The Grudge, which originally hit theaters in 2004, was based on the Japanese film Ju-on: The Grudge by director Takashi Shimizu. It stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as an American nurse working in Tokyo. When she is sent to replace the nurse for a woman with dementia, the horror begins.

The tension, racheted up from the first scene, never breaks. Unfortunately, that is about all the movie has going for it. This remake is also directed by Takashi Shimizu, and he doesn't pull out any stops as he uses every American film clich?? in the book, including having his victims walk down the darkened stairway or stick their head up into the dark attic after hearing strange noises. People keep dying, and there seems to be no explanation for why and no hope given as to how to stop the raging spirits. Eventually, the hapless viewer is given the twist that explains the first two-thirds of the movie, but by then you may not really care.

Once you give up on the idea that there will be a payoff at the end of the movie, you can actually enjoy the film for its creepy special effects and jittery, jumpy moments, of which there are many. You might never look at children or cats the same way again.

The Grudge DVD, released in February, doesn't have much in the way of bonus features and lacks many of the run-of-the-mill extras like deleted scenes and television and theater spots; it does, however, have a standard behind-the-scenes featurette, audio commentary and a slightly esoteric documentary about how our mind and body physically react to horror movies.

If you like mindless, plotless, clich??d, horror flick remakes without a satisfying ending, this is the movie for you. While it was sufficiently scary to make me jump a few times, I never really cared whether the characters lived or died. Once you start rooting for the bad guys, then you know the film has lost you. The movie is aptly named, at least for this reviewer.

out this month:

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (March 1)-See what all the fuss over a sponge and a starfish holding hands is about. SpongeBob leaves Bikini Bottom to track down King Neptune's stolen crown.

What the #$*! Do We Know!? (March 15)-A photographer's world slowly breaks down from the cellular to molecular and finally quantum levels of existence.

The Incredibles (March 15)-This smart and well-drawn movie puts a clever twist on the superhero myth, keeping it real and, at the same time, animated.

Finding Neverland (March 22)-Johnny Depp's subtle and nuanced performance brings to life the story behind J.M. Barrie and his creation of Peter Pan. Keep an eye on Freddie Highmore's performance as the young Peter Davies.

Vera Drake (March 29)-Mike Leigh's story about an abortionist in post-war England has caught the attention of many critics, who either gush about the film or despise it.