Top 10 Best Jump Scares From The Grudge

Script written by Alex Slade

Top 10 Jump Scares from The Grudge Series

Don’t hold a grudge against us when we scare you with this list. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Jump Scares from the Grudge series.

For this list, we’re looking at moments in the American Grudge franchise that shook us to the core. This isn’t to say that the Japanese series doesn’t have plenty of scares; but for this list, we’ll just be focusing on their American counterparts.

#10: Outside the Car

“The Grudge” (2020)
Detective Wilson is freaking out, we’re freaking out, and we don’t know what to expect. Thankfully, Detective Goodman is here to keep everyone in check. The Grudge 2020 cuts between multiple characters and timelines, which keeps the viewers guessing how everything connects. Wilson is sure the ghosts in the Landers house are out to get him, and he soon finds out that nowhere is safe. It doesn’t matter if it’s in broad daylight, and in public, the Grudge’s ghost is going to find you - as seen with its sudden appearance outside Goodman’s car.

#9: Inside the Bathtub

“The Grudge 3” (2009)
Bath scenes and horror movies unfortunately go hand-in-hand. If someone’s taking a bath, then we know we're going to have to shield our eyes somehow. What makes this scene so effective, is that the death happens so suddenly. We expect Brenda to soak in the tub a while, slowly getting suspicious that nothing is as it seems. Instead, we get Toshio pulling her down before she even has a chance to get in, catching us all by surprise. It's only fitting that Toshio took her out this way, as it's the same way he was once killed.

#8: Inside the Dark Room

“The Grudge 2” (2006)
Why limit a scene to one scare when you can have many? Like the previous entry, this scene works well because it plays on our expectations. Kayako literally jumps out and scares Eason, pushing him onto the floor. Frozen, he can only watch as Kayako crawls towards him. Now the viewers are at ease, because we’ve just been scared senseless, and we don’t expect another one almost straight away ... but that’s exactly what happens when Aubrey investigates. It’s a scare with a message: that viewers can NEVER feel safe watching these movies.

#7: In the Apartment

“The Grudge” (2004)
This scare had a build up of almost ten minutes, as Susan tries to escape her demise and ends up back at her apartment. Home sweet home, right? Think again! There are plenty of good moments that make the finale give us goosebumps, such as Toshio watching Susan from the next lift as she takes it up. We feel safest in our homes, so when that’s threatened, we feel absolutely helpless. Unfortunately for Susan, that’s just what she feels at this moment, after unknowingly letting Kayako inside her home.

#6: Asylum Chase

“The Grudge 3” (2009)
Asylums are never a good place to be in when you’re being haunted. Here, Kayako makes a surprise appearance for Dr. Sullivan, creepily pushing a door open and shambling towards her. The ticking in the music is a countdown to the doctor’s demise, as she frantically moves through the hospital corridors. Naturally, her pass doesn’t work for one of the doors, and that’s what gives Kayako her moment to do her ghost dance through a door and attack. Also, why does every single door need a pass to access?

#5: Reflection Comes to Life

“The Grudge” (2020)
While the new movie may not be as memorable as previous films, we can all agree that it’s got some unique scares and a genuinely creepy atmosphere. Investigating, Detective Muldoon flips a light switch to discover the ghost of Landers standing before her. When she flips the switch again, he’s gone. We expect the scare to come with another flip of the switch, but it takes us all by surprise when she leaves the area, and he pops out in the doorway.

#4: No Jaw

“The Grudge” (2004)
The franchise is known for its psychological horror and suspense building, and not for its gore. But the graphic nature of this particular scene is nightmare fuel. After care worker Yoko goes missing in the Saeki house, her employer Alex assumes she’s home sick . . . little does he know, the situation is much, much worse. He ends up encountering her again, but this time, she’s different. The suspense built by Yoko’s lack of response is unsettling, but it’s far from the worst of it. We can safely say that Alex’s scream of disgust and terror was a reaction that mimicked our own.

#3: Under the Desk "The Grudge 2" (2006)
What's another tell you're being haunted? The power goes out. Vanessa is already scared for her life at this stage, and she doesn't know what to do. When she crawls under the desk to plug the lamp back in, we see a glimpse of Toshio running past. The pitter patter of little feet has never sounded so terrifying! In all honesty, if we were in Vanessa's shoes, we wouldn't know whether we should run out or stay hidden. Ultimately, it doesn't matter, and Kayako and Toshio get to her in the end.

#2: Escape from the Hospital

"The Grudge 2" (2006)
Poor Karen. She survived the first film, burned down the cursed house, and had seemingly escaped the Grudge, only to be hunted once again. She awakes to the terrifying grip of Toshio, and there she managed to escape her room. What follows is an intense chase sequence through a hospital. The lights flashing before shutting off, revealing glimpses of Kayako, is one creepy image we won't ever forget. Oh, and while we're used to Kayako making her victims disappear, that’s definitely NOT the case here.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Creepy Counselling
“The Grudge 2” (2006)

In the Closet
“The Grudge” (2020)

Crawling Through the Painting
“The Grudge 3” (2009)

Swinging Body
“The Grudge” (2004)

Ending
“The Grudge” (2020)

#1: Kayako in the Attic

“The Grudge” (2004)
Arguably the most memorable scene of the films is also one of the first. After healing a creepy noise in the attic, Yoko climbs up to investigate - using only a lighter as a light source. Really, she should have just run from the house . . . It’s a scene that’s especially difficult to rewatch in retrospect, knowing what happens to her jaw. Even though we catch a glimpse of Kayako in the dark before she’s fully revealed, we still jump. It’s a testament to the film’s ability to scare us silly, and sets the tone for the first movie and the rest of the series.