The Ring
2002 Directed by Gore Verbinski
Synopsis
It sounded like just another urban legend: A videotape filled with nightmarish images, leading to a phone call foretelling the viewer's death in exactly seven days. As a newspaper reporter, Rachel Keller was naturally skeptical of the story, until four teenagers all met with mysterious deaths exactly one week after watching just such a tape. Allowing her investigative curiosity to get the better of her, Rachel tracks down the video... and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery of the Ring.
Cast
Studios
Popular reviews
More-
Part of Dastardly Difficult December: film nr.51
The circumstances in which you watch a film always influence the way you experience it.
I had avoided this remake because I feel the original Ringu is a prime example of what good horror should be. It had a visual aesthetic now so often seen in J-horror and it was creepy as hell. In my mind the Hollywood remake machine could never even approach it.
Cut to me sitting on my couch at 2 at night, deciding what to watch to cure a nasty bout of diaper changing induced insomnia. I decided to watch this. I have said so before, but I'll say it again, I am a moron.
I cannot objectively state…
-
One word. Boring.
-
The set up to the urban legend is way more effective than the final act of the film, but The Ring gets extra points for Gore Verbinski's visuals. It's sort of like David Fincher light. Even the title cards counting down the days of the week vaguely reminded me of Se7en.
I'm wondering if the child character in the film is a carry-over from the original (which I haven't seen) or if it was a shameless attempt to capture some of The Sixth Sense's sloppy seconds.
-
A perfect example of a remake doing everything better than the original. Atmospheric and well acted, a fantastic creepy film.
-
People typically characterize this as a horror film, but on this re-watch I found it is more of a detective/murder mystery with horror elements. It really is just the supernatural stuff that really gives it a horror feel. The images of the victims when they are dead is still pretty terrifying, but the creepiest thing about this film is the tape. The images on the tape still really freak me out and are still effective. But I did very much enjoy the detective part of the story this time around and found it was really what kept me in it.
-
A surprisingly decent remake, that I personally feel works better than the dated Ringu. Very creepy and atmospheric, and seeing it on first viewing was a pretty punishing experience.
Recent reviews
More-
A perfect example of a remake doing everything better than the original. Atmospheric and well acted, a fantastic creepy film.
-
Still one of the better American remakes, on re-watch after a significant break the impact is a little dulled.
-
It doesn't capture the creepy atmosphere of the original, although some of the jump scares did get me. Overall though, very ordinary.
-
American remake has a heightened sense of visual artistry, but unfortunately a screenplay and supporting cast that inflict more strain on the material than necessary. Individually creepy moments and a strong turn from Naomi Watts keep the enterprise watchable, but as a whole it doesn't really add up to much beyond a tolerable, and very occasionally inspired Goosebumps episode. [C+]
-
I find this very rewatchable and it's actually one of the few remakes of Asian horrors that I prefer to the original.
-
good
-
One word. Boring.
-
This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
-
I've never seen the original this is based on, so I have nothing to compare it too, but this movie on it's own is a very great flick. It can be scary at times, and some of the scenes are pretty well played out, especially like the scenes when Samara comes out of the TV or even the opening bit. Speaking of that, Amber Tamblyn is pretty much unrecognizable there.
The entire cast is great, especially Watts is one of her best roles.
I love the slow build of this movie as they have to find the clues to find out the whole reason for the video tape, and that itself is pretty good as well. Death by watching a…