Grudge / Kin – Netflix Review (3/5)

GRUDGE on Netflix is a new mystery thriller from Turkey (org. title Kin). While it does run a bit long, it also has a lot going for it. Lots of twists and turns – and also a few red herrings meant to steer you astray. Read our full Grudge movie review here!

GRUDGE is a Netflix thriller with crime and mystery as additional subgenres. This is a Turkish production, but it could just as easily have been Spanish. The production quality is impressive and the twists and turns along the way certainly reminded me of a few Spanish movies.

WANT A GREAT TURKISH NETFLIX PRODUCTION

Be sure to check out the rather brilliant Netflix series Fatma – here’s our review >

While you probably won’t guess everything ahead of time, I’m sure many will guess at least a few elements. The only real issues with this thriller are the long runtime and its flair for the melodramatic. It does go a bit overboard in a few places. But hey, the story also pulls at a few heartstrings, so it makes sense.

Continue reading our Grudge movie review below and find it on Netflix now.

Disclaimer: Grudge has the original Turkish title Kin and is not affiliated with The Grudge which had the original Japanese title of Ju-on. Just to get that settled since the two plots have nothing in common!

I am not a fan of false clues

Look, I enjoy a good mystery as much as the next person. However, I do not care for being lied to which – in my opinion – is essentially what happens when false clues are given. You can show me lots of things that I can interpret as I see fit, but if you directly tell me something (whether by words or visuals), then I’ll accept it as fact.

That’s why I do get rather irritated when those red herrings are a big part of the mystery in Grudge. Obviously, they are only meant to steer you astray as the person trying to solve a mystery. It just isn’t as efficient or intelligent as it can be.

Especially when it also runs a bit long and you discover that part of the story has been a red herring meant to deceive you. Sorry not sorry, it’s just a pet peeve of mine.

Having said that, I am very impressed with the overall storyline and the deep (as well as often dark) issues covered in Grudge. Most of them having to do with wanting to find a person to punish rather than necessarily the guilty person.

Unfortunately, this rings true in the real world as well – as has been the topic of several true crime documentaries.

The ending of Grudge on Netflix

Just a few quick words about the ending of the Netflix movie Grudge here. First of all, this isn’t one of those open endings, so you will get all the answers you need.

Is the Grudge ending any good? Well, that’s where opinions might differ a bit.

For me, it was a bit too neat and pretty. No, “pretty” isn’t the right word, but it did get wrapped up awfully nice. Everything makes sense in the end and you even get those flashbacks that show you how it was possible. Both what you missed and what you never saw. Mostly the latter.

Also, there’s that flair for the melodramatic and theatrical that got to me a bit. Still, in terms of getting everything explained, Grudge does really well.

Watch Grudge on Netflix now!

Grudge was directed by Turkan Derya who I am not familiar with. However, that’s mostly due to me not having watched many productions from Turkey. Turkan Derya has certainly directed quite a lot of both TV series as well as one feature films prior to making this Netflix movie.

Yilmaz Erdogan is both the star of Grudge as well as the writer. And, if IMDb can be trusted on this, he has been writing on TV series and movies since 1986, so he is a very experienced screenwriter. As with Turkan Derya, I can’t claim to be familiar with any of Yilmaz Erdogan’s previous work. But that says more about me than him, I’m sure.

This Turkish movie (org. title Kin) is impressive in most ways and definitely worth checking out if you enjoy a good crime mystery story. While it does run a bit long, it enough going for it to keep watching. Also, allow me to repeat my initial recommendation: Do check out the Turkish series Fatma on Netflix as well!

Grudge is out on Netflix from October 8, 2021.

Details

Director: Turkan Derya
Writer: Yilmaz Erdogan
Stars: Yilmaz Erdogan, Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Cem Yigit Uzümoglu, Ruzgar Aksoy, Duygu Sarisin