This nonessential reboot of a hit Japanese horror film is another addition to the growing collection of bad horror remakes courtesy of Sam Raimi and Nicolas Pesce.Just when we all thought that America's obsession in rebooting J-horror film is all in the past already, Sam Raimi and Nicolas Pesce decided to create this unsolicited remake of a well-beloved Takashi Shimizu classic. The 2020s “The Grudge” is, unfortunately, a bland movie despite parading such talented casts that includes Andrea Riseborough, Demián Bichir, John Cho, Betty Gilpin, Jacki Weaver, and Lin Shaye.
“The Grudge” follows two police officers, Detective Muldoon (Andrea Riseborough) and Detective Goodman (Demián Bichir), as they go around investigating the murder that happened at 44 Reyburn Drive.
It's hard to justify the westernization of Japanese horror movies because based on records, they’re all bad. The persistence to convert these films into big commercial movies for non-Japanese speaking people ultimately watered-down what makes these films effective in the first place, that is cultures and values.
The original "Ju-on" is terrifying because it constantly challenges our ideas on death and comfort albeit in a minimalist way. The 2020 movie reboot fails to explore these ideas as it seems to value production over story. I couldn't help but feel like director Nicolas Pesce is just stretching what he knows about the film and refuses to expand and explain the Japanese lore and its connection to us as a society.
This makes “The Grudge” a lifeless movie, at least for me. It’s a movie that is more concerned about showing us disturbing imagery rather than provocating our fear of the inevitable which is death. Unlike the original Shimizu film, the suspense is all over the place and most of it served no purpose at all.
“The Grudge” just proves that Japanese horror movie is not meant for western cinema. This Sam Raimi produced film is not a recommendable movie to watch as it diminishes the Asian roots of the franchise and it tells a cliche and bland story that doesn't make sense, whatsoever. I recommend you to go watch the original film instead.
0.5/5
