The Grudge (2004)

The Grudge poster

Columbia Pictures
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr
Directed by: Takashi Shimizu

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: An American remake of the Japanese horror film Ju-on also directed by Takashi Shimizu.

Featured Feline: As in the original film, a black cat named Mar is featured prominently in many scenes, especially his meowing and screeching. Mar first appears when social worker Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) opens up the taped up closet.

The Grudge - close up of black cat Mar

This time, however, Mar is being held by Toshio (Yuya Ozeki reprising his role from the original film. Reportedly the boy was actually terrified of cats even though his character is almost always with Mar).

The Grudge - Toshio Yuya Ozeki holding black cat Mar

The Grudge - close up of black cat Mar hissing

Mar next shows up when Jennifer (Clea DuVall) sees him on the stairway.

The Grudge - black cat Mar on staircase

As in the original film she follows the cat up the stairs and sees Toshio’s hands reaching out to grab the animal.

The Grudge - Jennifer sees hands reaching for black cat Mar

Later social director Alex (Ted Raimi) unwittingly passes Toshio with Mar in his lap on the stairwell at work.

The Grudge - Toshio Yuya Ozeki holding black cat Mar in stairwell

Kitty Carnage Warning! Finally in the last scenes the shots which were part of the opening scenes in the Japanese version are shown, including that of Takeo (Takashi Matsuyama) going on his murder spree and grabbing Mar by the scruff. An additional shot shows Takeo actually starting to drown Mar in a bathtub, although it can be safely assumed the cat used for that particular shot was fake.

The Grudge - hand grabbing black cat Mar roughly