The Grudge is getting another reboot after the original, Ju-On: The Grudge, already inspired an American version and two direct sequels, which seems unnecessary.
Hollywood always seems to be looking for the next movie or franchise to remaster, but is it really mastery if the film has already been done several times, and quite well? Although there are some impressive names behind The Grudge‘s reboot, which is scheduled to release January 3, 2020. Director Nicolas Pesce, who directed the underground indie horror hit The Eyes of My Mother (2016) wrote the script and said it’s meant to be more of a reimagining than a direct remake.
Pesce is joined by producer Sam Raimi, who was the mastermind behind The Evil Dead franchise and has since had his hands in many horror movies, both remakes and originals, and seen them through to success. This connection may give audiences a reason to trust that this reboot will be treated properly, but is it really necessary to redo a movie that has been done, in some capacity, four times?
The Japanese Version Is The Best (But There Are Many)
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) was the third installment in the Ju-On series and was written and directed by Takashi Shimizu. It was the first film in the series to be given a theatrical release. The film is based around the Japanese ghost called an “onryō” which is capable of causing great harm to the living in the name of vengeance.
Most of these spirits are created when someone dies in a great deal of emotional pain or rage and though this turmoil, the spirit can be fueled to exact their revenge, typically on the person or person who were in some way responsible for their untimely death. The onryō who was introduced in Ju-On: The Grudge was a woman named Kayako who got murdered by her husband. After Kayako’s ghost gets revenge on her husband, her spirit consumes the house where the murders happened and remains trapped there, cursing the space forever.
A family moves in and starts to become affected by the restless spirits who seek to consume them and empower the dark energy. The first family meets an untimely end, detectives are drawn to investigate the home after discovering bodies in the attic, and the curse begins to unravel, threatening the lives of all who enter.
The original film was a success and the first American remake reached fantastic heights as well, grossing over $187 million at the box office which was an incredible return against its initial $10 million budget. Critics and audiences alike loved the remake, which brought a different brand of horror to the American big screen, but the original had the authenticity behind it that really solidified it as best in show.
What New Material Can The Grudge’s Remake Add?
Asian horror has such a unique, specific style which is so difficult to emulate by directors who are unfamiliar with the culture, or people who are not immersed in the style itself. That’s not to say it’s impossible to achieve, but the first remake was directed by Shimizu, so it kept pace with the source material without much deviation despite it having a different writer.
Honestly, the direction that Pesce seems to be taking the remake makes it sound like a reboot in name only. It makes sense to want to capitalize off a very popular franchise name, but change the core aspects of the film enough to break new ground with the sub-genre. Asian horror has a wide berth and there’s numerous spooky fork lore and tales throughout many different cultures that could be adapted to make a completely original concept instead. The new direction will surely be enjoyable, but The Grudge doesn’t need rebuilding or remastering; it still holds up nearly two decades later and is scary enough to become a timeless classic.
