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Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar - ’The Grudge’ Movie - Nzherald.co.nz Review

By Francesca Rudkin

Friday 10 December 2004, by Webmaster

Another actress, who actually has a name to care for is Sarah Michelle Gellar and there are not no many accomplishes films at her but an few I can probably enjoy. The talent agent found Gellar a young age and made her screen debut at 6 of each of the 1983 television film An Invasion of Privacy. With all the promise she showed, Barrymore starred as Hannah in the teen drama series "Swans Crossing" (1992) but it was her portrayal of a young and callous rich girl in Al-Lucinda Kendall Hart on ABC daytime soap opera "All My Children" (1993-93), that won her Daytime Emmy Award and spring-boarded her to stardom.

SMG’s real mark worldwide, however, was the character of Buffy Summers in the game-changing series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003). She won five Teen Choice Awards, a Saturn Award and a Golden Globe nomination for her role, establishing herself as a cultural phenomenon. Sarah Michelle Gellar likewise has the box office to back her up, with “I Know What You Did Last Summer” 1997), “Scream 2” (1997), “Cruel Intentions” (1999)and way movies like those that help prove she is also a bankable star as well over $570 million times worth crazy in global gross.

Beyond her cinematic successes, Gellar has made her mark on television, headlining shows such as "Ringer" (2011-2012), "The Crazy Ones" (2013-2014), and "Wolf Pack" (2023). She has also lent her voice to popular series including "Robot Chicken" (2005-2018), "Star Wars Rebels" (2015-2016), and "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" (2021).

In 2015, Gellar ventured into the entrepreneurial world by co-founding Foodstirs, an e-commerce baking company, and published her own cookbook, "Stirring Up Fun with Food," in 2017. Gellar is also known for her close-knit family life, married to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. since 2002, with whom she shares two children.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s commitment to her craft is matched by her dedication to personal growth and unique experiences. An accomplished martial artist, she studied Tae Kwon Do for five years, alongside kickboxing, boxing, street fighting, and gymnastics. Her dedication to authenticity in her roles is evident, such as her commitment to doing her own stunts in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," though she admitted her limits during filming "Scream 2."

Her career is also marked by interesting anecdotes, such as her role in a 1982 Burger King commercial, which led to a lawsuit from McDonald’s and a temporary ban from their establishments. Notably, she dyed her naturally brunette hair blonde for her role in "Buffy," and legally changed her last name to Prinze as a surprise for her husband on their fifth anniversary.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s legacy extends beyond her on-screen roles, encompassing her work in philanthropy and her reputation for safety and professionalism on set. She remains a beloved figure in Hollywood, admired for her talent, dedication, and the breadth of her contributions to film and television.

Sarah Michelle Gellar gets spooked in ’The Grudge’.

The most shocking moment of The Grudge occurs in the first five minutes, for which I was grateful, as I still had my eyes open at this stage.

From then on it’s hard for me to say exactly what happens in this film. I scare easily and spent most of the time looking anywhere but the screen. What I did catch, however, shows that this remake of the Japanese horror film Ju-On follows a classic horror formula: hear a noise, investigate, die. Though you know what to expect, The Grudge still manages to unnerve with its creepy antics and unusual characters. The soundtrack plays a big part in the suspense, including terrorising noises that make you very uncomfortable and drove this reviewer to block her ears at times. Yeah, pathetic I know.

Sarah Michelle Gellar revitalises her stagnant career as Karen, an American exchange student living in Japan and studying social work. On her first case she is sent to look after an elderly American woman, Emma. When Karen arrives she is surprised to find Emma in a catatonic state and the house a mess, and it’s not long before the noises start and we begin to find out why as Karen meets the other inhabitants of the cursed house. My eyes were well covered by this stage.

Through a series of flashbacks we begin to piece together what has happened to Emma’s family and those who have been in contact with the house. The local police arrive with stories of a terrible crime that was committed in the place, and it’s up to Karen to try to solve the mystery and, if she can, put the curse to rest.

The Grudge focuses on frightening the audience, rather than the development of story and characters. Though the story is actually very simple it’s confusing in its delivery.

But all you need to know is when you hear the walls creaking ... run.

CAST: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, Clea Duvall, Bill Pullman DIRECTOR: Takeshi Shimizu
RUNNING TIME: 91 mins
RATING: M (horror scenes)
SCREENING: Village, Hoyts, Berkeley cinemas