December 03, 2008.

Grudgingly.

Rating: 2
I'd watch it again, but it's not something i'd waste money on. I'd see it, just for a good story, but borrow it from a friend or somethin'.

December 31, 2008.

A Seriously Creepy Knock-off of 'The Ring'.

Rating: 4
There's no question that Grudge is more interested in scares than substance, but in a genre currently dominated by 'torture-porn' the film's determined creepiness is a welcome respite from gratuitous blood-letting.

In many ways Grudge is just an expansion on the scares offered by 'The Ring'. You have a similarly creepy little girl who spends her days in the afterlife scaring random strangers (literally) to death. She's joined by her slightly less creepy little brother, and together they unleash their malice upon the world - until Sarah Michelle Gellar arrives on the scene.

The infamous gurgling sound and huge round eyes are effectively creepy additions to the line-up, and the film does a good job of creating an atmosphere of unease and isolation. Why the poor little children have a grudge is revealed piecemeal, but essentially there's nothing to the plot we haven't seen before.

A good horror film with some genuinely scary moments, this makes a good addition to a horror fan's collection. DVD includes making-of, commentary, and 'fear response in film' extra.

December 27, 2008.

What Offal Is This?.

Rating: 2
This movie stank. Had a good scene or two but made zero sense if you examined its plot. And then there was the chick killed while she was hiding under the blanket. Come on, everybody knows covering your head under a blanket makes you invulnerable to monster attack! What rank amateurism...

December 15, 2008.

Yows! I hate strange noises!.

Rating: 4
This was a real surprise movie for me. Having heard this movie mentioned so much, but not knowing the premise is what really caught me off-guard. What a freakin' spooky movie!!! I loved the way the movie was pieced together after each spooky ocurrance, so that you knew what led up to the demise of each individual; instead of trying to guess. I especially liked the fact that it was made in Japan, and the some of the American actors had to try and communicate in Japanese.

Let's see now... cats, attics, cell phones, closets. I think I should try and avoid all those things in the night from now on. What the heck was that noise? What was that little boy doing in my sink?

Oh damn! I gotta' shampoo my hair in the morning (check for extra fingers in scalp), and then take the bus to work (look out for reflections in the window) I don't think I'm ever going to sleep in my bed again. That sofa is looking pretty good from here. Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!

December 14, 2008.

It's That Gurgling That Gets Me!....

Rating: 5
I first saw THE GRUDGE in it's initial theatrical form. I didn't find it all that frightening. Of course, I had just seen THE RING, which made THE GRUDGE seem like a clone thereof. Well, I recently watched the extended, director's cut of THE GRUDGE and it is a tad spookier. One thing that puzzles me is why the many deleted scenes were not incorporated into the finished product. Quite a few of them are as scary as anything in the movie! They also add to the overall story in key places. Oh well, at least these scenes are included on the DVD. I recommend this director's cut AND the deleted stuff. Sarah Michelle Gellar is very believable in her role as caregiver, Karen Davis. The rest of the cast is equally good, especially the gal who plays Kayako! When she crawls down those stairs, making that accursed gurgling sound, my body temperature drops 10 degrees! Crikey!...