#MovieMonday: The Grudge (2020): Scared Macho Men Can Jio Your Dates

Ah, horror movies.

We all need a little scare sometimes. Even better if the scare is even scarier than our horrifying 9-5pm jobs.

But truth be told, horror movies don’t always live up to our expectations.

The question is, does the latest American remake of the Japanese horror film Ju-On: The Grudge make the cut?

#MovieMonday: The Grudge (2020): They Tried Their Best

For those who are unaware, Wikipedia describes The Grudge as a curse that is born when someone dies in the grip of extreme rage or sorrow. The curse is an entity created where the person died.

Anyone who encounters the supernatural force dies, and the curse is reborn repeatedly, passing on from victim to victim in an endless chain of grisly horror.

If you were wondering why there are so many versions of The Grudge, let me break it down for you:

The original movie is the Japanese Horror Film Ju-On: The Grudge which was released in 2002.

Later, there was an American remake in 2004 by Columbia Pictures, followed by two sequels, The Grudge 2 (2006) and The Grudge 3 (2009).

The one we’re reviewing now is called The Grudge (2020) and is a sidequel which takes place during and after the events of the 2004 film and its sequels.

It is also the fourth instalment of The Grudge film series.

Review Of The Movie Proper

I have to be honest with you, I can’t remember how Ju-On was.

I watched it many years back soon after it was released and I just remember it being scary.

I’m just gonna put it out there though: If you are a seasoned horror movie buff, I’m pretty sure that you will not enjoy this 2020 movie for two reasons.

1. The jump scares are weak

The jump scares were highly predictable, and even when it took me by surprise the ghost didn’t look very scary.

Plus, the scary music was funny (to me anyway).

Most of the scenes were very predictable too and usually involved the victim approaching a bathtub filled with grotesquely black water before a pair of hands reach out to squeeze the life out of you.

Surprise, surprise.

2. Ang Moh Ghost Not Scary One

First of all, take a good hard look at the poster and tell me what you see.

The ghostie is helping the dude shampoo his hair. I’m sorry but it needs a manicure if it’s going to come anywhere close to my hair.

Plus, ang moh ghosts just don’t do the trick, but if it’s your cup of tea, this movie might just be it for you.

To summarise things without spoilers, the movie follows a police officer who investigates several murders that are somehow connected to one house.

If you’re someone who just enjoys horror films and doesn’t have too many expectations, this show might be for you.

If you’re one to scrutinise horror scenes and have high expectations of jump scares, a detailed plot and bone-chilling scenes, don’t even bother.

But… if you’re a scardey cat macho man looking to impress your date with your manliness, then go right ahead and watch a horror movie that probably won’t have you spilling your popcorn.

You can watch the full trailer here:

Final score: 2.5/5