I have ever seen...it is worse than the Blair Witch Project. Was not impressed with this one. It is not scary & the plot of the story is very foggy.

I absolutely loved this movie. I am a real scary movie buff and this was one of the best I have ever seen. I have been so worn down with so called scary movies that I wasn't expecting much out of this, but I was wrong. I can't wait for the number two, hopefully it is as good as this one. I would recommend this to scary movie lovers like myself, and for people who don't like gross scary movies.

usually im out looking for the best horror movie and they are hard to find anymore, but with the grudge it wasnt so much horror and freaky and when i watch it (ive watched it over a few times) i still get that same freaked out feeling. i think its how they have the ghost move gerkidly and that noise she makes aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh all broken up sounding.
it will definetly give you the willies
i do recommend this movie its one you can keep watching and still be spooked by it

I love scary movies and there was really only one really scary part in this movie I thought. I would have to say this it is more for average scary movie-goers.

I bought it because I liked it when I watched it for the first time. So I wanted to own a copy to watch in the future. It's Very Scary. Very Different. I liked it better than the Orginal Japanese Version.This one was way Better and made more sense. I'm happy with it.

I first picked up The Grudge at my local movie rental store. My husband and I watched it (definitely an adult horror-thriller flick)together. I had to cover my face and ask what was happening. The mystery and suspense along with the terror kept me watching this movie. I ended up buying it and having to watch it again to get what I missed by being scared the first time. The story is a very different story. As it unwinds it makes you go, "Oh, this is why this happened." But is also keeps you guessing and does also make you ask why more. If you are a fan of horror-thrillers then this is worth it.

The Grudge was a movie I expected not to like. I was pleasantly suprised!! I like a good scare and it takes a lot for that to happen. This movie provided some scary scary stuff! The story behind the Grudge makes you think about negative energies and cycles of hatred that never end. I recommend this movie for those that like something unpredictable that WILL scare you!!

This is yet another Hollywood remake of a sub-par Japanese horror flick. Unlike "The Ring" films where Hollywood seemed to bring something to the table and expand and expound upon the depth of emotions portrayed in the original, this film seems to miss the mark.
I bought it because I am a Sara Michelle Gellar fan, the ads for the sequel looked pretty good and it was cheaper to buy it on ebay than rent it from blockbuster. Now having seen it I am ashamed to own it and I don't know how much more groaning blue Japanese chick I can stand. If you want to be frightened watch the commercials, if you want to play your own version of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, get the film a few buddies and a six pack.

Just want to say, right off the bat, that I am not a big fan of remakes. I see how some older movies could use with a remake because of the technology available. I've found myself hoping for a remake of some classic horror films - Last House on the Left anyone? But to remake a movie that came out a couple of years before just because the studios don't want people to "strain" their brains by reading subtitles?

Ju-on is the original Japanese movie that has become a classic for the creepiness it oozes from every frame. So Hollywood did what worked so well for another groundbreaking Japanese horror film - Ringu - and remade it frame by frame. Using the same director, same locale, everything is the same - except for a storyline that is now being incorporated into The Grudge 2. So why does it not have the same creepy feeling as the original? It could be the acting - love Buffy, but c'mon she can't act - or it coul dbe that I had already made up my mind against this film before watching it.

Either way the original has a more surreal look and feel. The extra storyline adds to the history of the curse and the Japanese language actually makes you pay extra attention so you feel tense the whole time.
Still, this is not a bad movie and if you rather not read subtitles then it is worth the $. I rather watch originals not copies.

acting was terrible. Story was cheesy. special effects was bad. waste of money, this movie is hy you should see a movie before you buy it!

I really found no real plot in this movie. I might have jumped once or twice but it really reminded me of a low budget thrown together movie. I now wish I had borrowed it instead of purchasing it.

A 'Scary Movie' has been truly impossible to find the last 30 years! We have become so toughened by the media that we are almost 'scare-proof'. A friend told me this movie was truly spine tingling, and suggested I should definitely watch it, but NOT ALONE. I did egggzackly as she suggested, and I have to admit.
....IT IS THE SCARIEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER WATCHED, bar none! It is completely believable, super intense, and YES, there are scenes that will make you cover your eyes and peek through your fingers! This one will make a believer out of you, trust me! BUT BE WARNED....DO NOT WATCH THIS ALONE!

I Was Very Disappointed When I Bought This Movie. Very Poor Story Line And Was Not One Bit Scary. They Said This Movie Was More Fightening Than The Ring?? I've Never Even Seen The Ring And It Has To Be Alot Better Than This Movie.I'm Sorry But I Have To Give This Move A F-. Not Worth The Time Or Money.

Good movie Sarah Michelle Galler is a great actress a little scary but very interesting movie to have for your own

I bought the movie cause my gf loves scary movies and I just like them. I decided to but movie to have something to scream about.Why? Cause movie makers have not come out just yet with something good as The Excersit or The Grudge.

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