History Film / TheGrudge

'''Note: This page is for the American franchise only. For the Japanese series of films, see ''{{Juon}}''.'''

''The Grudge'' is an American horror film series consisting of 3 films. Its first installment was the 2004 American remake of the Japanese film ''{{Juon}}: The Grudge'', with added elements from ''{{Juon}}: The Curse''. The film was released in North America on October 22, 2004 by Columbia Pictures, and is directed by TakashiShimizu (director of the original series) while Creator/SamRaimi produced and Stephen Susco scripted. In the same tradition as the original series, the plot of the film is told through a [[AnachronicOrder non-linear sequence of events]] and includes several intersecting subplots. The film has spawned two sequels: ''The Grudge 2'' (which was released on October 13, 2006) and ''The Grudge 3'' (released direct-to-DVD on May 12, 2009, after having the original release date pushed back), this time directed by Toby Wilkins with Shimizu as executive producer. Also, a reboot is planned (with Sam Raimi producing).

* [[CallingTheOldManOut Calling The Old Woman Out]]: Towards the end of ''The Grudge 2'', Aubrey ''finally'' tells her mother how she really feels. [[spoiler:Sadly, it's the last time they ever speak.]]

* DrivenToSuicide: Peter, after [[spoiler:discovering just what happened in the Saeki house.]] It is later heavily implied that he was under the curse's influence when he killed himself.

* FanDisservice / FanService: The shower scenes in the first and second movies and the bath scene in the third movie contain a combination of both tropes. Max's ShirtlessScene in the third movie also counts.

** The second film subverts this [[spoiler: with Aubrey being DeadAllAlong prior to both Allison and Jake's story lines (with the former's still taking place in 2004 [[{{Timeskip}} while the other two take place in 2006]]) and with Kayako killing off Allison in the last minute of the film, making Jake the SoleSurvivor.]]
* FollowTheLeader: The success of ''TheRing'' was the chief reason it was remade in the States.

* FreezeFrameBonus: Two occur during Susan's vignette: When Susan is in the taxi, look at one of the adverts on the back of the front passenger seat. [[RuleOfSymbolism There's a staring eye printed on one of them]]. Later, when Susan discovers she has a very unwelcome bedmate, look at the wall. For about a second, you can see Susan's shadow and... the shadow of Kayako, even though she isn't above the bedcovers.

** Another one from the second film: as Karen runs through the hospital she freezes in terror as a group of employees just stare at her. While many viewers write this off a a BigLippedAlligator moment, if you look close and freeze in as the camera moves over their faces you can see the blurry figure of Kayako staring at her in he crowd.

* GrossUpCloseUp: Present a few times in the Director's Cut. Examples include a more close-up shot on the corpses of [[spoiler:Matthew and Jennifer]], a close up of Peter's face (as well as the pool of blood) after he kills himself, and a more lingering shot of [[spoiler:Yoko's disembodied jaw.]]

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Rose drinking the blood]] during the climax of the third film could be seen as this, although it isn't likely she knew exactly what the consequences would be. [[SenselessSacrifice However it doesn't seem like it helped much in the long run]], and it wasn't in time to [[spoiler:save Naoko (and her death starts a new curse)]] - although it did manage to [[spoiler:save Lisa... at least for the time being. We shall see.]]

* JawBreaker: [[spoiler:Yoko]] suffers this. In the third movie, [[spoiler:Gretchen]]'s corpse is found ''sans'' lower jaw ([[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill and]] [[EyeScream eyes]]). The alternate ending to the second movie has [[spoiler:Mrs. Davies]] suffering this, too - [[{{Gorn}} on-screen]].

* [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]]: Vanessa.

* MatchlightDangerRevelation: [[GenreBlindness Obviously Yoko didn't realise that turning on a lighter in the middle of a dark attic = bad idea]].

* OhCrap: Aubrey gets a moment like this when [[spoiler:she encounters Takeo.]]
** Eason's face when [[spoiler:Kayako emerges from one of his photographs.]]

