At the beginning of Nicolas Pesce’s J-horror-inspired reboot, a bag of rubbish gyrates as if something human is caught inside. Trapped in a pile of garbage: I’m sure the cast of The Grudge know how that feels.
Many attempts have been made to capitalise on the success of Takashi Shimizu’s Ju-On: The Curse (made in 2000). We’ve already had a 2004 remake and over ten spin-offs.
Even if you haven’t seen these movies, the genre’s so familiar you’ll be able to second guess the plot. A supernatural spirit is carried from Tokyo to suburban Pennsylvania, rendering a family home toxic for all who cross the threshold.
Guess what? People keep on crossing. Pesce has one clever idea, out-bleaking other scandi noirs by creating an ambiance so dreary even the heroine’s jumpers look like they’ve been marinated in vomit. Otherwise, he sticks slavishly to the jump-scare formula.
The actors take the high road. Andrea Riseborough (as Muldoon, a widowed cop with a young son) acts like she’s in her own production of Hamlet. Betty Gilpin, Jacki Weaver and Lin Shaye are just as committed.
UK audiences will be forgiven for giggling every time Muldoon calls out to her son. His name is Burke. You don’t have to be a twit to enjoy this movie, but it helps.
