What a big surprise this movie was. It was really really scary about the entire time. I would grade it higher but I had some problems with the ending. A very good B+ tough.

Hmmm, I thought I would really like it furing the first 20 minutes because it has some of the scariest moments in a while in a film. But then I quickly noticed the plot was just an excuse to get from one "creepy" moment to the next, and that those creepy moments all rely on the same techniques that it gets tiring after a while.

It's too bad too because with a stronger script and more variation it could have been one of THE great horror films.

I'm still giving it a B- though, for the almost scream-out-loud scary moments. Just wish there had been more of them.

Just read you're review and I agree completely.

"... features some of the most unnerving imagery and soundscapes to be found on the screen..."
-- Sean Axmaker, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

"The opening minutes hit us with a shocker on a par with the shower scene in "Psycho," and the tension rarely lets up thereafter."
-- Colin Covert, MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

"It's enough to send you home with jiggly knees and a tummy ache."
-- Stephen Hunter, WASHINGTON POST

"One of the flat-out creepiest films ever released by a major American studio."
-- Maitland McDonagh, TV GUIDE'S MOVIE GUIDE

"An abundance of above-average scares ultimately makes The Grudge’s portrait of contagious anger, violence, and death creepily unsettling."
-- Nicholas Schager, SLANT MAGAZINE

With the surprise success of 2002's THE RING, several filmmakers decided to use a successful formula, proceeding to develop American remakes of previously successful Japanese horror films. Although there are several more on the way (a remake of THE EYE produced by Tom Cruise is in the works), THE GRUDGE was immediately the one that caught my attention. One of my favorite actress, the beautiful and multitalented Sarah Michelle Gellar, had signed on to the lead. Plus, the premise was based on what director Sam Raimi called the scariest film he had ever seen, the Japanese horror film JU-ON. After seeing the trailer, my anticipation only grew, for it scared and shocked me. It really reminded me of THE RING, but it didn't matter. It eventually developed into my most anticipated film of 2004. I walked into the theater expecting to be scared out of my mind, but also to find a film with good performances and a bone-chilling storyline. I was not disappointed. THE GRUDGE proves to be 2004's scariest film, a true original filled with a compelling storyline told in an interesting way, plus loads of scares throughout.

Sarah Michelle Gellar portrays our heroine, an exchange student studying nursing in Japan named Karen. She is assigned to go help an elderly woman at her house after the former caregivers have mysteriously disappeared. When inside the house, she encounters a mysterious force that leaves its mark on everything that it touches. As everyone who has encountered the house unexpectedly dies, Karen must discover the secret that lies behind its walls before she herself is next.

The performances are above-par for a horror film. Sarah Michelle Gellar does a great job and really makes the role her own. She proves she can truly carry a movie here, giving a performance on par with Naomi Watts in THE RING. She is the cast's highlight. Notable supporting performances come from Jason Behr as Karen's concerned boyfriend, Bill Pullman as a professor with a secret and Clea DuVall as a bored housewife confused with the occurances in Japanese culture.

Besides the strong cast, this movie truly does what it is meant to do, and that is scare people. The beginning sequence is the most shriek-inducing, surprising opening in quite a while, and the film never lets up after that. It's an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride from beginning to end. There are several scenes that make you jump out of your seat, including a creepy sequence in an office building, several scary scenes in the house itself, and many others. There's even a shocking scene on a bus ride. This film, like THE RING doesn't use excessive blood and gore to tell its story. It relies on disturbing images instead, and it does this very successfully.

Overall, THE GRUDGE is not to be missed. While it isn't as good as THE RING, it comes very close with its thrilling storyline, scary scenes and good performances. From the shocking beginning to the disturbing end, THE GRUDGE will have you hooked.

9/10 (A)

It was quite scary, and well-made, but it was simply just a shallow horror flick. No depth at all. Still, it was a good ride. Kept me on the edge of my seat.

B-/C+

Bleh. Some jumpy moments, but as a movie itself it's retarded. Can't forgive it for that.

Disturbing end??? What disturbing end?? Gellar turns around and gets cursed.. The only thing this movie is gonna have me hooked on are drugs to forget about it..

What a collosal waste of time! Having enjoyed the Hollywood adaptation of Ringu, I thought they might do a decent job with this adaptation of Ju-On - well no such luck. The main problem seems to be that they forgot to write a story. Probably in Japan, the cultural elements carry it - but here? Nada! Plus, they way overused the scary visuals, until they were simply no longer scary. Many audience members were laughing by the end...

1 out of 5.

bradley you scare me sometimes.
...

B-

Not bad for a psychological horror film. The trick here was to use your imagination. Bring on the sequel!

Not very good. Blech.

Be sure to see my upcoming horror movie - Witherberry - it'll scare you silly!

(As to my opinion of The Grudge - well at least looking back over this thread, I'm not alone (this time) in thinking this one was a stinker...)

Witherberry - That's hot!

Its like a kinky fetish name.

I ought to start calling people that.

...

One of the worst horror films ever,it has nothing scary in it.

Laughable, boring, not scary in the least. Let's watch random people no one cares about wander around a house for 90 minutes or so until they meet their eventual, obvious demise! I didn't find the meowing boy and the girl with the throat problem scary either, perhaps that could have been frightening were they not making the most amusing, ridiculous sounds possible. Acting is pretty blah even for a horror movie, Gellar is basically comatose the entire time. I'd give it a D+ overall. The + for that scene with the girl being followed from the office building, even if the ending is an Elm Street ripoff it was one of the only parts that worked.

I've only seen the last 25 minuts of this film, and they are in no way scary, they were laughable

Horrible horrible movie. The Japanese version sucks too.

1/2 star(s)

So I gave it a second viewing last night after not having seen it since in theaters. It definitely doesn't hold up as well without the atmosphere of a crowded theater, or maybe because Scary Movie 4 made it hard to find anything scary about this movie. Actually, I think Scary Movie 3 may have had an effect on my reception of The Ring as well. B-, but not interested at all in the sequel.

I would be interested in seeing what it was like without all the laughter there was at my theatrical screening... errr... scratch that -- nothing could relieve the stultifying boredom...

For me, the laughter added to the atmosphere at the theater.

IthoughtthelaughteraddedtotheexperienceduringTheGrudge,butIdidn'tlikeitduringsuchfilmsasSawIIand Hostel,whichhadcrowded,laughingaudienceswhenIsawthem.EverysinglehorrorfilmI'veseeninthepast twoyearshasbeenfilledwithlaughter.Everysingleone.It'sthenewthing.

TheGrudgesuckshorriblywithoutacrowd,soIcan'twaittoseeTG2onFriday.

Over the top and stupid.

D+

I read some of the early reviews on this thread and one thing is for sure - some of you get scared easy.

This film is terrible, not scary and actually laughabley bad. Probably one of the most dissapointing films Ive ever seen.

Grade: D