* PrehensileHair: In the director's cut of the first film, Kayako uses her hair to hang Takeo. In the second film, she [[spoiler:[[FetishFuel completely envelopes Vanessa's body with it]].]]

** The scene in the darkroom in the second movie may be a homage to a visually-similar scene in ''Film/{{Shutter}}''. Also, earlier in the same movie, the scene where Kayako appears in the reflection of Eason's TV screen after he switches it off may be a reference to an almost identical scene from ''[[TheRing Ring]]''.

* ShoutOut: In the first movie, the scene where Susan runs from her workplace and hails a taxi to get home is an homage to ''Film/{{Suspiria}}''. Later, there is an homage to ''The Franchise/EvilDead'' when Kayako's diary flips open seemingly by itself.
** The scene in the darkroom in the second movie may be a homage to a visually-similar scene in ''{{Shutter}}''. Also, earlier in the same movie, the scene where Kayako appears in the reflection of Eason's TV screen after he switches it off may be a reference to an almost identical scene from ''[[TheRing Ring]]''.

''The Grudge'' is an American horror film series consisting of 3 films. Its first installment was the 2004 American remake of the Japanese film ''{{Juon}}: The Grudge'', with added elements from ''{{Juon}}: The Curse''. The film was released in North America on October 22, 2004 by Columbia Pictures, and is directed by TakashiShimizu (director of the original series) while Creator/SamRaimi produced and Stephen Susco scripted. In the same tradition as the original series, the plot of the film is told through a [[AnachronicOrder non-linear sequence of events]] and includes several intersecting subplots. The film has spawned two sequels: ''The Grudge 2'' (which was released on October 13, 2006) and ''The Grudge 3'' (released direct-to-DVD on May 12, 2009, after having the original release date pushed back), this time directed by Toby Wilkins with Shimizu as executive producer. Also, a fourth film is planned (with Shimizu supervising).

''The Grudge'' is the 2004 American remake of the Japanese film ''JuOn: The Grudge'', with added elements from ''JuOn: The Curse''. The film was released in North America on October 22, 2004 by Columbia Pictures, and is directed by TakashiShimizu (director of the original series) while Creator/SamRaimi produced and Stephen Susco scripted. In the same tradition as the original series, the plot of the film is told through a [[AnachronicOrder non-linear sequence of events]] and includes several intersecting subplots. The film has spawned two sequels: ''The Grudge 2'' (which was released on October 13, 2006) and ''The Grudge 3'' (released direct-to-DVD on May 12, 2009, after having the original release date pushed back), this time directed by Toby Wilkins with Shimizu as executive producer. Also, a fourth film is planned (with Shimizu supervising).

* TheOtherDarrin: As with the original ''Ju-on'' series, Toshio has been portrayed by three different actors. In the first film and in flashbacks/photographs for the second and third films, he was portrayed by Yuya Ozeki (who also portrayed the version of the character in the two theatrical ''Ju-on'' films). In the second film, he was portrayed by Ohga Tanaka. In the third film, he is portrayed by Shimba Tsuchiya. (Unfortunately, the difference is rather jarring in the third movie, as Toshio looks a lot older than in the previous films.)
** Not only that, but Creator/TakakoFuji, who has played Kayako from the very beginning of the ''Ju-on'' saga up until ''The Grudge 2'', has been replaced in ''The Grudge 3'' by Aiko Horichi (although Fuji does appear as Kayako in the third movie's flashbacks and photographs). According to [[WordOfGod Takako Fuji herself]], she was getting tired of playing the same role over and over again.
** Also, in the ''Tales of the Grudge'' shorts, Kayako is portrayed by Anna Moon.

* [[spoiler:SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan: By the end of the third movie, Kayako is sealed inside Rose.]]

