This movie turned some eyebrows when it first came out. Unlike many horror movies before it, this one relied on atmosphere and quick chills up the spine. If you were lead to believe a scene was scary, you were brought into a false sense of safety. Another scene? Same thing. Suddenly you can see object of the horror scene in plain sight. You know it is there, the person investigating the scene, the person IN the scene, is looking at it with a puzzled expression, as are you. Suddenly the camera changes to an upclose of a spooky face jumping at the camera. That is what this entire movie is about, and it relies heavily on this kind of camera work. It does a very good job of it. Much like at the end of many Steven King movies, or many horror movies, the threat is shown to still be alive, the Grudge shows the threat several times over, sometimes it will make you jump, but the director likes to build up to it. I’m told this is actually not an American style movie, but is a remake of a Japanese movie of a similar name.

I don’t remember much about the plot, but a child is killed by a father in a vicious rage. A well known Japanese curse states that such a thing will condemn the victim to a vendetta that will be settled with rage. Anyone caught entering that house, gets cursed and eventually becomes a victim. Most of the movie is spent following Sara Michelle Geller around, but even she starts to go insane.

Like many horror movies, this featured the young MTV couple who are fascinated with each others’ noses and lips. They become magnetized and you get the idea. This magnetic field, is annoying to this viewer, but thankfully it also attracks killers and vicious paranormal monsters from beyond.

The one scene that stands out in my mind is the one of Yoko. She is exploring an attic, the cursed girl attacks her and Yoko isn’t heard of since. All that is left is a jaw. Yoko is later shown with her entire back to the camera, blood is dripping down her shoes, and… and… the director keeps the suspense coming as different shots of the future victim come. Back to Yoko and it finally shows her face! No jaw! Her tongue is sticking out with this sick looking smile on what’s left of her face.

This movie is creepy and worth a look!

Yozuki’s Drive - 9