The Grudge (2020) is a supernatural horror film directed by Nicolas Pesce, serving as a sidequel to the 2004 American remake of the Japanese horror classic Ju-On: The Grudge. The film aims to expand the Grudge universe by exploring a new curse that manifests in the United States. With its interwoven, nonlinear storyline and themes of relentless horror, The Grudge (2020) seeks to capture the haunting, cursed atmosphere of the original series while introducing fresh scares.

Plot Overview

The film follows a series of interconnected stories about different individuals who encounter a cursed house in a small American town. The curse originates when a caregiver, Fiona Landers (Tara Westwood), returns to the U.S. after a visit to the infamous haunted house in Japan. Unknowingly, she brings back the curse with her, and it soon takes hold in her own home. The Landers family is ultimately consumed by the curse, leaving the house haunted and marking it as a place of supernatural danger.

Detective Muldoon (Andrea Riseborough), a recent widow, becomes drawn to the mystery of the house and its tragic history while investigating a series of deaths linked to it. As she digs deeper, Muldoon is exposed to the curse herself, experiencing terrifying visions and inexplicable horrors. The film also explores the stories of other families connected to the curse, including a real estate agent, a young couple expecting a child, and the elderly couple who once lived in the house. Each encounter with the curse leads to a tragic, horrific fate, reinforcing the idea that once cursed, there is no escape.

Visual Style and Cinematography

The Grudge (2020) uses dark, moody lighting and tight, claustrophobic camera angles to create an atmosphere of dread. The cinematography by Zachary Galler emphasizes shadows and dimly lit spaces, adding to the unsettling and oppressive tone. The film’s color palette leans toward muted, washed-out tones, highlighting the bleak and hopeless nature of the curse. While it lacks the signature Japanese horror aesthetic that characterized the original Ju-On films, it adapts the style for an American setting, using familiar haunted house visuals and jump scares to create tension.

Performance

Andrea Riseborough gives a committed performance as Detective Muldoon, capturing her character’s vulnerability and determination as she confronts supernatural horrors. Her portrayal adds depth to the story, grounding the supernatural elements in a relatable, human character. Demián Bichir, as Detective Goodman, offers a reserved performance as Muldoon’s partner who has his own reservations about investigating the cursed house. John Cho and Betty Gilpin, as the married couple dealing with the curse, deliver emotional performances, bringing out the tragedy in their story arc. Lin Shaye, a veteran horror actress, brings a chilling presence as Faith Matheson, one of the cursed victims.

Themes and Message

The Grudge (2020) explores themes of inescapable fate, trauma, and the ripple effect of violence. The curse itself serves as a metaphor for unresolved pain and suffering that spreads uncontrollably, consuming anyone it touches. Each character’s life is marked by grief or tragedy, and the curse amplifies these feelings, trapping them in cycles of fear and despair. The film reflects on the idea that certain traumas linger and fester, eventually manifesting as curses that impact not just individuals but entire families and communities. This take on The Grudge suggests that once someone is marked by the curse, their doom is inevitable—a theme that reinforces the horror’s suffocating, unrelenting nature.

Conclusion

The Grudge (2020) is a dark, intense horror film that reimagines the iconic curse in a new setting, blending American horror tropes with elements of J-horror. While it received mixed reviews and may not match the atmosphere of the original Ju-On films, it brings fresh stories and characters to the Grudge franchise. For fans of supernatural horror and those interested in tales of curses and inescapable terror, The Grudge (2020) delivers a haunting experience that extends the legacy of the Grudge universe, exploring the nature of trauma and how it can impact—and ultimately consume—those affected by it.