The Grudge: Difference between revisions

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'''Note: This page is for the American series of films 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]]''.'''

''[[The Grudge]]'' is the 2004 American remake of the Japanese film ''[[~~Ju On~~]]: The Grudge'' (although it contains references to other films in the ''Ju-on'' series). The film is the first installment in the American horror film series ''The Grudge''. The film was released in North America on October 22, 2004 by Columbia Pictures, and is directed by [[Takashi Shimizu]] (director of the original series) while [[Sam Raimi]] produced and Stephen Susco scripted. In the same tradition as the original series, the plot of the film is told through a [[Anachronic Order|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), possibly to be released in cinemas in 2012, and may be shot in 3D.

''[[The Grudge]]'' is the 2004 American remake of the Japanese film ''[[Juon]]: The Grudge'' (although it contains references to other films in the ''Ju-on'' series). The film is the first installment in the American horror film series ''The Grudge''. The film was released in North America on October 22, 2004 by Columbia Pictures, and is directed by [[Takashi Shimizu]] (director of the original series) while [[Sam Raimi]] produced and Stephen Susco scripted. In the same tradition as the original series, the plot of the film is told through a [[Anachronic Order|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), possibly to be released in cinemas in 2012, and may be shot in 3D.

There is also a collection of short films, entitled ''Tales of the Grudge'', which were used to promote the second film. These shorts are included on the Director's Cut edition of ''The Grudge 2'' DVD.

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* [[Curiosity Killed the Cast]]

* [[Darkness Equals Death]]: 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.

* [[Death By Sex]]: Averted in the third movie, and played with in the second movie - {{spoiler|Miyuki dies in the love hotel she checks into with her boyfriend}}.

* [[Death by Sex]]: Averted in the third movie, and played with in the second movie - {{spoiler|Miyuki dies in the love hotel she checks into with her boyfriend}}.

* [[Demonic Possession]]: How Kayako, Toshio, Takeo, and the cat seem to affect the apartment residents in Chicago.

** There is a deleted scene from the first movie in which Matthew is possessed by Takeo. This is a recreation of a scene from the first Japanese theatrical movie.

** In the third movie, {{spoiler|Rose becomes possessed by Kayako after consuming her blood}}.

* [[Disconnected By Death]]: {{spoiler|Vanessa}} in the second movie.

* [[Disconnected by Death]]: {{spoiler|Vanessa}} in the second movie.

* [[Downer Ending]]: It's impossible to survive the curse; it's only a matter of time before it claims your life.

* [[Driven to Suicide]]: 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.

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** Also, in the third movie, {{spoiler|Gretchen's portrait of Rose is slashed and splattered with red paint, resembling blood, by Kayako}}. This could be foreshadowing {{spoiler|Kayako's eventual possession of Rose}}.

* [[Freak-Out]]: Takeo has one after discovering Kayako's huge crush on Peter.

* [[Freeze Frame Bonus]]: 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. [[Rule of Symbolism|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.

* [[Freeze-Frame Bonus]]: 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. [[Rule of Symbolism|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.

** An in-universe example occurs in the second movie, when Eason is watching an old taped interview with Nakagawa as part of his investigation. On the recording, he notices a very brief, blink-and-you'll-miss-it shape in the corner of the door behind Nakagawa, as well as a strange noise. Cue Eason rewinding the recording and playing it in slow-motion...

* [[Ghostly Goals]]: The second type, though not by choice.

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* [[Kick the Dog]]: Vanessa does much of the kicking, and the dog is usually Allison.

* [[Kill'Em All]]

* [[Kill It ~~With~~ Fire]]: Nakagawa attempts to stop the curse by burning down the house, but is killed by {{spoiler|Takeo}} before he can accomplish this. Karen attempts to finish the job, but it backfires horribly.

* [[Kill It with Fire]]: Nakagawa attempts to stop the curse by burning down the house, but is killed by {{spoiler|Takeo}} before he can accomplish this. Karen attempts to finish the job, but it backfires horribly.

* [[Kill the Cutie]]: That is, kill ''all'' the cuties.

* [[Leitmotif]]: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuDtoGRzYE4 The main theme], which is heard in all three films during the opening and ending credits, and also pops up during the rest of the musical scores a few times. Then there's also the [[One-Woman Wail]] that occurs throughout the second film's score.

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** Also subverted in ''The Grudge 3'' in that the film makes you think that this is how {{spoiler|Naoko}} is going to die... until {{spoiler|she gets ''stabbed through the back of the throat''. Admittedly, this ''does'' manage to sever her spinal chord, but it doesn't fit the trope}}.

