The Grudge 2

1/16/2020

The Grudge 2 resents its illogical plot for basic ineffective jump scares. Shimizu’s western remake of his J-horror creation was one littered with promise, albeit irrefutably rough around the edges. Mediocre acting, snooze-inducing storytelling and jump scares aplenty. Japanese ghost children, that either croak as if exhuming a sore throat or scream like a domestic cat, popping their heads out of attics, entangling women in wavering hair and just being a general nuisance. Well, Shimizu begrudgingly brings Kayako and Toshio back for more ghoulish antics, as the fire initiated by Sarah “Buffy or Daphne, your pick...” Michelle Gellar somehow unleashed the dark spirits into the world. Essentially no longer restricted to the abandoned Saeki household, although still only haunt those that enter

6/7/2026

**_Effectively spooky with great cast, but dubious story structure_** Three schoolgirls visit a mysterious house in Japan. Whoever enters is cursed and will die by spooky specters. Amber Tamblyn plays the protagonist, the sister of the protagonist of the first film, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar (who has a small role here). Teresa Palmer and Sarah Roemer are also on hand as schoolgirls with Jennifer Beals playing the mother of the latter. This is a well-made horror flick that focuses on haunting atmosphere and ghostly scares rather than cartoony gore. There's a darkroom sequence that's particularly effective. The cast is superior to the first movie, with numerous female characters and quality actresses to play 'em. Unfortunately, the story structure is weak in that it fails to work