This 1998 Japanese film is really called "Ringu". There is a sequel called "Ringu 2". There is also a Japanese prequel (Ringu 0) which is out on video .
Hollywood re-made this film as "Ring" and the Hollywood version of "Ring 2" is in the pictures now. Much controversy over which versions are better but die-hard fans probably prefer the original versions.
What is the basic story in "Ringu"? Well "ring" refers to a telephone ring, rather than a piece of jewellery! This film makes you scared to pick up the phone by the end. The first time the phone rings on the film, it's very quiet and the shrill sound made me literally jump.
Reporter Asakawa is investigating the strange deaths of her young niece and three teenage friends. They have apparently been murdered and mutilated, with terror in their eyes.
She hears about a cursed video that is circulating amongst the school kids. As soon as anyone has watched the tape the telephone rings and the viewer of the tape is given 7 days to live. Has this happened to her niece and her mates or is it just a myth?
Asakawa gets hold of the tape and watches it; clearly it's not just a story. There are disturbing images on it including a woman combing her hair, a volcanic eruption and people crawling out of the screen.
Of course, the telephone rings and Asakawa is convinced that the curse is real and calls in her scientist ex-husband Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada) to help. Ryuji watches a copy of the video a day after Asakawa has seen it and submits himself to the curse. Then their son is conned into watching the tape. Things become even more urgent.
Asakawa and Rhuji have only days to live. Can they stop the curse in time? Their journalistic curiousity spurs them on, even more than their own fear. It's rather "matter of fact".
This film is scary, not because of huge effects but partly because of the "ordinaryness" of it all, in some ways. How mundane is a video tape? This is very different to the style of horror we are used to - Hollywood style usually dominates and that's all we are exposed to unless we go and seek alternatives out. The film may be a late 1990s film but it looks much older than that.
Of course, the film has subtitles which can be distracting for some viewers but you soon get used to it.
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Production Year: 2000 - Horror - Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Carmen Electra, Anna Faris, Kurt Fuller, James Van Der Beek, Keenen Ivory Wayans
The number is confusing..I think this was on TV the other day or maybe another one...anyway, I thought it was quite chilling. Good creepy atmosphere all round. Yeah, what clownfoot said about more opinion.
clownfoot 27.03.2005 11:59
There seems to be some spoiler content contained within this review pertaining to people crawling out of the TV - this doesn't happen during the video tape footage at all, but it does spoil the ending of the film somewhat for the unsuspecting viewer who hasn't seen the film yet. If you could change this your opinion would be much more helpful. It would also be helpful if you add more opinion to your review - but I'm guessing you're going to do this when you watch the film later this week... Alboy
A major box office hit in the Far East, Hideo Nakada'sRingis a subtly creepy Japanese ... more
ghost story with an urban legend theme, based on a series of popular teen-appeal novels by Susuki Koji. Far less showy than even the restrained chills ofThe Blair Wit...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Within a week of watching a mysterious videotape, a group of teenagers are dead. The ... more
bodies are found gruesomely contorted, their eyes frozen as if they had seen something more terrifying than any physical threat. The video becomes an urban myth. Insid...
A major box office hit in the Far East, Hideo Nakada'sRingis a subtly creepy Japanese ... more
ghost story with an urban legend theme, based on a series of popular teen-appeal novels by Susuki Koji. Far less showy than even the restrained chills ofThe Blair Wit...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Scary as all get out, interesting story, Sadako rocks Disadvantages: Slow to those lacking suspense (*cough*USREMAKE!*cough*), takes a lot out of the original story, subtitles can't be turned off
prince_chameleon 18.10.2005 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Ring (DVD)
Advantages: Scary as all get out, interesting story, Sadako rocks Disadvantages: Slow to those lacking suspense (*cough*USREMAKE!*cough*), takes a lot out of the original story, subtitles can't be turned off
prince_chameleon 18.10.2005 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Ring (DVD)
![Ring (1998) [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78113816.jpg "Ring (1998) [DVD] [2000]")
Mar 25th, 2005
(Mar 31st, 2005)
very helpful by (28%):
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