The Grudge 3

The Grudge 3 is a 2009 American supernatural horror film directed by Toby Wilkins and written by Brad Keene. The film is a sequel to The Grudge 2 (2006) and the third installment in the American The Grudge film series. The film stars Johanna Braddy, Gil McKinney, Emi Ikehata, Jadie Rose Robson, Beau Mirchoff, and Shawnee Smith, with a special appearance by Matthew Knight. It features a linear plotline unlike all of its predecessors, which used nonlinear sequences of events for their respective plots and subplots.

The Grudge 3 was released straight-to-video on May 12, 2009, by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, with theatrical releases occurring in some countries internationally. The film was followed by The Grudge (2020).

Plot
In 2006, Jake Kimble is under the care of Dr. Sullivan in an asylum. He is locked in his room following several escape attempts and is murdered by Kayako. The attack is seen on security cameras, although her spirit cannot be seen, and Jake is found dead by the time Dr. Sullivan arrives with an orderly. News of the incident reaches Tokyo, Japan as Kayako's younger sister Naoko, aware of her older sister's haunting, travels to Chicago, Illinois, USA.

The apartment building where Jake lived is under renovation. Of the few residents who remain, some glimpse Toshio. Several people associated with the cursed apartment begin to die, including Renee's mute daughter Brenda, Rose's babysitter and family friend Gretchen, Lisa's boyfriend Andy, and Max's boss Mr. Praski. Dr. Sullivan, while investigating Jake's death, speaks with the residents and finds that others have seen the little boy of whom Jake spoke. Dr. Sullivan digs more into the information and is murdered by Kayako.

Naoko moves in while the spirits of Kayako and Toshio kill various residents and anyone associated with them. She tells the landlord's family that the curse now resides in the apartment and tries to convince them to participate in an exorcism. The landlord's sister, Lisa, refuses to cooperate but reconsiders when she realizes that her brother, Max, is possessed by Takeo's evil spirit, and the source of the curse. Naoko explains that the ceremony must not be interrupted and tells Lisa and Max's sister, Rose, that she must drink Kayako's blood. Lisa refuses. The possessed Max realizes Naoko's attempts and murders her. Lisa is chased by Kayako until, just as the croaking onryō is about to murder Lisa, Rose drinks Kayako's blood which causes her curse to disappear.

Max, who has been exorcised of Takeo's evil possession upon Kayako's banishment, stares in horror at the body of Naoko, but her murder has begun a new curse. Naoko's spirit attacks and kills him.

Cast
Additionally, Takako Fuji, Takashi Matsuyama, Kim Miyori, Yuya Ozeki, Ohga Tanaka, Masanobu Yada, Nahana and Kyoka Takizawa reprise their roles from The Grudge and The Grudge 2 via archival footage and stills.

Production
During post-production of The Grudge 2, Takashi Shimizu discussed ideas of creating another sequel, saying: "During the script meeting, our ideas didn't go anywhere good, and we couldn't come up with anything interesting to stop the curse, so if that's the case, I would rather just go for something that could never be stopped. But who knows, maybe something can be stopped in The Grudge 3." In the 2006 Comic Con, Sony officially announced plans of creating the sequel. Shimizu revealed he was offered the chance to [direct the sequel but took on the role of producer instead.

The film put out a casting call for new actors to play Kayako and Toshio, as Takako Fuji (Kayako) and Ohga Tanaka (Toshio) passed on the opportunity. Shawnee Smith was cast in this film. Principal photography took place in Bulgaria on March 3, 2008, and ended three weeks later.

Theatrical
The Grudge 3 received a theatrical release internationally grossing a total of $1.9 million.

Home media
The DVD release was originally scheduled for March 24, 2009, but was delayed until May 12, 2009. Two featurettes appear: "Tokyagoaria" documents how the Bulgarian location was made to look like Tokyo and Chicago, and "The Curse Continues" shows how the film ties into the previous two. Three deleted scenes also are included. A Region Free United Kingdom Blu-ray was released on June 1, 2009. The film grossed $5 million in home sales.

Reception
Bloody Disgusting gave the film two and a half skulls, feeling it lackluster, and saying "watching The Grudge 3 is like eating the generic brand of your favorite cereal, you can try to tell yourself all day that its just as good as the real thing, but inside, deep inside, you know it tastes different." Comingsoon.net found the film "dull" and complained that even the ending offered no answers. Cinefantastique Online slammed the film calling it "such a dismally spiritless affair that it almost seems deliberately designed to make the disappointing THE GRUDGE 2 look good by comparison."

Sequel
A new installment, simply titled The Grudge, was directed by Nicolas Pesce. Originally announced as a reboot, the film is a sidequel, set during and after the events of the first three The Grudge films. Andrea Riseborough stars in the film as a young mother and detective, named Muldoon. The film was released on January 3, 2020, featuring the characters of Kayako and Toshio in cameo appearances.