Ju-on: The Grudge

Of a feather with such curse-drawn Japanese frighteners as ‘Ring’ and ‘Pulse’, ‘Ju-on: The Grudge’ trots out a device as lavishly cobwebbed as Bela Lugosi’s attic: the dwelling with a ghastly past. Duct tape, it seems, was all it took to keep the maleficence penned up, but here comes care worker Rika (Megumi Okina) to let the cat out of the cupboard… Much of the movie’s goosefleshing moments are fundamental childhood fears made good – what’s in the shadow? what’s around the corner? – but the knots of dread loosen as the obits list lengthens. There are some superb acoustic shocks, though, including a nasty caterwaul and a nameless rattle which will have fingernails shredding armrests.