Plot
A young Japanese woman who holds the key to stopping the evil spirit of Kayako, travels to the haunted Chicago apartment from the sequel...

Release Year: 2009

Rating: 4.5/10 (5,085 voted)

Director: Toby Wilkins

Stars: Matthew Knight, Shawnee Smith, Mike Straub

Storyline
A young Japanese woman who holds the key to stopping the evil spirit of Kayako, travels to the haunted Chicago apartment from the sequel, to stop the curse of Kayako once and for all and save a family who are currently being haunted by her malicious spirit.

Writers: Brad Keene, Takashi Shimizu

Cast:
Matthew Knight - Jake
Shawnee Smith - Dr. Sullivan
Mike Straub - Orderly
Aiko Horiuchi - Kayako
Shimba Tsuchiya - Toshio
Emi Ikehata - Naoko
Takatsuna Mukai - Daisuke (as Takatsuma Mukai)
Johanna Braddy - Lisa
Beau Mirchoff - Andy
Jadie-Rose Hobson - Rose (as Jadie Hobson)
Marina Sirtis - Gretchen
Gil McKinney - Max
Laura Giosh - Renee
Mihaela Nankova - Brenda
Michael McCoy - Praski

Taglines: You can't escape the curse

Release Date: 12 May 2009

Filming Locations: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Technical Specs

Runtime: 90 min

Trivia:
The first film in the series not directed by Takashi Shimizu.

Goofs:
Continuity: As Naoko and Lisa are speaking in the park (right after Rose goes off to the swings), Naoko tucks her hair behind her left ear. In the next shot, her hair is back in front of her ear.

Quotes:
[first lines]
Jake: Please, don't leave me in here.
Sullivan: Jake, I promise I won't be long.

Disgraceful

Rating: 2/10

It seems the majority of the reviews thus far have been written by viewers who, after not enjoying either of the two previous films, decided to weigh in on what is ultimately a complete mockery of a great series.

First I'll tackle the good things about this film, of which there are few, but they deserve mentioning and as much of a reprieve as anyone can give them. Aiko Horiuchi replaces Takako Fuji as Kayako (creepy crackling voice lady) and picks up the role fairly well. Any fault in her appearance lies with the director, Toby Wilkins, who I will get to in a moment. The only other two notable performances come from the female leads, Johanna Braddy and Takatzuna Mukai and might not so much be notable as much as they just sharply contrast their terrible surroundings.

Now, on to the awful stuff. I think the large majority of the critics of the first two films, as I have understood them on here, find that the they were cryptic and difficult to follow. They have gotten their wish for an easy to interpret, spoon-fed, linear-flowing, cheesy horror film in The Grudge 3. Gone are the intelligent and subtle left-to-the-imagination disappearance kills. Artistic and suspenseful cinematography have been replaced by bland, formulaic and frightfully comical scenes. Brad Keene and Toby Wilkins have crafted an hour-and-a-half long slap in the face of director Takashi Shimizu who re-invented the haunted house horror film by making his own rules and breaking all the ones in the book.

Normally I am given pause when criticizing the artistic vision of writers, directors and actors who put their work on the line for what is largely a very unforgiving audience. In this case, however, the writer and director were toying with another man's vision and the hard work and creative energy he expended trying to bring something original into the world. I am dumbstruck by how a duo could miss the theme of a series so entirely. Ultimately, The Grudge 3 adds nothing to the mythology of the films and takes away a substantial amount.

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