** Not only that, but TakakoFuji, who has played Kayako from the very beginning of the ''Ju-on'' saga up until ''The Grudge 2'', has been replaced in ''The Grudge 3'' by Aiko Horichi (although Fuji does appear as Kayako in the third movie's flashbacks and photographs). According to [[WordOfGod Takako Fuji herself]], she was getting tired of playing the same role over and over again.

'''Note: This page is for the American franchise only. For the Japanese series of films, see ''JuOn''.'''

** The second film subverts this [[spoiler: with Aubrey being DeadAllAlong prior to both Allison and Jake's story lines]] (with the former's still taking place in 2004 [[Tmeskip while the other two take place in 2006]]) [[spoiler: and with Kayako killing off Allison in the last minute of the film, making Jake the SoleSurvivor.]]

** The second film subverts this [[spoiler: with Aubrey being DeadAllAlong prior to both Allison and Jake's story lines]] [[spoiler: (with the formers still taking place in 2004 [[Tmeskip while the other two take place in 2006]])]] [[spoiler: and with Kayako killing off Allison in the last minute of the film, making Jake the SoleSurvivor.]]

** The second film subverts this [[spoiler: with Aubrey being DeadAllAlong prior to both Allison and Jake's story lines (with the formers still taking place in 2004 [[Tmeskip while the other two take place in 2006]])]] [[spoiler: and with Kayako killing off Allison in the last minute of the film, making Jake the SoleSurvivor.]]

** The second film subverts this [[spoiler: with Aubrey being DeadAllAlong prior to both Allison and Jake's story lines (with the formers still taking place in 2004 [[Tmeskip while the other two take place in 2006]]) and with Kayako killing off Allison in the last minute of the film, making Jake the SoleSurvivor]].

* DeathByFallingOver: Peter Kirk dies when, highly likely to be under the curse's influence, he throws himself out of his apartment window. In ''The Grudge 2'', Kayako pulls [[spoiler:Karen]] off the roof of the hospital (although some speculate that Kayako may have killed her just before she fell).

'''Note: This page is for the American franchise only. For the Japanese series of films, see ''Ju-on''.'''

'''Note: This page is for the American series of films only. For the Japanese series of films, see ''JuOn''.'''

* ShoutOut: In the first movie, the scene where Susan runs from her workplace and hails a taxi to get home is an homage to ''{{Suspiria}}''. Later, there is an homage to ''The Franchise/EvilDead'' when Kayako's diary flips open seemingly by itself.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Kayako did not have much of a backstory in the original film series, and Takashi Shimizu wanted to keep it that way. However, he was told to give her a backstory for ''The Grudge 2'', which he reluctantly went ahead with . In an interview, Shimizu also stated that executives kept insisting that Kayako should have "a twin", which baffled him. In ''The Grudge 3'', Kayako is revealed to have a sister (though not a twin sister), which has to make one wonder if that was a case of executive meddling, too.

* EmptyPilesOfClothing: [[spoiler:Allison's]] death in ''The Grudge 2''. Subverted when Kayako then occupies the left-behind clothing to menace [[spoiler:Jake]].

** the death of Jake. Having [[spoiler:nearly every bone in your body twisted and snapped]] has ''got'' to suck.

** Not to mention the death of [[spoiler:Gretchen]] in the third movie.

* CassandraTruth: Dr. Sullivan doesn't believe Jake's claims that his entire family was killed by a curse - until Jake himself dies under unexplainable ([[CruelAndUnusualDeath and downright horrible]]) circumstances.

* CatScare: ''Literally'', considering that Toshio's pet cat is also part of the curse.

* CruelAndUnusualDeath: The death of [[spoiler:Mrs. Davies]], as seen in a deleted scene from the second film, definitely qualifies - after a [[TearJerker tearjerking scene]] in which she mourns [[spoiler:Karen and Aubrey]], she not-so-coincidentally comes across [[spoiler:Kayako's diary]]...before having a much more severe coughing fit than usual, which results in her [[spoiler:''coughing up Kayako in the form of a giant hairball-come-eyeball, which rips her jaw off''.]] The fact that you can actually see [[spoiler:her face start to ''rip'']] makes it a hell of a lot squickier.

