The Grudge Review: 2 Ups & 8 Downs

3. The Insanely Choppy Editing

Given the film's lengthy post-production period, it's not much of a leap to suggest that The Grudge was significantly re-worked in the editing room, which might explain why the editing feels so thoroughly messy throughout.

Even if you can accept the tricky narrative structure, the cross-cutting between time periods is sudden and erratic to the point of frequent irritation, to say nothing of the weird, off-rhythm cuts between scenes and especially choppily-edited jump scares.

This feels like a film which was hacked up and taped back together after test screenings and intensive executive workshopping, all in the hope of claiming the biggest opening weekend box office possible from undemanding genre audiences.