Review

Journalist Reiko Asakawa is investigating an urban legend about a killer video tape (that would not be "killer" in a good way). We learn that you view the tape, you get a phone call, and you have seven days to live. When her niece Tomoko succumbs to the cursed tape, Reiko is quickly investigating. All roads lead to Izu Province, and naturally Reiko views said tape herself.

Enlisting the help of her ex-husband, Ryuji Takayama, Reiko starts to discover the origins of the tape and to see if there isn't a way to break the curse. When her son Yoshino also views the tape, it's a race against time to find a solution. Much tension ensues. Let's slip this one on the video player (kids, ask your parents) ......

Ring is a small movie which has made a huge impact on the horror genre. Besides bringing the great Hideo Nakata to the attention of a Western audiences, the movie has revitalised the genre in a sort of quiet cottage industry fashion. Thus far we have the three movie Ring Cycle out of Japan, a Korean sub standard remake Ring Virus, and of course Boredwood's The Ring and The Ring 2. There's also a weird Japanese movie Rasen fitting in there somewhere. The U.S remake The Ring hit commercial warp factor nine, and ushered in the current trend to remake movies that have 1) An origin in Asia, 2) Are horror movies. Hence we also have remakes of Nakata's Dark Water, and of course the SMG vehicle The Grudge. Get ready for more; even the Korean industry is being pillaged as no-ideas Boredwood leaps on the gravy train. Let's see what's going down in the Izu hood.

Director Nakata is a no frills dude, and really lets his movie do the talking for him. There's no CGI in use, restrained, almost non-existent gore, and a reliance on upping the atmosphere and tension to get the job done. If you like slick Boredwood blood baths then this isn't the movie for you. The film has a drab, washed-out feel to it. Even the Tokyo scenes are sans colour, which is surprising given the vibrant nature of that city. This one is so lacking in any colour throughout that it's almost shot in black and white. I would have really dug M. Night doing the U.S remake, in terms of what he could have done with this aspect of the movie.

Absolutely chilling on first viewing without Hollywood's over exposure of the central premise

Nakata fastens onto his opening scenes, and they set the agenda for us. We know exactly what's going down with regard to the tape, and are on edge after first Reiko, then Ryuji, and finally Yoshino view it. There's a nice time frame of potential victims there, and this comes into play with the resolution. Nakata keeps his major scare scene till late in the movie; we are all somewhat apprehensive about that (nice work Nakata), and boy when that one hits home ... chiller city folks.

What keeps interest throughout the movie is Nakata throwing a few mysteries at us which beg for explanation. Who made the tape? How do you lift the curse? What's the background story on Sadako? Unfort Nakata includes the all-knowing Ryuji Takayama. Is there anything this dude doesn't know! I would have preferred to work out a few more things myself, or had them left for the sequel to explain. Ryuji has the answer in seconds, and you are left wondering why exactly the dude isn't on Millionaire or something.

One of the things to keep an eye on in Ring is Nakata's use of background. There's plenty happening in a number of scenes, but it's all reflections, and done in pretty quick time. The movie requires you to concentrate hard to get what's going down in places. And before I forget, the film is also dialogue-heavy so get ready to read a lot of text, (it's in Japanese, people).

Nakata has his deaths happening off screen, or via a nice use of negative exposure and still frame. This is of course in keeping with the major scare scene being toward the very end of the movie. Did I mention that was a freak out?

Matsushima Nanako (Reiko) does wonderfully well in the lead. She lets her facial expressions and body language do the work for her. Besides which, talk about hot! Hiroyuki Sanada (Ryuji) is pretty cool in the movie, and those intense stares were working. Didn't however like the character; maybe a cultural thing. Yutaka Matsushige (Yoshino) is simply there. The kid has no screen presence, but once again it might be due to Japanese cultural norms not playing that well for a Western viewer.

Special mention of Rie Inou (Sadako); all those jerky weird movements are Inou doing the business. That's just damn freaky. Don't invite her over for a dinner party and get her to do the Sadako thing; people will be running out of your house screaming.

There's zero in the T&A department, not even short-skirted school girls. Bummer! The ladies do get Sanada's intense stares, which are probably a bonus for them.

Kenji Kawai presents a score which is huge on the eerie scale of things. Mainly discordant sounds, which amplify the scare factor in Ring. Nakata uses the score sparsely; it's missing for most of the first act, but when he does bring it into play, watch out. The Director doesn't announce his scare scenes with the soundtrack. They sort of start, and then the score kicks in, leading to a real off-the-wall experience in places.

Ring is almost too kool for school. The movie made me feel uncomfortable in places, kept my tension levels up, and nearly caused a change of undies with the final scare scene. Nakata keeps promising that scene throughout the movie, and when he finally ladles it up, holy heck! After a few viewings (for no apparent reason we lost our original review), the movie still hits all the right spots, even though you know what's coming at ya. An engrossing ghost story with a twist and a lot going down. Didn't pick up on the scene with Sadako taking out the obnoxious journalist till this viewing, so there's more happening than a first viewing would indicate would be my guess.

Yeap, the movie is recommended. If you enjoyed the U.S remake, then you will enjoy the Japanese original. Might be worth while checking out both movies for a night of revenant fun. For sure I will be digging into the whole Ring Cycle in the coming weeks, as it's simply to good to miss. And don't turn this movie off till the final scene has played; talk about things to add to your fertile imagination. Did I enjoy Ring? Hai!!!!!!