posted
I didn't see a thread on this. Has anyone seen this movie?
It scared Eve and I out of our wits, but it's almost impossible to explain why. If you like being creeped out for an hour and a half, I highly recommend it.
Eve's take on it:
quote:Rob and I have just seen the Grudge. We liked it a lot.
In the theater, a bunch of middle-schoolers sat behind us. They lost all semblance of composure in the first five minutes and openly whimpered through the remainder movie, even the boys. "Is this the scary part?" one kept asking. "Yes," I wanted to say. The whole damn movie was the scary part. Everyone in the theatre screamed. A lot.
To note, if you have small kids, don't be fooled by the PG-13 rating. It's very scary, it's intense and disturbing, and it is not for children.
So endeth my endorsement of the the Grudge, in theatres now.
posted
Note Sam Raimi's involvement, with this and with "The Boogeyman." The lack of Bruce is disturbing, but if he keeps producing horror films that are this good, I might forgive him.
quote: Sam Raimi on the announcement of Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash: In Variety, they said they were making it was very unusual. I don't know much about their plans, but we'd rather not do that right now…As fun as that sounded, I think they are two different worlds. Evil Dead and Freddy and Jason; maybe at another time that would be a better combination.
posted
It's because you know at any given moment something is going to fly out at you and freak you out, and you can't do anything to stop it. There's nothing subtle about it, but it's continuous and effective.
Posts: 2432 | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Oh, no, it's not subtle. But the pacing is well done - there's almost no point when you can relax completely knowing nothing's about to happen, but it does manipulate the highs and lows of the tension well enough to keep the viewer from getting acclimated and to keep the viewer unsure as to what will happen next.
Also, beyond the mere startle factor, is a very good sense of unescapable doom in some of the longer "evil approaches" scenes. You can't look away, and no one thinks the victim can do anything to get away, even though it's crawling toward her.
posted
I checked Ebert's rating before going to see the movie (1 star) so I wasn't expecting much. (I often check his star rating, but never read his reviews until after I see the movie.)
After seeing The Grudge I'd have to give it 3 stars. It scared the heck out of me several times. Looking back, I think a lot of it was "jump out and go Boo!" kind of scare, but even that cliche was done well. The atmosphere was very creepy. I liked the dis-jointed time line of the story.
But the whole look of the film was just CREEPY! You wouldn't think that a fairly modern Japanese home could look as haunted as that one did. I recommend it for anyone looking for a good spooky movie for Halloween, but I'd also second the notion that this isn't a movie for kids.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I really want to see this movie! However, the Sixth Sense made it impossible for me to sleep like a normal person for about four months. I already have to sleep with a hall light on; I'm not sure Mr. Opera would go for sleeping with the bedroom light on.
posted
Oh, and this movie makes me wish they'd give Oscars for Best Opening Credits. Talk about stylishly creepy!
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Speaking of creepy, I saw this movie on Friday night and had to clean out the crawlspace in my attic on Saturday morning. Needless to say I had Chris kneeling by the opening of the crawlspace with a flashlight and orders to not take the light off me under any circumstances.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
(Also, I don't respond too well to fear, though I have been getting better about scary movies. I just can't play Resident Evil alone in the dark.)
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
If you close your eyes for all the scary parts, it's not that bad. The images are severely creepy, though.
Posts: 9057 | Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
You can watch it by yourself if you like...but if you're a very visual person, it'll probably scare the crap out of you.
Posts: 9057 | Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
*lifts blanket quickly to accommodate Belle*
I can't even watch the commercial on TV.
That kid is freaky, freaky . Cousin It's cousin is already invading my nightmares and I've only seen the commercial a few times. A few times tooooo many!
Posts: 3771 | Registered: Sep 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
*hides under the blanket with the others* Gah... creepy movies creep me out. I can't even play SH 2 or 3 in the dark. Plus I have to sell SH 2...
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Question: Is it the kind of scary that there are repeated times when something pops up with a loud noise that makes you jump (know what i mean?) or the kind of scary that is just creepy that makes you not want to sleep at night?
Posts: 853 | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
The elevator scene with the kid waiting at each floor tipped the movie over the edge. It was ... I don't know what it was, but it was a lot of it.
Now, this movie was scary as hell, but I'm not sure it stands up well as a story. You have to look at it as a series of vaguely connected encounters with the ghost, no? That way, the troubling time jumping stops being an annoyance, and the equally-scary attempts of Sarah Michelle Gellar can fall by the wayside.
So yes. To really enjoy this movie, you have to kind of ignore the plot, and just love the atmosphere. I know that sounds like a criticism, but that scene where the zombie Yoko walks into the care centre? Bloody hell, but that was unpleasant.
Best jump scare: the ghost in the bus window. I was lucky to retain control over my bodily fluids when that happened.
The blanket scene was really unpleasant. The director really knew how to strip you of any sense of security.
And it's for that reason that I'll forgive the movie of repeatedly using the old "character stupidly investigates scary noises" device. These ghosts could follow you anywhere, even into your apartment across town.
Yeah, Dag's totally right when he says jumps and atmosphere are perfectly intertwined - these aren't jumps for the sake of jumps. Every jump establishes a new danger, and punctuates the hanging dread wonderfully.
Japanese sure know their ghosts. The creepy walk, the long hair, everything. Very tasty, even if I don't think the movie will really stand the test of time.
On a related note, I do think The Ring will be watchable years from now, and I can't wait to see the sequel.
Did your viewing of The Grudge have a Ring Two trailor? Mine did, and it looked suitably disturbing.
Posts: 1515 | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Mine didn't, although I've read the basic plot.
I thought this was way scarier than The Ring, if only because we knew Naomi Watts was going to live for at least 7 days.
But The Ring's story will probably make it more satisfying on repeat viewing.
The bus ghost was bad. Do you think they didn't have the lady come through the security monitor specifically because the effect had been done in The Ring?
posted
That's definately what I was thinking. I was surprised when the detective wasn't killed right there, through whatever means.
I wouldn't have screamed rip off if he had been. As I understand it, ghosts attacking through technology is a fairly standard device in Japanese horror movies, just like the long haired scary girl.
Are you able to make any sense out of the ghost boy being taped into the cabinet? Did the grandma do it? Was she actually able to contain the boy?
Posts: 1515 | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
By way of complaint, the Japanese's Ring sequel had a much better name - Spiral. I don't know why they just couldn't have used that.
Posts: 1515 | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
It seems like the curse only has effect (or has greater effect) on people who somehow seek it out or invite it in (by answering the phone, or investigating a noise, etc.).
I don't think the Grandma did the tape, because she couldn't handle stairs. I think it was a way to get SMG to seek out the curse to give it an opening.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
*hides under her blanket determined not to come out until this movie goes away*
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wave]](graemlins/wave.gif)
