The Grudge
Unlike the other Japanese horror remakes like The Ring (2002), Dark Water (2005), Pulse (2006), and One Missed Call (2008), this was the only film out of all the others that actually remained in Japan instead of moving the story to America.,(at around 10 mins) At the cemetery, Karen tells her boyfriend that burning incense is a Buddhist ritual, and that the smoke carries their prayers to the spirits of the departed. Buddhism doesn't acknowledge everlasting spirits. It is actually a Shinto ritual.,Kayako Saeki: Croakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!,The rated PG-13 version is run 91 minutes, and unrated is run 98 minutes.,Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Worst Films of 2004 (2005),"The Grudge" is quite possibly the most scariest ghost/horror movie I have ever seen. Sarah Michelle Gellar takes on the main role as nurse Karen living and working in Tokyo. While working she is exposed to a supernatural curse involving a vengeful spirit which locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming his/her life and spreading its curse to another person.

This movie starts out with Karen moving to Tokyo with boyfriend Doug (Jason Behr), where we get a taste of drama as they adjust to their new lives in Japan. The suspense builds when they encounter mysterious events in the house Karen is a caretaker in and, what follows, are one creepy moment one after the other as main ghosts Kayako (Takako Fuji) and Toshiro (Yuya Ozeki) take center stage, wreaking havoc with those unfortunate enough to cross its path.

Takashi Shimizu did a great job directing the movie that grabs the audience attention with scenes that send chills down your spine, has moments that make you jump, and has disturbing images that will stick in your mind after the movie is over. The mysterious yet dramatic atmosphere of the movie created an eerie feeling of the ongoing horror and the built-up suspense, which are contributed by the cast members' realistic and dramatic acting. Some of the plot lines dangled and are unexplained, but that is a minor flaw.

Overall, this is a movie with the right balance of horror and drama - no over-the-top stuff. If you are a fan of horror movies, "The Grudge" is highly-recommended.

Grade B+,Take a side-by-side look at some of Hollywood's biggest reboots and remakes.,