Slow pacing, lack of legitimate scares, and an uninteresting plot overshadow the decently horrific imagery of 2020’s soft reboot of The Grudge.
The Upside:
Where the Grudge lacks in being an effective horror movie, it is actually quite effective in its story telling. Three separate stories revolving around a cursed house are woven together thoughtfully, and have a clear direction. There is also some good grotesque imagery that occasionally will send chills down your spine.
The Downside:
For being an R rated horror flick, there is a definite lack of boundary pushing. Cutaways from kills and lack of truly scary moments, keep it from ever reaching any potential it has. There’s also a surprisingly deep cast of solid actors that feel greatly underutilized. Finally, although there is some good imagery, there’s far too much generic walking in the background and cliched jump scares from the films ghouls that just get tiresome past a certain point.
The Verdict: D+
The Grudge serves as a reminder of what January movies are all about, dumping movies that won’t catch the audiences attention in the times of the year where there is competition. It is slow, lacks scares, and is ultimately incredibly forgettable.
The High Point: Blanket hog
The Low Point: John Cho’s pointless arc
FlickFix 