The Popkorn Junkie :: THE GRUDGE

     So, what do you do when your trying to follow in the footsteps of "The Ring" and turn a highly successful Japanese horror film into something that American audiences will enjoy and fully appreciate? For starters, you hire the same guy who directed the Japanese version to direct the American version. Secondly, you give him a larger budget than he had before and give him the freedom to do whatever he wants with the film, including giving Sarah Michelle Gellar the leading role, something many would not have done based on her track record. Lastly, you give the film a delicious advertising campaign and a prime October release date, just in time for the Halloween season. That is how you make a successful horror movie. And that is just what "The Grudge" is. Not only is it the most frightening film since "The Blair Witch Project", but also leagues better than "The Ring".

      Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Karen, an American exchange student who works at a hospice in Japan, where her boyfriend Doug (Jason Behr) is studying to be an architect. When she is asked to fill in for a co-worker at an old house, she agrees, and her life turns into one gigantic nightmare. Most of the history of the house is revealed through expertly inserted flashbacks that catch the audience off guard, at first. Clea DuVall and William Mapother star as the young couple who move into the house with their invalid mother, only to feel an intense presence all around then. Bill Pullman stars as a college professor who fears that one of the former owners of the house might have an unhealthy crush on him. And, Takako Fuji and Yuya Ozeki star as the mother and son who first lived in the house, before meeting an untimely end. All of these stories work together to bring you the terrifying past of the house, and Sarah Michelle Gellar serves as the person who brings all of this evidence together.

      When analyzing the horror in this film, something has to be said for the lack of 'jump tactics'. These are parts of the film when the music increases in intensity and things pop out of corners, or people sneak up on other characters -- not truly scary moments...just quick little moments of being startled. There are few of those in this film. Director Takashi Shimizu goes for the straight forward, balls to the wall types of scares -- the kind that build up and cause the viewer to cover his/her eyes and shrink down in their seat as they slowly wait on the inevitable. Not to mention, "The Grudge" has one of the most terrifying ghosts ever captured on film, a young Japanese girl with a face that will haunt many viewers for many nights to come. The couple a row in front of me had to leave because the lady was too scared to keep watching -- she had already screamed loudly on several occasions. Yes, "The Grudge" is that scary...and, yes, it will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. At least, it should.

      As for the performances, that is not what a horror film is about. Sarah Michelle Gellar is perfect for this role because she has the whole innocent American girl act down to a science. However, she also brings a sense of reality to the role that really shows there might be life after "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" for the blonde headed beauty. Bill Pullman has a small role in the film, but he is always a pleasure to watch on screen, and his character does manage to give us one of the most interesting opening scenes in recent film history. As for the Japanese actors -- they all know exactly what they are doing. Takako Fuji is a veteran of many Japanese horror films and she knows just how to assist her make-up and special effects. As for "Roswell" star Jason Behr, I had forgotten that he even existed until the opening credits of this film. And, yes, he is still rather attractive.

     Horror fans rejoice in "The Grudge" -- a true horror film if there ever was one. As long as Hollywood can keep churning out decent remakes, the Japanese horror genre should continue to be tapped for inspiration and creativity. As Japan showed us earlier this year with the action film "Hero" -- they know a thing or two about quality motion pictures, and their horror films are just as well done as their big budget action epics. I will watch this at least two more times in the theatres, just because I love watching audience reactions to films like this. If you want the bang for your buck, and a creepy, pale little Japanese woman inching around in your dreams every night, then this is the film for you. If you are easily scared, squeamish, or unsure of your scare threshold -- "The Grudge" might be something you should skip for a little while -- it could do you in pretty quick.

-- Billy Ray ( 4 out of 4 pops )

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