I can't really go into too much detail in this tiny box, but I'm leaving for the time being. Feel fr...
I can't really go into too much detail in this tiny box, but I'm leaving for the time being. Feel free to remove me from your CoT, alerts, etc. I'm having this account deleted in a few days but I'll still be over on 'the other side'! x
Member since:15.06.2003
Reviews:121
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Being the girl who was scared at Scream 3, a film described as the most gut-wrenchingly terrifying horror film of all time did not really appeal! Apparently, Ring (the Japanese name is Ringu, which translates into Ring) was so frightening that cinema-goers cried and vomited in the aisles, and a few reportedly DIED of shock. You can imagine how wary I was of this film, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and watch it (very daring for me! =P)!
Asakawa Reiko is a reporter investigating an urban myth about a mysterious video, which will supposedly cause the death of the viewer exactly seven days after watching it. The story also has a personal twist, as her niece supposedly watched the video with her boyfriend and two other friends, and all died exactly a week later, with a terrified look on their faces.
She tracks down the video, and foolishly enough, watches it. The video contains a series of disjointed, unnerving images, including a young child with her long black hair swept over her face, who turns out to be the key in this mystery. She was a young girl called Sadako, who had supernatural, evil abilities, and disappeared without trace after her psychic mother killed herself.
Soon after watching the video, Asakawa receives a mysterious, blank phone call (the whispered 'Seven days...' associated with The Ring is an addition to the remake, and is not on the original). All her cynical misgivings vanished, she makes a copy of the video, and
enlists the help of her psychic ex-husband, Takayama. She has seven days to unravel the mystery, but when her son secretly watches it, getting to the bottom of the mystery is even more necessary, for the sake of her son, Yoichi.
The foundations of the film are laid down very slowly, so if you prefer slasher flicks that get the killings over and done with in the space of five minutes, this isn't for you! The slow pace of the film in the beginning adds to the tension and worry, which builds up in you slowly, without you realising, until you notice you are holding your breath and your knuckles are white from clutching the nearest object at hand!
The film is indeed, frightening. It isn't so scary that it causes deaths, as the Asian press reported, but I can see how much more frightening it could be if watched in a dark cinema. Being a film of a psychological nature, there's no blood and guts, but this is far scarier than any slasher flick could manage. The film is confusing and mysterious, and most of the fear you feel is the product of your own imagination. Which I think is far worse than any temporary paranoia you experience after watching Scream or Final Destination!
As a whole, the acting seemed good, but I have a limited view of this because the acting is in Japanese. Rikiya Otaka, who played Yoichi, in particular, was excellent - most kids in horror films are precocious and irritating, but he did a great job. He played the independent little boy who has inherited his father's psychic powers, and can communicate with his dead cousin, perfectly. He has very little part in the film though, and is not as prominent as the little boy in The Ring.
Being set in Japan, you might expect to see lots of bright lights and busy streets in the film, but the bleak, barren views and grey overcast, along with the arty camera-work create a strange, unworldly atmosphere. Also worth a mention is the creepy music, which appears unexpectedly, making you jump out of your seat. They really complements the scenes, adding to the tension.
As the pieces of the jigsaw fit into place, and you THINK the whole nightmare is over, something truly horrifying happens, which throws you into doubt once again! This scene, near the end, was genuinely frightening and I found myself screaming in shock when I noticed it happening (you'll understand if you see the film!). Despite the fact I have seen the English-language remake, I was shocked, as that particular scene is filmed quite differently.
Most of the horror stems from your own overworked imagination, and I feel the film is more of a scary, disturbing psychological thriller than an outright horror film. You are frightened by the possibilties, unanswered questions and potential situations (!) rather than what you actually see on screen. In fact, I think a 20 year-old is more likely to be frightened than a 7 year-old, as a 20 year-old will have a much more active imagination!
It is quite confusing, but if you persevere with the film, everything slots into place. The grainy flashbacks, which seemingly are unrelated to the film, add to the confusion, but as Asakawa uncovers the mystery, they start to slot into place and you suddenly find it all makes sense!
The nature of the film being what it is, there are no gruesome pictures of any kind, although I do think that the film isn't suitable for everyone. I'm a complete wimp when it comes to this sort of thing, but I found it extremely disturbing rather than terrifying.
I did enjoy it, but I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed. Maybe it's because I watched it first, but I found the remake much scarier, and is less confusing. However, Ringu is still a great film - just not as scary as expected, and is very confusing.
It is worth a watch, although don't be surprised if your nerves are ripped to shreds and you suddenly become very suspicious of unmarked videos and girls with long, black hair!
Obviously, Ringu is made in Japanese, but that's what the subtitles are there for, and you shouldn't have any problem understanding the plot. Don't let the subtitles put you off, as you get used to them very quickly, and watching it is the same as watching an English film after ten minutes or so.
In Ringu, we do get to see why Sadako hid her face behind her hair - don't be fooled into thinking she has a normal, if ghostly pale face, like Samara, her counterpart in The Ring! I felt the film would have been better if we didn't see her face, as I got an irrepressible, inappropiate urge to giggle! If you are interested to see what she looks like, go to google.com and type in "ring film" into the Images section - you'll laugh, I promise!
All in all, this is a well-acted film that fulfils it's purpose - to scare the hell out of the viewers! It doesn't live up to the hype, but what film does? It's not for everyone, but if you like psychological thrillers, then give this a go. What's the worse that could happen...?
It's a film that has spanned various sequels and prequels that delve deeper into Sadako's past, and there's even a Korean remake, but apparently they aren't very good. The films are based on the books, which are a trilogy. Even if you have seen The Ring and enjoyed it, watch Ringu if you can, as they are very different films.
A few quick facts for you - this was made with £1 million, which is quite something! To put that into perspective, Kill Bill supposedly ran £20 million over budget! Also, the video's contents are actually Sadako's thoughts - and the man with the white cover over his head is a vision of Takayama.
(The title comes from a trailer I saw for Scary Movie 3! It was all I could think of!)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1998 - Horror - Director: Stephen Norrington - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, N'Bushe Wright, Donal Logue, Udo Keir, Traci Lords, Udo Kier
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
I think it's the re-make I saw last year I think it was, enjoyed it! Sarah x
Rp200 11.03.2004 23:57
I never got the chance to watch this movie, and I don't think I ever will! :o)
Anonymousguest 09.03.2004 19:31
yeah i watched the original or ring about 3 years ago on the television, it was on at about 11 and i stayed up till the finish at 1ish, i was so scared i didnt want to turn off the telly, i was sleeping in the front room downstairs and would have had to get out of bed to do it, so i stayed up until 3 watching a tales from the crypt film to make me feel less scared and able to turn off the telly lol what a pussy ahha great review btw have u seen ring 2 the original aswell?
Nov 5th, 2003
(Feb 23rd, 2004)
very helpful by (100%):
