There are two reactions that you may get when you mention that a new version of The Grudge will be hitting soon. Either you get a groan, or you get an excitement.
But then again, another one would soon hit the big screen here.
Most of us have seen Shimizu Takashi’s more American version of the film remake. In 2004, there was a sudden wave of remakes of Asian movies, particularly the horror ones.
They gave fans a more curios feeling and satisfaction with the horror scene.
Now, Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Taka Ichise are once again the producers of the new remake for the 2020 version, although the most intriguing part is the new writer and director, Nicolas Pesce. His debut film “The Eyes of My Mother” in 2016 was captivating and shocking whereas his 2018 movie, Piercing, was a fuller and nastier take on his filmmaking.
Now basing on the two films which he directed, The Grudge looks more promising. Its trailer has some criteria which may show a disturbing horror thriller.
Pesce said that he wants to take The Grudge our of Japan and America and “perhaps even leave the modern age.” During an interview, he was sharing about his directing style.
It is the classic cult horror with a lasting nature of the dreadful curse. “I do, but spoilers are involved in sorta. I think the most important thing is to take it to more areas than just Japan and America, and maybe even abandon the modern age. It’s something for me. The Grudge isn’t something that just happened, and it’s always happening. It is only a question of disclosing when and where. I think something cool would go back and do something less contemporary and see how this thing took shape in other forms and other places.”
This film is more of a continuation of the two Japanese franchises. John Cho, who also was part of The Exorcist in 2017 and purposely avoided it, said in an interview that he just got recently attracted to horror films. “I think that’s what attracts me to the horror genre in general late in life is its ability to use the genre to do things that aren’t being done in cinema right now.”
He added, “I never wanted to scare myself purposely, that’s why I stayed away from (the horror genre) for a long time, just had no desire to engage, even when my friends, you know as teenagers, were watching ‘Friday the 13th’ and ‘Halloween,’ I just was not into it.”
Also starring in the movie are Betty Gilpin, John Cho, Andrea Riseborough, and Jacki Weaver.
According to some critics, The Grudge will be the best movie of the new year.
Sarah Michelle Gellar in 2004 starred the first version of the film, and it cost 10 million dollars and made a return of $187.2 million. The Grudge 2020 still has not released how much its official budget is, but there are speculations of approximately $13.6 million.
Read More: Linda Ronstadt’s Documentary Will Bring You to Tears
