Based on its reputation, I was expecting Ringu (The Ring) to be utterly terrifying, which by my standards usually means "disturbing". It wasn't that, but I don't need it to be. It plays more like a supernatural procedural, in which a journalist and her psychic ex-husband try to figure out the real story behind a haunted television transmission and the curse it places on those who see it. Of course, you can't investigate it without watching it and activating the 1-week countdown, a natural ticking clock that works in the film's favor. I tend to see "haunted technology" stories as a little silly, but Ringu feels so analog that I wouldn't put it in that category. In terms of chills, the terrified expressions of the dead are about it early on, but the creepy video prefigures The Blair Witch Project, and you can't go wrong involving a little kid in your horror film. In fact, if there's a theme here, it's bad parenting, with the otherwise likeable heroes leaving their 6-year-old alone at home while they investigate another abused child and its role in the horror. It's a nice mystery with lots of ghostly flavor, and an interesting monster. Oh and a cool twist ending.
Classic J-Horror. Subtle tension and atmosphere escalates to a knockout ending, with a much more ambiguous ending than the Americanized remake. The one that started the last great horror movement.
Good mystery movie, I wouldn't really call it a horror film because... it's just not scary. Well-made, thought provoking, tense, strange, entertaining? Yes. Scary? No.
This is the film that basically started the J-Horror craze of the late 90's/early 2000's. I really enjoyed it although the effects were not as great as something that you would see in a Hollywood horror film. At the time of its release it was better than 95 % of the horror junk put out here in the states though. A lot of tension and an interesting ending. It has been too long since I have seen the American remake so I couldn't say which is better.
This one is great and is probably one the better modern horror movies to come out of Japan, but I do see they tried to milk the franchise like Freddy and Jason and the later sequels after Ringu 2 and Ringu Sprial tend decline,
I watched the remake first and didn't really know what to expect from this. Ringu is quite different in all aspects: a big example being Sadako/Samara's backstory.
It was decent - no scares, only tension - but I preferred the American version.
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Comments 1 - 11 of 11
Siskoid
Based on its reputation, I was expecting Ringu (The Ring) to be utterly terrifying, which by my standards usually means "disturbing". It wasn't that, but I don't need it to be. It plays more like a supernatural procedural, in which a journalist and her psychic ex-husband try to figure out the real story behind a haunted television transmission and the curse it places on those who see it. Of course, you can't investigate it without watching it and activating the 1-week countdown, a natural ticking clock that works in the film's favor. I tend to see "haunted technology" stories as a little silly, but Ringu feels so analog that I wouldn't put it in that category. In terms of chills, the terrified expressions of the dead are about it early on, but the creepy video prefigures The Blair Witch Project, and you can't go wrong involving a little kid in your horror film. In fact, if there's a theme here, it's bad parenting, with the otherwise likeable heroes leaving their 6-year-old alone at home while they investigate another abused child and its role in the horror. It's a nice mystery with lots of ghostly flavor, and an interesting monster. Oh and a cool twist ending.Wise Jake
Classic J-Horror. Subtle tension and atmosphere escalates to a knockout ending, with a much more ambiguous ending than the Americanized remake. The one that started the last great horror movement.mbkeene
Good mystery movie, I wouldn't really call it a horror film because... it's just not scary. Well-made, thought provoking, tense, strange, entertaining? Yes. Scary? No.essaywhu
This is the film that basically started the J-Horror craze of the late 90's/early 2000's. I really enjoyed it although the effects were not as great as something that you would see in a Hollywood horror film. At the time of its release it was better than 95 % of the horror junk put out here in the states though. A lot of tension and an interesting ending. It has been too long since I have seen the American remake so I couldn't say which is better.Ev1luti0n
I like this movie a lot, but I'm not sure which I like more, the original or the remake.diirtyharry67
This one is great and is probably one the better modern horror movies to come out of Japan, but I do see they tried to milk the franchise like Freddy and Jason and the later sequels after Ringu 2 and Ringu Sprial tend decline,BeasleyOnFilm
Very scary ending with one shot that is now etched on my mind and makes me shiver every time I think about it.But aside from that, it's nothing to write home about.
Oneironaut
I watched the remake first and didn't really know what to expect from this. Ringu is quite different in all aspects: a big example being Sadako/Samara's backstory.It was decent - no scares, only tension - but I preferred the American version.
jarmel
This is the most scary movie I've ever watched. Sadako haunted my room for 2 years after that. The american remake is a piece of crap though.Skyscore
http://www.afisha.ru/movie/166000/review/145862/filmcave
Much less worthwhile than the remake. Tedious and forgettable.