"The Grudge 2" continues the story of its predecessor, "The Grudge." These two movies are remakes of the Japanese films "Ju-on," and "Ju-on 2." The writer for the Japanese versions, Takashi Shimizu, got to retell the tale for the U.
S. remake. Opening scenes will look familiar to those who have seen the first movie.
The beginning is a review of what happened in "The Grudge," but many will be still be lost from the beginning. As the story progresses, the tale eventually comes together to expose the truth. This strategy makes audiences actually think, unlike many films nowadays.
It was a refreshing aspect, unfortunately it was the only refreshing aspect. With Karen Davis (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in a Tokyo hospital, and her boyfriend, Doug (Jason Behr), no longer living, it is now up to Karen's sister, Aubrey Davis (Amber Tamblyn), to try and finish the quest Karen started. Once again, Shimizu brings in various people from different parts of Tokyo and around the world to become interconnected with one common point: the curse.
As the curse continues to haunt the victim's every move, and this time around, it is seen more often. The music written and selected for this film is a dead giveaway as to what will happen next. Even though the selected music is appropriate and adds the necessary suspense to the film, it is just too overdone.
In any scene where the lighting gets darker, and the music gets faster, the next step is easy to guess: the grudge is here. Characters are supposed to act scared, horrified, and unsuspecting, but at times it seems surreal. The actors either overact or downplay their parts.
The actions that follow seem contrived. As the story continues, it reveals more clues as to why the grudge is what it is, but some of the scenes do not add up. Some scenes are unnecessary, and take away from the unity of the film.
Each scene is taken with pride and care, and has elements of greatness that set it apart, but also elements that tear it down.
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