Common Sense Media Review
Horror sequel has intense peril and violence.
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The Grudge 2
What's the Story?
THE GRUDGE 2 has three storylines that deal with the theme of vengeance that has shaped all of the movies in the Ju-on franchise. When Aubrey (Amber Tamblyn) learns that her sister, Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is in a Tokyo hospital, she flies to Japan to get Karen back. In addition to Aubrey's trip to Japan, the movie follows Trish (Jennifer Beals), who moves in with Bill (Christopher Cousins) and his two kids. All will suffer the effects of the Grudge curse. Trish's family arrangement repeats -- but also refracts -- that of the original Grudge family. The Japanese family appears again in grainy video images, signaling both their existence in the past and their continuing presence in a perpetual loop. Insanely jealous husband Takeo (Takashi Matsuyama) again breaks his wife's neck and drowns his young son. These original victims become the ghosts who terrorize new prey. Among these are schoolgirls Miyuki (Misako Uno), Vanessa (Teresa Palmer), and Allison (Arielle Kebbel), who come to the family's house on a dare and then pay dearly.
Is It Any Good?
For all its jump-out-at-you surprises, grim shadows, and anguished victims, The Grudge 2 isn't very scary. More abstract art than conventional horror cinema, it's more interested in parsing the idea of repetition and the basis and method of revenge. Rejecting formula by reconsidering formula, it is, perversely, singular.
Rethinking the very concepts of remake, sequel, and translation, director Takashi Shimizu's seventh film in the Ju-on/Grudge series is actually a series of events that must be assembled by the viewer at the end -- the events occur at different times, or maybe at the same time, but they most definitely don't occur in linear time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the idea of revenge. Why do people want to inflict pain on and get "even" with those who they think have wronged them? Does revenge ever help you feel better, or does it just prolong the bad feelings and pain?
Why do you think sequels are made when they are almost always never as good as the first movie? What are some of the few examples of sequels being better than the original?
How does the movie show and imply the killings of the different characters? How does the movie use jump scares and music to heighten suspense?
Talk about the enduring appeal of ghost stories. What are your views on whether strong emotions can continue to "occupy" a place?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 13, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : February 6, 2007
- Cast : Amber Tamblyn , Jennifer Beals , Sarah Michelle Gellar
- Director : Takashi Shimizu
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : School ( College & Graduate School ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Ghosts , Monsters ) , Holidays ( Halloween )
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mature thematic material, disturbing images/terror/violence, and some sensuality.
- Last updated : September 3, 2025
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