Social Icons

The Ring (2002)



The Ring (2002)



8/10



Starring
Naomi Watts
Martin Henderson
David Dorfman
Brian Cox


Directed by Gore Verbinski

The movie does possess some really disturbing imagery, but the filmmakers didn’t rely on that. What they did was make the story tasteful, drawing you, the viewer, in. The movie’s main plot may be ridiculous, but the delivery is masterful. The cinematography and effects were good enough, and the movie delivers the chills that horror movies are supposed to make you feel. The eerie atmosphere and tension throughout the film are what keep you hooked, even if the storyline feels a bit far-fetched at times. It’s more than just a typical horror movie; it’s one that plays with your mind long after it’s over.

The problem with this movie has to be the actors themselves. I felt they were not the right set of people to deliver this movie. Although Gore Verbinski directed masterfully and outclassed the actors’ poor delivery, you still notice a lack that makes you wonder how much greater this movie would have been with other actors. There were moments when the actors’ performances seemed flat, which slightly took away from the overall suspense and intensity the film was trying to build.

Tagged as the best Japanese horror remake ever, this movie is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ringu. The films are based on Kôji Suzuki's novel Ringu, which is about a mysterious cursed videotape that contains disturbing images. After the viewer finishes watching the tape, they get a call, where a girl's voice tells them that they will die in seven days. The premise itself is creepy enough, but it’s the execution that truly sells it. The way the curse unfolds adds a chilling layer of fear to the whole story.

The movie plot is similar in foundation to that of the book. It features a journalist investigating the death of four teenagers. There is a weird tale going around that the teenagers' deaths were caused by the videotape they saw. Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts), the journalist, took the tape home, and she and her son watched it (not intentionally, though). It’s the kind of plot that makes you question what you’re seeing—perfect for those who enjoy horror that digs deeper than just jump scares.

Now Rachel has to race against time to save her life and her son’s from a mysterious girl. The intensity ramps up as she uncovers more about the tape and its origins. There’s no shortage of suspense, and you’ll find yourself hoping that they make it out alive.

The Ring was met with a considerable amount of criticism, most of which was positive. It was also a financial success, with a production cost of $48 million and the movie grossing over $240 million. Such numbers led the studio to make a second part to this wonderful horror movie. The sequel still revolved around the events of the first film, but it wasn’t as good as the original. It felt like it was trying too hard to live up to the first, and it just didn’t quite manage to capture the same eerie magic.

If you haven’t had the time to sit down and watch this horror flick, maybe you should, just to experience the chills. I guarantee this movie will make you smile—smile in fear. It’s one of those films that’ll stay with you long after you’ve finished watching, and you’ll definitely find yourself thinking twice before popping in a VHS tape.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Disclaimer

All images featured on this site are the property of their respective copyright owners. They are used solely for illustrative and commentary purposes under fair use principles. This site is a personal blog, unaffiliated with or endorsed by any copyright holders. If you are the copyright owner of an image featured here and wish to have it removed, please contact me directly, and I will address your request promptly.