It is the classic Japanese horror epic 'Ju-on', which once sparked great controversy and was based on real events. These real events have occurred over 40 years, but the truth is more frightening and there are various experiences along the way that seem to be full of excitement.
It makes an earnest attempt at expanding the Ju-On mythology without artlessly rehashing its past successes, but it also feels unmemorable as a result, light on scares and mood, and only intermittently attention-grabbing.
It's an odd, not completely unengaging show that tries hard to steer the franchise out of a rut by refusing to regurgitate much of the imagery we've come to associate with it but in its place, there's something of an empty space instead.
The shorter episode length and six episodes ensured that I was never bored and I think that as long as audiences know to put on their J-Horror hats and focus more on the atmosphere than characters, they'll enjoy the ride.
The grudge in this series...isn't supernatural; it's the effect of domestic trauma and how that ripples out across the years to afflict individuals who come into contact with it.
By focusing on the craft of the horror and the pervasive feeling of dread inside the myth of its cursed house, the show still has enough stuff to give the audience a terrifying nightmare.