KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: * *
The Grudge 2 kicks off with the same shock tactic, although with more amusing results, when Jennifer Beals (the Flashdance lady) whacks her partner over the head with a frying pan when he criticises her cooking.
This film, once again directed by Takeshi Shimizu takes a while to explain what this household violence in Chicago has to do with a haunted house in Tokyo but story development, or even making sense of the story, isn't a priority with this franchise.
The Grudge 2 will, however, give you cheap scares. If you are like me and it takes only the idea of something frightening for you to shut your eyes, you're probably going to miss a fair amount of the film.
Those who didn't find The Grudge scary will be disappointed with The Grudge 2 - it's almost a repeat of the original film but with new victims.
To extend the ghost gag, there are three separate stories that play out at the same time and relate back to the house.
Ex-vampire slayer Sarah Michelle Gellar is back as Karen and her story picks up where the first film ended, with Karen hospitalised and in police custody for setting alight the haunted house and killing her boyfriend.
Karen's sister Aubrey (Amber Tamblyn) is sent to Japan to bring her home, and when things don't go to plan Aubrey is left to follow in her sister's footsteps, attempting to stop the curse killing those who enter the house.
Not so lucky though are three schoolgirls on a childish dare who also enter the house and suddenly start seeing ghosts under their school desks.
The earlier mentioned family in Chicago also have to deal with the curse thanks to a mysteriously infected neighbour.
The creepy, ghost-like figures of the murdered mother and son are back. These, along with very effective sound effects, create the frightening bits and contribute to the film's eerie atmosphere.
You have to wonder if the surprise success of The Grudge is why the ending of The Grudge 2 has so obviously been left open for another sequel. Unfortunately, it's to the detriment of the movie.
Filmgoers may find the lack of answers and a conclusion to the film annoying, leaving them unsatisfied.
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amber Tamblyn, Arielle Kebbel, Teresa Palmer, Jennifer Beals
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Running Time: 102 minutes
Rating: M - Contains horror scenes
Screening: SkyCity, Hoyts and Berkeley Cinemas
Verdict: Repeat performance of the first film and instantly forgettable.
