The Ring (2002)
Stylishly Shocking Video Nasty
Starring: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman
Director: Gore Verbinski
Running Time: 115 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 15
Drama, Horror, Mystery
I'm not easily scared by horror movies, but the classic remake of the 1998 Japanese hit Ringu scared the pants clean off me.
Based on an urban myth, The Ring tells the story of a video tape that contains the captured images of a nightmare. If you watch it, you receive a phone call informing you that in exactly 7 days time, you will die.
The Ring focuses on journalist Rachel Keller's (Watts) quest to discover the sinister truth about the death of her niece who was found literally scared to death. As she follows the clues, she moves from non-believer to terrified mother as she finds the tape and watches it, condemning herself to just seven short days on earth…
Also starring is child star David Dorfman whose performance as the semi-psychic Aiden Keller is astonishing and Martin Henderson as Noah whose performance as ex-husband to Rachel and father to Aiden is equally sincere. Warned by psychic predictions from Aiden who as much confuses as helps, Rachel and Noah begin to unravel a tale of absolute terror and a legacy of evil that threatens to destroy not only themselves, but everyone that sees 'the Ring'.
Strange shadows, dark visions and terrifying visuals assault you as this movie shifts from horror to suspense and back again. The Ring is perfectly paced, stylishly twisting and turning towards a terrible mystery and an unexpected plot twist that even the most genius won't expect.
I admit; this film really did scare me. I found myself closing my eyes in parts and will freely confess to hiding my face at one particularly tense moment. Gory in places, shockingly scary throughout, The Ring is a roller coaster of terror with great performances, a good script and something above the norm for the horror genre.
If you're looking for suspense horror then look no further. You've found the master.
It's Got: Non stop suspenseful terror. Fantastic child acting
It Needs: To be less scary. A sequel
Alternatives: The Sixth Sense, The Blair Witch Project, Psycho
Summary: Scarier than the Blair Witch Project. And that's saying something. You will never look at videos in quite the same way again.
Review Date: 5th February 2003
External Links
The Ring at the IMDB
Comments23 Comments |
| Okay, first of all, let me say that this movie is quite a classy creep-story. It has great atmosphere, visuals and plot twists, and hasn't sold out to be just another teen-fright movie. What annoyed me was the hype about this movie. I didn't see the cinema release. I only got it out on DVD a few days ago, so of course I've been subjected to every one else's opinions of the film, which generally ran along the lines of "scariest movie I've ever seen!" The trouble is, so many people tend to be a little free with their verbal summing up of horror movies, and they always say that it's the scariest movie they've seen. Even the quote from Rolling Stone magazine, printed on the DVD box states "Scared the s**t out of me!". And this tended to build up my expectations. I wanted, and expected, to be scared out of my wits. I wasn't. If people had told me it was a "really creepy" film, I would have been more than satisfied with the movie, because it would have more than lived up to that expectation. But at no point in the movie did I feel the least bit scared. Maybe the problem is that I was a kid who persisted in sneaking out of bed at midnight to watch all those old Hammer House movies, The Exorcist and Trilogy of Terror, and as such I've built an immunity to being scared by movies. I hope not! I used to love being petrified by a good horror movie. To lose that sense would be like losing my sense of taste or smell. This is not to say that I didn't like to film. I did! And I was certainly adequately "creeped out" at certain points. The acting is superb, and way above what could be expected of most performances in the usual horror fare. The images on the mysterious video are indeed enough to put chills up your spine, and the subtle sound effects that indicate that, once again, some unwary idiot in the next room has hit the "play" button, does well to make the viewer think, "ohhhh no...!". Now let me express my pedantic side, and my one petty gripe with the story: There is no way anyone could fall down a virtually "bottomless" hole to land in a mere four feet of water without suffering at least a broken limb! It wouldn't have been too much to expect that character to spend the rest of the movie wearing a leg-splint at the very least - it might even have added to the sense of desperation when that character needed to "get there before it's too late" at the climax. This oversight just smacked of too much artistic licence. But perhaps I'm obsessing a little... To sum up, this is a great creepy movie. I recommend watching it with no other expectations, and you will be well rewarded and more than satisfied. Oh, and turn all the lights off before you hit "play". |
| Comment by:- Glynn | | 01 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| I watched this movie but i didn't understand but i heard Japanese Ringu is better |
| Comment by:- Caroline | | 19 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| Well, this movie scared me. a lot. i couldn't touch video tapes for a weak or so, and it was really one of the scariest (scariest- not best) movies i have seen in a looong time. And Glynn... if you ever read this, you could tell me which film do you think is scary. |
| Comment by:- roman | | 20 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| Although the effects of The Ring outmatches the Japanese Ringu, I must say, the storyline completely confused me, and I do prefer the Japanese one over this. Still, a good scary movie that would haunt you for at least 7 days (pun intended). It's definately worth the watch, but might I add, the scene where Sadako (or better know as 'the Ring girl') comes out at the end was scarier in the Japanese version. |
| Comment by:- lostcat | | 23 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| The death tape bit was, for me, entrancing, and I had to rewind it several times before I could continue watching the rest of the film. I just wish I could capture it and force people to watch it over and over with me. But, as we all know, that's unlawful reproduction, and I'd really rather not risk getting sued. Undead Samara is far more corpsey than undead Sadako (and had [most] of her fingernails), but, eh, I seem to be the only one who appreciates it enough to mention it. Oh, well. Anyhow, I was kinda disappointed. It wasn't nearly as creepy as I thought it would be. Some neat stuff, though, like the wee attic Samara lived in, the horse jumping off the ferry, Aiden's little pictures... I give it a "C+." |
| Comment by:- Quarrel | | 31 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| such a scary movie! i saw it in 6th grade with a bunch of my friends in a dark basement with surround sound, every once and awhile someone would call someone else's cell and whisper 7 days...freaky... |
