When someone dies in a horrible rage, a curse is left behind in that place forever, destroying anyone that touches it. An American student working in Japan as a home-healthcare worker enters such a house, and she picks up her piece of the grudge. Through her we find out the whole story, how it happened and who it's destroyed.

This is one creepy fucking movie. Seriously, I haven't felt a movie like this since the first time I saw The Shining, it's that creepy. Within a few minutes this flick is already throwing one creepy scene at you after another, and unlike most your modern horror, there's a great story involved. Non-linear storytelling adds more to the flick, as we're giving layer after layer of intensifying horror as the movie goes on, until the climax that might be the scariest scene I've ever encountered. I loved this movie.

The impressive thing was watching it in the theater, it was hard to hear at times. Not because people were yapping, but because of the gasping and murmer that accompanied every jump, and there were lots of jumps. The theater was packed, and people started out being their normal retarded selves, but even the retards shut the fuck up once the horror began. One thing that was truly beautiful, as one of the last scenes was building, someone in the back knocked the hell out of the wall, making a huge slamming sound. After that we were treated to an entire theater of people pissing themselves. I won't lie, I jumped about three feet in the air but did keep my soda in my bladder. Serious tension going on, that's all I'm saying. Also it would be nice if someone was hired to do that at every showing, my heart was really pounding after.

A remake of the Japanese film Ju-on: The Grudge, which I avoided watching until seeing the American version. Now I can't wait to get the original and compare and contrast. Already the fanboys are running around the net talking about how America completely ruined this one and should be nuked for it. Of course they're mostly the illiterate fanboys, it was directed by the same guy, Takashi Shimizu. Takashi isn't really all that American, you might say he's Japanese, and he made this flick as well as the original. So don't be a bitch, if this version sucks it's not Sam Raimi's fault.

I will, however, admit that watching The Grudge made me realize what a sorry state American horror really is in. There are maybe five really great American horror flicks in the last 15 years, maybe not even that. Japan and Asia in general is cranking them out, no big stars, budgets that are a joke compared to a small Hollywood film, but they have something Americans ran out of, creativity. Here a great story is shat upon, we don't allow anything really scary or harsh, hell, Se7en almost had a happy ending! It fucking sucks, and if you think I'm wrong, watch Ringu than watch The Haunting. Watch Biozombie than watch House of the Dead.

America is the fast food of horror. If you want a greasy snack with no substance at all, there are a hundred flavors, but if that's all you get you're malnourished. Luckily the remakes will probably keep coming, maybe some Hollywood folks will notice that intelligent horror movies aren't universally hated in the US and boldly try it for themselves.

Something that really worked well was keeping the movie in Japan. Moving the whole thing to California would have really taken something from it, and this was a brilliant move and kept the theme Japanese.

An interesting idea that's often present in Asian movies is the Innocent, Punished Lover, and that's interesting in this movie. The idea is that someone who loves another character will be punished for it, and not deserve their fate. We have a tradition here of making the soon-to-be-corpses deserve it before they're slaughtered, and it's very powerful when that's not the case. The idea is that because the lover loves the doomed person, they are doomed with them. There's no judgement in it, it's not that they shouldn't love them, there's no message at all, it's just a moving idea that really works.

Anyway, I've waxed philosophical enough. The truth is I can't recommend this movie too much. There are few horror movies that can compare to The Grudge when it comes to that most rare of rarities, the actual scary in the scary movie. The story is perfect, every scene is more beautiful and better than the last, a little cgi in the beginning, and the rest of the movie is makeup and camera tricks, and it really works. Everything in The Grudge works, I'll preorder this DVD, and I don't do that very often.

10 out of 10 little naked Asian kids that can look scary as hell just standing there

Well I just got home from the theatre and I think all the hair on my arms is still raised. What an awesome scary creepy flick. I loved every minute of it. Ever notice some movies make you hyper-sensitive to your surroundings for a while after you leave the theatre? This is one of them.

At one point a women is so scared she jumps into her bed and pulls the covers up. I know it sounds funny but I thought it was brilliant to show that someone was so scared they reverted back to the childish belief that if you made it to the bed and covered up you were “safe” from the monsters.

I loved that they used subtitles when it fit. One of my biggest peeves is when an entire movie is made in another country but everyone just happens to be speaking English.

Those people who get pissed at the somewhat obvious jump scenes may get pissed but I’ve got to say I knew when most of them were coming (notice I said most not all!) and my heart was pounding and I got that adrenaline rush anyway.

I thought it was going to be even scarier because I went alone and was the only person in the theatre until some idiots showed up during the beginning.

