The Grudge Review: 2 Ups & 8 Downs

4. It's Intensely Boring

With a skilled director and game cast, it's entirely possible for generic horror fare to be fun and entertaining, but the biggest problem with The Grudge? It's just too dull and self-serious to be enjoyable.

As much a boring detective story as it is an apparent horror film, the script bogs the cast down in tell-us-a-story expository dialogue, snooze-inducingly overlong "suspense" sequences, and the aforementioned predictable jump scares which don't even begin to get the pulse racing.

Had The Grudge indulged a more campy, self-aware vibe to compensate for its otherwise generic nature, perhaps it could've been enjoyable trash on par with the 2004 American remake. But instead, you'll likely be left checking your watch before the first act is even over.

At least it's only 94 minutes long, though you'll certainly feel every minute.