WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for The Grudge, in theaters now.
Following the success of The Ring, Sony Pictures realized the potential of Asian horror films and green-lit an American remake of Ju-On: The Grudge from writer/director Takashi Shimizu in 2004. It became a hit franchise with two sequels following up in 2006 and 2009, although they weren't as good as the original. A decade later, with its cult following intact, The Grudge now embarks on a soft reboot with a concurrent story being told in America between 2004 and 2006, all while the first movie occurs in Japan.
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The ghoul known as Kayako (Junko Bailey)follows Andrea Riseborough's Detective Muldoon in Pennsylvania asshe investigates the case of the Landers family murder. The film's final act focuses on her and her son Burke (John J. Hansen). Kayako wants the boy, which culminates with Muldoontrying to burn the house down at 44 Reyburn Street, however, not everything goes according to plan in a throwback to American remake.
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THE RISE OF THE PENNSYLVANIAGHOUL
Kayako Saeki latches on to Muldoonafter the curse isbrought over from Japan by Fiona Landers (Tara Westwood), an orderly from the caretaking service in the 2004 movie. She worked at the Saeki house Kayako lived in, died and haunted butafter feeling the evil presence there, she returned to America, not knowing the spirit becameattached to her. And so, in Pennsylvania, the ghoul possess Fiona Landers to murder her husband and daughter, before also corrupting the house's real estate agent Peter (John Cho) to do the same after he visited when the Landers stopped communicating.
Two years later in 2006, Muldoon moves to town and beginsinvestigating a dead body in a car crash in the woods, that of Lorna (Jacki Weaver). She clues together Lornawas a caretaker for the Matheson family who moved into the Landers' home. As the film progresses, Muldoon surmised William Matheson (Frankie Faison) wanted his terminally-ill wife Faith (Lin Shaye) to die there so he could live with her ghost as he didn't want to let go.
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This, unfortunately, leadsto Muldoon visiting the home to find Faith possessed after killing her husband, and after the scene is cleaned up and the old lady's taken to a home, Kayako marks Muldoon. The entity wants to claim her soul as well as Burke's, especially as it reminds her of how she murdered her own son, Toshio, back in Japan.
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BURNING THE EVIL AWAY
Like the 2004 movie, Muldoon realizes the only way to end the curse haunting her family is to burn the house down as it's the physicalvessel for Kayako to remain in America. She discovers the remedyby digging up inan old detective's work. Wilson (William Sadler) started collecting evidence in 2004 for the Landers case, drawing parallels to what was going on in Japan but he went insane, trying to commit suicide after Kayako started comingafter him too.
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Using the data Wilsongarnered, Muldoon tries to go on the run withBurke but before leaving town, she follows Sarah Michelle Gellar's KarenDavis actions from the first movie and douses the Landers' residence with gasoline. Shockingly, shefinds Burke inside the house begging her to stop but when she realizes he can't answer her question of what they should do when they're scared -- "close our eyes and count to five" -- she flicks a lighter at him and he's revealed to be Kayako in disguise. The demonic entity burns up and Muldoon rushes out into the waiting arms of Burke, relieved and now wanting to remain in town.
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However, the final scene is a direct copy of what happened to Karen two years prior. When Muldoon hugs Burke as he readies for school a couple of days later, she hears the real Burke in another room heading out. She quickly discerns this Burke she's embracing is Kayako, and it transforms and attacks her, dragging her down the corridorwhile her son gets on the bus. Karenendured a similar fate, although this one's unique because Muldoon burnt the house down whilst Karendidn't complete her arson on Kayako's home in Japan. Interestingly enough, we also see Melinda Landers (Zoe Fish) looking on with a devilish smile. With the way her hair is draped across her face, she comes offas a Kayako in-training, seemingly spectating over Muldoon's murder just as the movie ends.
The Grudge is written and directed by Nicolas Pesce, with Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert and Takashige Ichise producing. The film stars Andrea Riseborough, Lin Shaye, Demián Bichir and Junko Bailey, andis currently in theaters.
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