But it is a little better. The Americanized 'The Ring' was tempered down enough to make it more palatable for US audiences. 'The Grudge', I can only assume is the same way, yet by staying more true to its original roots (including keeping the director of the original), it packs a few genuine shocks into what is basically a weak and hole filled plot.
Plot line is fairly simple haunted house type stuff. A family lives in this house, father one night kills wife and child in a rage and according to Japanese legend, when a person dies in a sorrowful or rage filled condition, their energy stays behind. Flash forward three years, a young American couple, his mother and sister all move to Japan, and all step foot in the house. All three are subjected to the ravages of the curse. Enter a young Japanese health care worker, and she too falls victim to the evil within.
Then enters Sarah Michelle Gellar's character, a young transplanted American who fills in for the mysteriously missing Japanese worker (of course, we all know what happened to her) and becomes aware that something is wrong. During the course of the rest of the film we're treated to basically a flashback sequence that explains the story of the curse, how it ties in and how SMG's character fits in.
Director Takashi Shimizu has created a beautiful and wonderfully atmospheric film, the cold creepy look and feel offer much in its favor, but the weak story doesn't hold up to the many questions it leaves unanswered. Acting here is decent enough, not outstanding, but I can't really complain about anything either. Bill Pullman in particular is good as an American professor who figures quite prominently in the story.
Far too many unanswered questions dot this film, yet when you're sitting in a dark theater in the heat of the moment, 'The Grudge' packs enough creeps and shocks to make it worthwhile enough.
2 out of 5
Plot line is fairly simple haunted house type stuff. A family lives in this house, father one night kills wife and child in a rage and according to Japanese legend, when a person dies in a sorrowful or rage filled condition, their energy stays behind. Flash forward three years, a young American couple, his mother and sister all move to Japan, and all step foot in the house. All three are subjected to the ravages of the curse. Enter a young Japanese health care worker, and she too falls victim to the evil within.
Then enters Sarah Michelle Gellar's character, a young transplanted American who fills in for the mysteriously missing Japanese worker (of course, we all know what happened to her) and becomes aware that something is wrong. During the course of the rest of the film we're treated to basically a flashback sequence that explains the story of the curse, how it ties in and how SMG's character fits in.
Director Takashi Shimizu has created a beautiful and wonderfully atmospheric film, the cold creepy look and feel offer much in its favor, but the weak story doesn't hold up to the many questions it leaves unanswered. Acting here is decent enough, not outstanding, but I can't really complain about anything either. Bill Pullman in particular is good as an American professor who figures quite prominently in the story.
Far too many unanswered questions dot this film, yet when you're sitting in a dark theater in the heat of the moment, 'The Grudge' packs enough creeps and shocks to make it worthwhile enough.
2 out of 5