Parents' Guide to

The Grudge 2

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Horror sequel has intense peril and violence.

Movie PG-13 2006 95 minutes
The Grudge 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

HorrorMovieFan2947
HorrorMovieFan2947 Adult
April 16, 2020
age 11+

Sequel to the grudge

The Grudge 2 is a lot better than the the grudge. The first one is mediocre, and this movie is decent. It is not anywhere near as scary as the original, and it is not as tense or suspensful. Here is what parents need to know about the film: Violence (2 /10)- only violence is a bit of blood when a woman jumps of a building and onto the ground. A bit of blood splat and that is all of the violence. Language (3/10)- uses of damn and hell, and one swear word ( sh*t) and that is all of the language. It is mainly used when encountering kayakoo or the boy. Sexual content (3.5/10)- kissing is shown, and a couple are ready to have sex, but they get killed before it all happens. A bit of sexual talk. No drugs smoking or alcohol is in this movie at all. The movie itself is decent and pretty watchable, and is a lot better than the grudge 1. Overall, I think that this is appropriate for 11 years old or older.
Fernando V.
Fernando V. Parent of 8, 13 and 17-year-old
April 23, 2018
age 13+

The Grudge 2 Review

Who could of think a sequel to a horrible movie would be even more horrible? Oh I did. The Grudge 2 is a very confusing and non-scary sequel that it gets boring after a while. No effective jump scares, zero suspense, a plot that makes no sense like I said before. Halloween 2 is better then this piece of garbage. I am giving The Grudge 2 a 1/10
See all 6 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (14):

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?

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