* [[Never Found the Body]]: Several of the curse victims' bodies are never found by the authorities, simply because they get pulled into ''nowhere''. Notable victims include {{spoiler|Susan}}, {{spoiler|Miyuki}} and {{spoiler|Allison}}.

* [[New House New Problems]]: Woe betide anyone who moves into/enters the cursed house. [[It Got Worse|Later]], the curse isn't just limited to the house, spreading to those who have nothing to do with the house whatsoever...

* [[New House, New Problems]]: Woe betide anyone who moves into/enters the cursed house. [[It Got Worse|Later]], the curse isn't just limited to the house, spreading to those who have nothing to do with the house whatsoever...

** From the second movie onwards, woe betide anyone who enters/moves into/already lives in that Chicago apartment block...

* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: Karen setting fire to the house, thereby breaking the seal containing the curse within.

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** Eason's face when {{spoiler|Kayako emerges from one of his photographs.}}

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

* [[Once More, ~~With~~ Clarity]]: Second movie: Following {{spoiler|Aubrey sharing the same fate as Kayako}}, the earlier scene with Allison being menaced in the cupboard by Kayako plays out again, only this time {{spoiler|the woman emerging from the attic is not Kayako, but Aubrey.}}

* [[Once More, with Clarity]]: Second movie: Following {{spoiler|Aubrey sharing the same fate as Kayako}}, the earlier scene with Allison being menaced in the cupboard by Kayako plays out again, only this time {{spoiler|the woman emerging from the attic is not Kayako, but Aubrey.}}

* [[One-Woman Wail]]: A [[Leitmotif|recurring theme]] throughout the second movie's score.

* [[The Other Darrin]]: 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.)

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* [[Our Ghosts Are Different]]

* [[Pater Familicide]]

* [[Parent ~~With~~ New Paramour]]: The situation with Jake's father and his new wife Trish is a Type 2 example. It averts the [[Wicked Stepmother]] 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.

* [[Parent with New Paramour]]: The situation with Jake's father and his new wife Trish is a Type 2 example. It averts the [[Wicked Stepmother]] 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.

* [[Parental Favoritism]]: Mrs. Davies greatly favours Karen over Aubrey, and is pretty unpleasant towards the latter.

* [[Peek a Boo Corpse]]: Kayako's body falling from the attic in the first movie.

* [[Peek-a-Boo Corpse]]: Kayako's body falling from the attic in the first movie.

* [[Precision F-Strike]]: In the third movie.

* [[Prehensile Hair]]: In the director's cut of the first film, Kayako uses her hair to hang Takeo. In the second film, she {{spoiler|[[Fetish Fuel|completely envelopes Vanessa's body with it]].}}

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* [[Spooky Painting]]: Used in the third movie when {{spoiler|Kayako's face suddenly appears in one of Gretchen's paintings}}, and again a short while later, when {{spoiler|she emerges out of a different painting}}.

* [[Spooky Photographs]]: {{spoiler|Eason}} is killed when Kayako emerges from {{spoiler|a photograph he is in the process of developing}}. Later, after Aubrey discovers the corpse of {{spoiler|Eason}} and is subsequently menaced by Kayako, all of the photos in the darkroom change to show Kayako's face staring out of all of them.

* [[Stalker ~~With~~ a Crush]]: {{spoiler|Kayako towards Peter.}}

* [[Stalker with a Crush]]: {{spoiler|Kayako towards Peter.}}

* [[Stringy Haired Ghost Girl]]: Kayako. {{spoiler|Aubrey}} ends up as one by the end of the second movie, as well (mimicking the ending of the first Japanese theatrical release, in which {{spoiler|Rika}} suffers the same fate).

** {{spoiler|Naoko}} after she is murdered by a curse-possessed {{spoiler|Max}} in ''The Grudge 3''.

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* [[Why Didn't You Just Say So?]]: A rather dark example from the third film, as Max is in the middle stages of his [[Demonic Possession]]:

{{quote| '''Lisa:''' You should have said something.<br />

'''Max:''' Gee, I wish I had. [[Oh Wait|Oh, wait]], I did, but you were too busy fucking Andy all over the goddamn building to listen to me. }}

'''Max:''' Gee, I wish I had. [[Oh, Wait!|Oh, wait]], I did, but you were too busy fucking Andy all over the goddamn building to listen to me. }}

* [[With Friends Like These...]]: Poor [[The Woobie|Allison]] is manipulated, mocked and cruelly pranked by both [[Alpha Bitch|Vanessa]] and Miyuki, who use her naivety to their advantage. Also, Vanessa even seems to treat Miyuki in a cruel manner, in spite of their supposed friendship.

* [[Woman in White]]: Kayako, of course.