I give it 9 out of 10 idiots who use laughter as a defense mechanism when they’re scared. Hey if you know you’re that kind of person could you maybe not sit behind me fuckwits?

I saw this today at a Saturday matinee in the city. It was naturally full of kids, but they were relatively well-behaved. There was a group of girls who were screamers, but they weren't doing it to be obnoxious, so I can't get upset about it. Nevertheless, I think I'll go back to my favorite method of watching horror flicks: alone at night in the theater with all the doors locked. Creepier that way.

I have to say though, that this film ruled. It has oodles of atmosfear and a lot of jump scenes that, for once, actually work. There are times when it resembles "Ringu" a bit too much, but what the hell, the good far outweighs the not-so-good.

Other than an abrupt (and silly) ending and a couple of unintentionally funny moments (PM me if you really want to know, or if you've seen it and want to discuss it), "The Grudge" is one film I can whole-heartedly recommend. Horrorist hit this one squarely on the head: America is getting a firm kick in the ass by Japanese horror. Time to start kicking back, Hollywood: Ditch the teenagers-in-peril crap and start getting creative.

Oh, and one final note to Sam Raimi: Welcome back to the world of Horror, bud. We've missed you.

9 out of 10 faces suddenly appearing in the window.

I think that since this film was directed by a Japanese director, although it was Americanized compared to the original, it still remained very much Asian.

Japanese culture is superstitious and spiritual. Explanations aren't required - ghosts exist because they do, and they're angry because they are. A lot of American audiences weren't receptive because they felt the movie jumped around and left out too much, but I found it pretty satisfying.

The visuals were awesome (more so than in the original, which was quieter) and the ghosts were hell-bent. In the original, they seemed more intent on lurking and staring. In this version, there was a sense of violence and loathing, especially in the case of the mother.

One thing I missed from the original was the teenaged girl who was haunted by her friends and had taped paper to her windows to keep from seeing their faces. That was good stuff and it probably could've been worked into this film.

Would've been nice to see Buffy bite it, too.

During the cast commentary on the original DVD for "The Grudge" remake, a version of the film is mentioned as being 160 minutes long and very gory. This is not that version, but it is as close to it as we will probably ever get.

Only seven minutes have been added (mostly to the ending), but what's here is GREAT. The "Unrated Extended Director's Cut" (no hype there, huh?) connects several loose ends left over from the theatrical release and makes the film seem much darker by the time it's over.

Some questions that are answered:
What's the deal with the cat yowls?
Why is (Character X) swinging at the end?
Why does Toshio appear most often at the upstairs railing?
Why does Kayako prefer to take the stairs?
What's the deal with that strange noise Kayako always makes?

I mentioned that only a few minutes have been added, but there are also an additional 15 deleted scenes available here, too. A few are interesting, most are dull, but one ("Go Away") needs to be watched. Even the cast and director say this scene should have been in the film, and I recommend you watch it right after you see the quick shot of an upside-down Toshio (approximately 36 minutes into the movie). It's chilling, and will make the new ending even better.

The "Unrated Extended Director's Cut" still has that shit-ass Hollywood ending (although there's an alternate ending in the deleted scenes section that, in my opinion, is better), but the new scenes take the rating up to what would be an "R". The film feels, overall, more brutal and intense than the theatrical release.

For some reason however, the print is downright filthy in spots. It's clearly NOT the same print used for the original American DVD release (check out the rooftop scene - ugly, ugly, UGLY).

Also, the commentary and specials are all new, and for the first time the original Ju-On short films (about 3 mins each) have been released! Not much you can do in 3 mins, but fans will want to take a peek.

The commentary is by the Director, Producer, and actress Takako Fuji, who plays Kayako. The commentary is in Japanese with English subtitles. It's interesting in parts, but there are no real revelations, so I wouldn't consider it a must. It is interesting to hear their views on Americans and American filmmaking, however, and a couple of good jokes are made at Takako Fuji's expense.

Overall, if you already own the previous DVD release of "The Grudge", this version is a rental. For those who don't own it yet however, this is the one you'll want to buy (unless you want the American cast commentary).

Pros: Connects the dots in a very satisfying way. Longer and more intense finale.
Cons: In the commentary, the Director continuously says things like: "We shot a really gory scene of (Character Y)'s eyeball here, but the studio wouldn't let me use it in the theater or put it on this DVD." So how in the hell is this a "Director's Cut?" Frustrating.
Review Rating: 10 out of 10 times that nurse standing with her face to the wall in the very last scene gives me the creeps. Did you miss her?