“The Grudge 2” picks up where the first movie ended.

Aubrey Davis (Amber Tamblyn) learns from her bedridden mother (Joanna Cassidy) that her sister Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) has not only been hospitalized in Japan, but is also under investigation for the death of her boyfriend in a house fire. Too ill to make the trip herself, Mrs. Davis sends Aubrey to Tokyo to bring Karen home.

Upon Aubrey’s arrival, Eason (Edison Chen), an investigative reporter, seeks her out to ask questions regarding her sister. Together, Aubrey and Eason try to unravel the mysteries behind the curse before they are consumed by it.

More often than not, a sequel is made in the hopes of cashing-in on something that had audiences just begging for more. And, more often than not, a sequel shows how little creative effort went into its production. However, while “The Grudge 2” fails to thrill-and-chill. At the very least, it strives to create a third dimension through psychological appeal.

In an attempt to further develop characters and plot, the movie splits into three stories, crossing both time and space to drive home the ultimate message — the curse is spreading and will never stop. This might be the movie’s only triumph. The stories are woven together fairly effortlessly and retain the viewer’s interest most of the time. Despite the fact that one line is a bit underdeveloped and another just prolongs the inevitable.

Where “The Grudge” succeeded, “The Grudge 2” falls short.

Predictability can suck the life out of a horror film, which it did in this case. Every tried-and-true parlor trick used in every ghost story was exhausted in the span of only 95 minutes.

Creepy noises coming from upstairs/downstairs/across the hall? Check. A buildup of music to help induce tension? Check. Well-timed silence? Check.

The list goes on and on. And sadly, the haunting guttural sound that made audiences everywhere cringe in 2004 is overused, and detracts from its scare factor.

“The Grudge 2” follows a great horror tradition: the banal sequel to a successful original.