History YMMV / TheGrudge

* HilariousInHindsight: Lacey showing off her cheerleading uniform can feel this way given her later role in ''Film/FiredUp''.

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: There really is nothing you can do to stop Kayako, so it leads to some to stop sympathizing with and rooting for the characters since Karen's and Naoko's attempts failed miserably only managing to make things worse. The movies even show that there's no way to even avoid the Curse, let alone with how any contact in regards to it will lead the characters to die. There's also the FridgeHorror that Kayako has now been freed from the house, leading to areas like the International High School and the Chicago Apartments to become new havens for the curse. The UnfortunateImplications and InferredHolocaust also applies that everyone within those places will soon end up six feet under and puppets of the curse, especially the implications at the end of the third movie's AmbiguousEnding that Naoko has spawned a new Grudge curse and Kayako/Naoko will soon come after and kill Lisa and Rose.

* SignatureScene: From the first movie:
** The shower scene where a hand comes out of Karen's head.
** The climactic scene with Kayako crawling down the stairs (carrying on the tradition from the Japanese films).
** The scene where Susan is claimed by Kayako in her bed, especially when Susan open her covers to see Kayako under the covers.
*** From the same sequence, the scene with Susan on the elevator, where Toshio is watching her through the window, on every floor.
** The scene where Alex is menaced by a jawless Yoko.

* {{Squick}}: The deaths of [[spoiler:Yoko]], [[spoiler:Gretchen]] and [[spoiler:Naoko]].
** [[spoiler:Jake's]] death from Part 3 qualifies; although no blood is spilled, the idea of having damn near every bone in your body broken in a furious rage is definitely unsettling if you mull it over too long
* [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel Surprisingly Improved Remake]]: Many feel the US remake of the third Japanese film is better. Considering the same director had a second shot at the story, he probably found ways to improve it.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Every movie's score, especially the score of the second movie.

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: Aubrey's plotline in ''The Grudge 2'' is often accused of this.

* UncannyValley: Kayako is given an appropriately creepy walk via a combination of stop-motion effects and Creator/TakakoFuji and Aiko Horichi's talents at performing creepy, jerky movements. She also has an expressionless face - you can't detect any emotion from her (even though she's supposed to be the embodiment of UnstoppableRage.)
** Also, in the third movie, [[spoiler:Naoko]] has an incredibly unsettling walk after her transformation into StringyHairedGhostGirl, thanks to [[spoiler:her knee being broken]] prior to her death.

* FanonDiscontinuity: The fact that the first two movies have alternate endings, with it being implied to Karen that the curse may have ended, and [[spoiler: the film ending before Allison is taken by the curse]] which contradict the following movies allow a slight ray of hope for any fans suffering too much from DarknessInducedAudienceApathy.

* [[HoYay Les Yay]]: There seems to be some very subtext-y moments between Allison and Vanessa in the second movie when Vanessa compliments Allison's legs, touches her sensually, and lingers in her underwear in the locker room, unlike the other girls, specifically for Allison.
** The way Kayako seems to be all over her (usually female) victims when she kills them ([[spoiler:Karen]] and [[spoiler:Dr. Sullivan]], for example - the way she [[spoiler:clings to Karen's corpse]] after she kills her). A little bit of FoeYay, perhaps?

* EndingAversion: Aubrey, Allison and Jake in ''2'' all get powerful and engaging story arcs, but the endings of those arcs are far too cruel and depressing to acknowledge without deciding TooBleakStoppedCaring.

** Among the human characters, Lacey from ''2'' stands out, given her caring CoolBigSis moments while comforting a frightened Jake and excitement after being accepted onto the cheerleading team.

* TheWoobie: A good chunk of characters, but especially Allison, Jake, Aubrey and Rose.

* {{Moe}}: Kayako herself - albeit before her death. (Most obviously in a certain deleted scene from the first movie.) She's still cute after her death, although [[CuteMonsterGirl in a rather different and disturbing sort of way]].

* FanPreferredCutContent: Many fans of th second movie think that the alternate version of the final attack on Allison and Jake should have been kept in the final cut. The alternate ending's popularity comes from how it provides some hope for Allison to survive rather than having her fall victim to the ghosts onscreen, while at the same time being even scarier than the theatrical version of the scene.

** Is Vanessa really a AssholeVictim AlphaBitch who had a sick sadistic thrill out of bullying Allison and Miyuki and cost several people their lives with her dangerous actions or Is she just your typical Insecure and Fragile JerkWithAHeartofGold since she seemed to show genuine concern for Miyuki when she went missing and probably some genuine remorse deep down for her actions which may Imply she was just trying to look cool and fit In with everyone else at school like any other teenager?