For many who were teenagers in the early 2000s, “The Grudge” (2003) was a staple horror flick to really keep you up at night. Based on the 2002 Japanese film, “The Grudge” is about a vengeful soul who attacks and curses anyone it pursues, and then spreads to another unsuspecting person. Fast forward to 2020, and we have a whole new set of people whose lives are being ruined in the same fashion, by another bitter spirit out to punish those who step foot in the haunted house on Reyburn Drive.
As much as I love a good supernatural horror film (and as much as I really hoped John Cho being in this would make it worthwhile), the 2020 reboot of “The Grudge” is forgettable at best. While it gives you similar frightening scenes and situations that were seared into memory in the prior movies, it seems to not even try to make those moments different or original. All the scares fall flat because most of them have been done many times before in a more interesting way.
It’s also difficult to root for our lead, Detective Muldoon (Andrea Riseborough), because nothing about her character stands out- not to mention she pries in to cases she has no business being in, even after directly ordered to leave them alone. None of the decisions she makes are well thought out, and there is little about her life that you learn to make her relatable.
I give credit for the writers attempting to intertwine multiple stories and timelines, but unfortunately it was not executed well enough to keep you intrigued with what was happening. If the characters were more evenly fleshed out it would have made you care more, but sadly their development is limited, which doesn't allow for any real connection to them.
Aside from the strategic quietness in areas to play up suspense, and the music playing to build the tension, most other choices and directions the film went in did not pay off. It defintely gives you some jump scares, but nothing unique that can’t be found in another horror film.
Unfortuantely, you aren’t missing out if you pass on this one. I would stick with the 2002 or 2003 versions if you insist on checking out this story.