Don't watch this alone

Horror films seem to be getting worse these days. Ok, so it’s a sweeping statement but the world of horror in director and screenwriter’s eyes these days seems to be made up of quick jumps and lots of blood. This, in my humble opinion, is what’s known as a ‘bad move’. I was reminded about this the other day when I had a chance to catch the showing of Ring and Ring 2 on Channel 4 over the last week. The first of these films is probably one of my most highly rated horror films of all time and its utter lack of reliance on blood and ‘jump’ scenes is a fresh and welcome experience.

Plot Outline
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The plot centres around a reporter for a local newspaper called Asakawa Reiko, played by Matsushima Nanako. She is assigned to investigate what seems to be just another Japanese urban legend. College children are interviewed talking of a tape which, when watched, will cause the phone to ring and a woman’s voice telling the viewer that they will die in exactly 7 days. All of this is taken with a pinch of salt until Asakawa learns that her niece and 3 other friends have died in mysterious circumstances, all at the same time.

My opinion
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Like with many other films of this ilk, the plot does not do the film itself justice and you simply have to watch the movie to gain the Ring experience. It is an experience too, the images from the video will be burned in your memory for a long time to come and even watching this film during the day does not detract from the eerie feelings or sense of something malignantly evil in the story. The images of Sadako, the protagonist, and of the strange way the curse is passed on will have you throwing away your unmarked video collection in an instant. But it isn’t about technology so much as it is about the way that technology is used and how people react to being cursed. Would you curse someone else if it meant you could survive?

The book (part of a trilogy, like the films) has many differences to the movie storyline, which seems to have been dumbed down somewhat for the sake of length. The virus that affects the video is not explained in the film and the more scientific explanations found in the original are glossed over. Yet still the film seems polished and accomplished as it winds its way through the heart of modern Japanese fear. The sequel is not even remotely akin to the book, but does offer some interesting insights in to the origins of the tape. It is worth watching for this alone, although the prequel (Ring 0) is the one that gives the most background to the evil beginnings and tries to go back on track from the original story.

This is not a film recommended for anyone who can’t stand strange phenomena or ghost stories. Anyone watching this, particularly near the end, will need nerves of steel to get up the stairs to bed afterwards and I’m pretty sure it’s not healthy for the mind unless you love being scared! That said, this is probably one of the best horror films I’ve seen in the last 5 years in terms of the fear it gives out and the great storyline. Watch it if you dare, then throw away your video!

For an idea of the video images in the remake, there is a hidden section in Dreamworks own website, go to dreamworks.com and then click on the movies link. From here, move your mouse into the Road to Perdition and then to the blue area above the Dreamworks logo. The picture will be replaced by red. Scroll down into the flashing area and left click for a quick burst of the video images..