The Grudge (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Grudge is a 2019 mystery horror film directed by Nicolas Pesce, starring Tara Westwood as Fiona Landers, Junko Bailey and David Lawrence Brown. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $49.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. Its Echo Score is 38/100.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 33m (93 min)
- Director
- Nicolas Pesce
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Ghost House Pictures
- Budget
- $10M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Grudge About?
The premise of The Grudge without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A brutal act of violence leaves a house steeped in a terrifying curse. When a detective begins to investigate the case of a young mother who murdered her family, she uncovers a vengeful spirit determined to claim new victims. Now, she and her family are targeted by the malevolent force, and she must fight to protect them from its unrelenting grasp.
The Grudge Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- ghost
- haunted house
- reboot
- female protagonist
- curse
- remake
- gore
- year 2006
- year 2005
- year 2004
- japan
- 2020s horror
+38 more Show fewer
- yurei
- japanese curse
- non linear
- kid survives
- old couple
- assisted suicide specialist
- shower scare
- police station
- bathtub scare
- hair scare
- doppelganger
- police protagonist
- single mother
- kid in police station
- interracial couple
- fingers cut off
- car crash
- house burns down
- house on fire
- video replay
- death of family
- internet research
- archive research
- archive
- closed case
- tokyo japan
- remake of japanese film
- amniocentesis
- scene of the crime
- female police officer
- male police officer
- police
- police officer
- requel
- ends with a woman screaming
- husband wife relationship
- screaming woman
- husband kills his wife
The Grudge Cast & Characters
Tara Westwood leads the cast as Fiona Landers, with Junko Bailey as Kayako Ghost and David Lawrence Brown as Sam Landers. Directed by Nicolas Pesce; 23 actors are credited in all.
- Director Nicolas Pesce
- Tara Westwood as Fiona Landers
- Junko Bailey as Kayako Ghost
- David Lawrence Brown as Sam Landers
- Zoe Fish as Melinda Landers
Also Starring in The Grudge
· 19 more- John Cho Peter Spencer
- Betty Gilpin Nina Spencer
- Demián Bichir Goodman
- William Sadler Detective Wilson
- Lin Shaye Faith Matheson
- Frankie Faison William Matheson
- Jacki Weaver Lorna Moody
- Andrea Riseborough Detective Muldoon
- John J. Hansen Burke
- Stephanie Sy Amnio Nurse
- Nancy Sorel Agent Cole
- Ernesto Griffith Orderly
- Bradley Sawatzky Officer Michaels
- Derek James Trapp Forensics (uncredited)
- Lorrie Papadopoulos Hospital Visitor (uncredited)
- Joel Marsh Garland Detective Greco
Show all 23 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Robin Ruel Dr. Friedman
- Steven Ratzlaff Dr. Maher
- Robert Kostyra Truck Driver
More from Nicolas Pesce
More films directed by Nicolas Pesce, best-rated first: The Eyes of My Mother, Piercing, The Grudge and The Caretaker.
The Grudge Reviews & Ratings
Our Echo Score gives it 38/100, strongest in sensory experience (58) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).
The Grudge Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, The Grudge delivers a thinly imagined horror experience that fails to engage the audience beyond sporadic jump‑scares. Critics and viewers alike highlight predictable plotting, an overreliance on loud scares, and a mishandled adaptation of its source material. While the gore and occasional effective fright momentarily capture attention, the film’s dull pacing and weak narrative undermine its impact. Consequently, its lasting appeal remains limited.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 38
ART receives a mixed appraisal, with direction occasionally praised for its polished execution but frequently criticized for squandering potential. Cinematography and production design are described as conventional, offering little visual distinction, while editing contributes to a sluggish rhythm. The overall craft therefore feels competent yet uninspired, limiting the film’s artistic impact.
- Character & Emotion 45
Character work suffers from shallow development, as many reviewers note an excess of unnamed roles that never attain audience connection. Performances from the ensemble are recognized as competent, with several actors delivering solid moments, yet the lack of depth and chemistry prevents emotional investment. Consequently, the character dimension remains a peripheral strength rather than a driving force.
