The Grudge is a remake of the Japanese hit horror film, Ju-On, and is based on the belief that a location can become cursed when a horrible death occurs out of rage or sorrow. This curse then attacks (relentlessly) any who enter the place. As the film progresses, we get glimpses into the events that caused this particular curse, and we learn that Kayako had fallen in love with (and became obsessed over) an American professor, Peter (Bill Pullman). When her husband finds out, he snaps and commits the murders that result in the curse. But like I said, this information is doled out throughout the movie as we watch two other connected stories that happen many years later in the same house.
These stories follow the Williams family and the social workers that end up looking after the eldest member of this family, and these two stories are shuffled together as we switch from the Williams' and Sarah Michelle Gellar's character. Matthew Williams (William Mapother) and his wife, Jennifer (Clea DuVall), along with his mother, Emma (Grace Zabriskie), have moved to Japan because of a promotion that Matthew has just accepted. Jennifer isn't to happy about the move, but is willing to give it a try and Emma is sick and not getting any better. The Williams are the first people to move into the cursed house since the Saeki murders some three years previously, and they are the curse's first victims.
As we see these events play out, we also see Gellar's character, Karen, as she is asked to replace a missing social worker in looking after the sick elderly woman, Emma Williams. While tending to the woman, Karen falls under the curse as well and finds herself trying to avoid the young boy who seems to be the harbinger of Kayako's appearance and spine-shivering death rattle. This story also involves finding out what happened to the worker that Karen is replacing, as well as the police that are investigating the recent murder of the Williams.
Not only does this Blu-ray release come with the original theatrical release, but also the extended cut of the film. It also has a few deleted scenes and some featurettes including what went into bringing The Grudge to America, bringing the American cast members to Japan, designing the house used in The Grudge and a tour of that same house. There is also a slew of production designer's notes and storyboard art, as well as a couple of Ju-On short films that are bound to make any fans happy.
The Grudge was brought to America shortly after the remake of (and American success of) The Ring, and it has a very similar feel. While I feel that The Ring was much better than this film, The Grudge is still a solid, suspense-filled and pretty creepy movie. If you're a fan of the film or the genre, but you haven't already gotten The Grudge yet, then the Blu-ray version is what you are waiting for. The jump to hi-def definitely doesn't hurt this film.
