The Grudge 2 is a 2006 film about scary ghosts who make life rather unpleasant for a number of attractive young people. The following revew has been rated 90% Spoiler Free by the United States Spoiler Administration. Your mileage may vary.
"What is even scary anymore?" you ask me.
Infirmity. Strangeness. Sinister objects...
People acting strangely. Alienation.
Being helpless. Things that behave in ways they aren't supposed to.
Two plot lines weave together.
They play with time.
The effect may disorient you.
Just go with it.
Stephen King has claimed that there are three levels of scary:
It has all of these
Pleanty of them.
They play with time.
If you saw the first movie, you know what to expect.
No one will ever nominate this film for an Academy Award®©TM.
No critic will ever use the term "tour de force" in the context of this film.
You aren't going to gain profound insights from this film.
It won't change your life.
But it will scare you.
Two plot lines weave together.
Japanese ghosts are like rage made flesh—merciless and relentless as a tsunami; they are as cold-hearted as winter.
They care nothing for justice, fair play or happy endings.
—don't get too attached to any of the characters.
If you have seen Ringu, you know exactly what I am talking about.
The effect may disorient you.
The cinematography is beautiful. The editing and effects are good. (Sam Raimi and Takashi Shimizu should know something about making a movie.)
The acting is good. (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amber Tamblyn, Edison Chen, and Jennifer Beals all work well on screen.)
—and yet
I can't imagine that the Grudge 2 will make anyone's list of top ten favourite movies.
But it will still scare you.
They play with time.
"So, what's it like?"
Have you ever ridden on a rollercoaster?
(You know it is safe, but you got with it...turn off that rational part of your mind and enjoy the scare.)
That is what it's like.
You know there are no such things as ghosts, but sit back and watch gruesome spectres encroach, ruthlessly, on beautiful young people.
Just go with it.
"So, what's even scary anymore?"
"Wanna go see a movie?"