- Story & Flow 30
Storytelling is the film’s weakest component, with a plot deemed predictable and overly complicated. Both critics and users point to a confusing narrative arc and an unsatisfying climax that fails to deliver coherent resolution. The reliance on formulaic jump‑scares further masks the absence of original ideas, resulting in a narrative that disengages viewers.
- Sensory Experience 58
Sensory elements stand out more positively, featuring pronounced gore effects and a soundtrack that accentuates tension during the film’s few effective scares. Sound design, however, is occasionally judged as noisy, and visual flair is described as flashy without purpose. Overall, the sensory presentation offers intermittent thrills but does not compensate for broader deficiencies.
- Rewatch Factor 30
Rewatch potential is low, as the film’s repetitive scare tactics and lackluster story diminish the desire for repeated viewings. While isolated moments may amuse genre enthusiasts, the prevailing boredom and predictable structure deter sustained interest. Accordingly, the movie is unlikely to reward audiences beyond a single, brief encounter.
The Grudge Plot Summary
What happens in The Grudge from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The story begins in 2004, when a live-in nurse named Fiona Landers departs from the residence of the Williams family in Tokyo, Japan. She appears deeply disturbed as she informs her colleague, Yoko, that she is returning to the United States. Before her departure, Fiona has a brief and terrifying encounter with the ghost of Kayako Saeki, played by Junko Bailey. Upon arriving back at her home in a small Pennsylvania town, Fiona reunites with her husband, Sam Landers, and their young daughter, Melinda Landers. However, the malevolent curse of Kayako has already possessed Fiona. In a fit of supernatural violence, Fiona bludgeons Sam to death and drowns Melinda before finally committing suicide by stabbing herself in the throat.
Full summary
The whole story of The Grudge, scene by scene
The Grudge Box Office & Budget
The Grudge grossed $49.5 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 5.0 times what it cost. $21.2 million came from the US and Canada and $28.3 million (57%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$49.5M
5.0× its budget
- US & Canada
- $21.2M
- International
- $28.3M
- Budget
- $10M
The Grudge Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Red Band Trailer
How Well Do You Know The Grudge?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the address of the cursed house at the center of the story?
Cars in The Grudge
11 cars on screen, including the 1980 Chevrolet Caprice Classic and the 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon.
-
1980 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Main role -
1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon Important role -
1979 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Important role -
2000 Toyota Camry Important role
The Grudge Also Known As
34 alternative titles, including “Η Κατάρα” and “Az átok háza”.
- Also known as
-
- Η Κατάρα
- Az átok háza
- Pagieza
- La maldición renace
- O Grito
- The Grudge: Klatwa
- The Grudge: Maldição
- La maldición
- 怨咒
- Nicolas Pesce s The Grudge
- 咒怨4(美版)
- บ้านผีดุ
+22 more Show fewer
- The Grudge: The Untold Chapter
- Rage meurtrière
- Гняв
- 그루지
- Nenávist
- Прокляття
- Проклятие
- Nenávisť
- The Grudge: Klątwa
- Lời Nguyền
- Garez
- Клетва
- הטינה
- 新咒怨 美版
- Niknuma varā, წყევლა
- Blestemul
- الضغينة
- 咒怨
- 新咒怨(美版)
- द ग्रज
- ザ・グラッジ 死霊の棲む屋敷
- Pagieža
Seen The Grudge?
Movies Like The Grudge
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Grudge, The Grudge and Ju-on: The Grudge.
The Grudge FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Grudge, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Grudge?
The Grudge runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).
When was The Grudge released?
The Grudge was released on December 31, 2019.
Who directed The Grudge?
The Grudge was directed by Nicolas Pesce.
More films by Nicolas Pesce Who is in the cast of The Grudge?
The Grudge stars Tara Westwood as Fiona Landers, Junko Bailey as Kayako Ghost and David Lawrence Brown as Sam Landers, among 23 credited actors.
How much did The Grudge make at the box office?
The Grudge grossed $49.5 million worldwide ($21.2 million domestic, $28.3 million international) on a budget of $10 million.
Does The Grudge have a post-credit scene?
No. The Grudge has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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