** Not to mention the death of Jake. Having [[spoiler:nearly every bone in your body twisted and snapped]] has ''got'' to suck.

* DarknessEqualsDeath: Although a lot of the deaths happen in bright daylight, some occur in (of course) the attic of the house, and in assorted dark rooms. In addition to that, the curse also seems able to cause electric lights to suddenly stop working.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Kayako did not have much of a backstory in the original film series, and Takashi Shimizu wanted to keep it that way. However, he was told to give her a backstory for ''The Grudge 2'', which he reluctantly went ahead with . In an interview, Shimizu also stated that executives kept insisting that Kayako should have "a twin", which baffled him. Of course, in ''The Grudge 3'', Kayako is revealed to have a sister (though not a twin sister), which has to make one wonder if that was a case of executive meddling, too.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Rose drinking the blood]] during the climax of the third film could be seen as this, although it isn't likely she knew exactly what the consequences would be. [[SenselessSacrifice However it doesn't seem like it helped much in the long run]], and it wasn't in time to [[spoiler:save Naoko (and her death starts an entirely new curse)]] - although it did manage to [[spoiler:save Lisa... at least for the time being. We shall see.]]

* {{Housewife}}: Kayako (before she was murdered and became a really, really angry ghost, that is).

* ImpendingDoomPOV: Used in a deleted/alternate scene from the first movie, which was pretty much a shot-for-shot recreation of a scene from the very first ''Ju-on''.

* InfantImmortality: Averted with Toshio, not to mention [[spoiler:Jake.]] Partially averted when [[spoiler:Kayako possesses Rose]] at the end of ''The Grudge 3''.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone / TheseHandsHaveKilled: After becoming possessed by [[spoiler:Takeo]] and subsequently murdering [[spoiler:Naoko]], [[spoiler:Max]] reacts like this after the possession wears off.

** Similarly, Naoko's ritual to contain her sister's spirit. [[spoiler:She's murdered by Max]], thus starting an ''entirely new'' grudge curse, and [[spoiler:Rose now houses Kayako's spirit]] after drinking Kayako's blood.
** In the second movie, Allison [[spoiler:catches a flight back to the US, hoping that the curse won't follow her. It does. She ends up spreading the curse to the ''entire apartment block'', resulting in the death of her family, Jake's family, and anyone else who enters the building,]] thus setting up the events of ''The Grudge 3''.

** And, of course, Kayako's face when she discovers that Takeo read her diary.

* ParentWithNewParamour: The situation with Jake's father and his new wife Trish is a Type 2 example. It averts the WickedStepmother trope entirely - Trish is a genuinely nice person and tries her best to get on with Jake, who feels uncomfortable with the fact that his father is with someone else. Jake's sister Lacey deals with the situation a lot better than he does.

** [[spoiler:Naoko]] after she is murdered by a curse-possessed [[spoiler:Max]] in ''The Grudge 3''.

* WomanInWhite: Kayako, of course.

* [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Sister]]: Aubrey is grief-stricken over Karen's death, and she pretty much namechecks this trope when she returns to the house [[spoiler:for the final time (while she's still alive, anyway)]].

* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Vanessa.]] Arguably, [[spoiler:Miyuki]] as well. True, what happens may be harsh, but [[spoiler:Vanessa]] is easily the least sympathetic character in the series.

* DeathByFallingOver: Peter Kirk dies when, highly likely to be under the curse's influence, throws himself out of his apartment window. In ''The Grudge 2'', Kayako pulls [[spoiler:Karen]] off the roof of the hospital (although some speculate that Kayako may have killed her just before she fell).

* ChaseSequence: Kayako pursuing Karen through the hospital in ''The Grudge 2''; the former also pursuing Dr. Sullivan in ''The Grudge 3''.