| Comment by:- megan | www.xanga.com/users/sundancesp... | 01 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| i think the ring is an incrdible film, me and my best mate lisa watched it at her sleepover, and she practically begged me to let her sleep next the the wall so she wouldn't get 'taken' over all a great film, and i cant wait to see the ring2 |
| Comment by:- hannah | www.freewebs.com/rotten_rabbit... | 02 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| horror movies suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!my frend ayesha told us this story in skool(shes like a majooooooooor horror movie fan,,,,this is so her fave movie)but i donn c n e sense 2 em.......they r ssssssssssoooooooo farfetched n even if i try to understand em i cant!!!id much rather watch romance or murder n e day(i no by sayin horror movies n thr ring sux..........sumthin like that cus SSSO happen 2 me!!)hmmm i think mayb ill watch my switching goals dvd today............! |
| Comment by:- anupama(hilary's biggest fan) | | 07 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| Usually I have a burger and go back home to sleep after watching a horror film at cinema. Not this one. The last 10 minutes were really atrocious on the suspense and horror factor. I watched Ringu after this one and preferred the American version. However in Ringu the people seemed more alienated and hence the atmosphere created, truer to the storyline. |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 11 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I thought this movie was a great horror flick, and when she crawled out of the tv, i screamed - the first time ever at a theater. it was amazing. but, i must say it was only really scary if you watched it in the dark cold theater where everything is more alive, the surround sound with the much larger screen. your little tv at home isn't a comparison - unless you're alone with the lights off!! a great scary movie |
| Comment by:- jenn | | 23 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| This movie is best seen if you know nothing about it. That was the case with me, who saw it two years after it came out. Let me just say, I thought it was a brilliant movie. The scares in it are just enough to keep you tense through the stroyline, and the ending...well, it's just pure genius. This was the most gripping film I have seen in a while, and the only real one that messed with my head afterwards. |
| Comment by:- Ian Hammons | acrossthetracksnj.cjb.net... | 25 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| Yep... it's scary allright. In the aspect of being a psychological horror-flick i'd say it's very very good. No cheap scares and plenty of good timing. Let's see about Ring 2... |
| Comment by:- Lars | | 25 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I don't think it's saying very much that its more scary then the blair witch project, becuase every horror movie is. Theres something about the ring though that is disturbing and watching it at night is always best. I wouldnt say it appealed to me because it was scary because it didnt make me scream, but it was a clever little story and is in my DVD colllection. |
| Comment by:- lottie | | 31 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| its a great movie XD i love scary movies xP |
| Comment by:- anoniem | www.imonline.nl/xX-Liesjuh-Xx... | 31 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I thought this movie was scary, but its teletubies compared to the grudge & Ju-on. anyways i liked this movie at a theater better than on tv cuz it takes some of the scary out unless u have A big screen wit surround sound.the best part wuz the begginning and end. |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 01 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| oh and anupama is a dork!!!!cuz scarry movies rule! hells ya |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 01 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| it was scaary and richard james tranorny wigit wants to do georgie in da library |
| Comment by:- tranni tranorny | www.movie-gazette.com/cinerevi... | 05 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| cwis iz a ******************** |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 05 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| it was scary as hell but it was a great movie |
| Comment by:- alex kotlarsz | 1111111111 | 16 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| This movie is so freakin' scary. Which is why it's one of my favorites. I must admit, Samara has become one of my favorite horror villains of all time. This movie is one I classify as a "Smart" horror flick; one where you are scared for a reason, and sometimes you only see a little bit of the villain (i.e. Signs, Blair Witch Project, etc.). What made me scared the most was the haunted tape. *shivers* Those sound effects are -way- creepy, not to mention being disturbing. I loved it. All the elements of the story were perfectly blended, and the flashbacks of the tape were extremely cool when they tied to real life, and the filming was beautifully done (I loved the green, muted look of everything). Every time I see it on HBO, I am scared to even flip it on. *shivers* Awesome movie. Good for horror-buffs and noobs alike. :) Ja ne, minna-san! Faerie-chan (wishing she were in Japan) ((hey, that rhymes! dude!)) |
| Comment by:- Faerie-chan | | 16 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| I LOVE THIS FRIGGIN MOVIE does n e one else notice that this is the GREENest movie of all time? Next time you watch it you'll notice the whole movie is Green like the walls and stuff xcept the part with the red tree ... but the rest........ G....R....E....E....N.....!!!!!! AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Comment by:- Justin (noticer of tinted movies) | | 23 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| WOOOOWW!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't seen the original, and having heard its' scarier than the remake don't really know if i want to. Tense eerie atmosphere, haunting, startling images and sounds that are executed in such a way that the whole things a down right unnerving will-make-you-wet-your-pants that'll have you hiding behind your hands from the creepy opening to the stunning conclusion that'll scare you ****less; an ending in my opinion that is ,'the', most disturbing scene ever shot in cinematic history. I HATE TVs, VIDEOS AND WELLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 09 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| if u guys found this movie scary, then i recommend u watch the japanese version i think... well ididnt wait it but my brother did. he said its scarier cuz the part where the girl turns the tv on, the phone rings, and when she picks up the phone she hears someones nails scratching something, then she turns to her tv which was playing the video, and finds a girl scratching the tv screen to get out. xD so uyea.. sorry if i ruined the expectations but yea its a clever movie. but its a typical asian ghost story. |
| Comment by:- jihae | | 22 December 2004 | ip: logged |
