Ringu Reviews

"It's not of this world. It's Sadako's fury. And she's put a curse on us."

An adaptation of the popular horror potboiler by Kôji Suzuki, 1998's Ringu is a nerve-jangling and atmospheric Japanese horror gem that's destined to get under your skin. Upon its release, the film became the highest-grossing Japanese horror flick in history, and it has gone down in history as an influential production, with sequels and an American franchise being spawned. Such adulation is wholly earned, as director Hideo Nakata has created a haunting motion picture which relies on tension and a pervasive sense of foreboding rather than big special effects or gore. Comparing Ringu to a clichéd teen slasher is like comparing a roast dinner at a five-star restaurant to a McDonalds Happy Meal. The Happy Meal exists for easy consumption and gives you the runs, whereas the stylish roast dinner is one to savour, and it leaves your belly feeling full and satisfied.

In a Japanese community, an urban legend begins to circulate regarding a 'cursed' video cassette which gives the viewer only seven days before they'll be killed under bizarre circumstances. After four local teenagers are found dead, journalist Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima) spearheads an investigation, leading her to an isolated lodge where the teenagers had stayed the week before their death. It's here where Asakawa finds the videotape and watches it, leading to the phone call of doom that confirms her fate has been sealed. With only seven days, Asakawa enlists the help of her ex-husband Ryuji (Sanada Hiroyuki) to try and uncover the origins of the video and hopefully find a way to prevent impending doom before it's too late.

Ringu does not incorporate a lot of the things we normally associate with horror. There is no gore, blood, sex or helpless victims here. Rather, the film is concerned with level-headed characters who feel real and three-dimensional, and the whole thing is drenched in a creepy psychological horror haze that builds anticipation, curiosity and tension. What's fascinating about Ringu is that it's rooted in Japanese folklore, not to mention it melds slow-mixing horror with enough engaging trappings to keep impatient viewers interested. Though it can be slow, the theme of curses and the inclusion of spooky phone calls are mainstream-friendly, not to mention Ringu is devilishly well-made. Beneath everything, however, this is a timeless horror tale attuned for mature audiences. Even though video cassettes have been phased out and replaced with superior formats, the general concept of a cursed video will remain eternally relevant as long as motion pictures exist.

It's Nakata's direction which genuinely elevates Ringu; the filmmaker spins a web of enthralling intensity and intoxicating atmosphere, using a restrained touch to generate the horror. The movie at times takes too long to say very little, but the pacing is most the most part effective. Another enormous asset is Kenji Kawai's subtly enthralling score, the sounds of which will really get under your skin. In fact, the sound design of Ringu as a whole is unbelievably creepy. Whenever the spirit behind the cursed videotape is present, an eerie sound can be heard. It's an exceedingly simple noise, but it will scare your pants off. And the infamous scene of the girl crawling out of the television is innately frightening. The moment has been imitated and parodied, but nothing will match the sheer intensity and horror of the sequence here. The cast deserves praise as well, with Matsushima easily carrying the film, while Hiroyuki stands out as a charming presence.

A genuine cult favourite, Ringu is haunting and unforgettable, and it's likely that even those averse to foreign movies will find themselves enraptured by Nakata's cinematic spell. Yes, the characters speak in Japanese and English speakers will need to read subtitles, but this just compels you to concentrate even more on the movie. Interestingly, the title actually refers to the cyclical nature of the curse surrounding the videotape, whereas the American remake used visual circular rings to earn its title. This is a far subtler use of the label. Do yourself a favour and rent (or buy) Ringu for a night of sombre chills. And just to amplify the effect, watch it late at night with the lights off. It's one hell of an experience.

8.1/10

I remember it as it it was yesterday. The first time, I watched this movie, I was so scared shitless... I was with a whole bunch of friends and nobody was really paying attention to the movie but I was completely fixating and the scene with the TV (if you have seen it, you know what I'm talking about...) was, at the time, one of most frightening scenes I have ever seen. The funny thing is that I re-watched it again not so long ago, 10 later years and, honestly, it wasn't as terrifying as I thought it was (maybe it has to do with the fact that I was really stoned the first time but let's move on to something else...). Anyway, even though it may not be as scary as I thought it was, it still remains one of my favorite horror movies. Indeed, after all these years, it remains a fascinating story told by some very competent directing. I just love the way the actors tell you their story without constantly rationalizing what's going one which was, in my opinion, the biggest issue with the US remake . Sure, the whole thing is actually completely preposterous but I thought it was completely spellbinding anyway. Eventually, it's a shame that the remake is much more famous than this original version. To conclude, I really loved it, it is definitely worth a look and a must-see for horror fans.

A superior film than the American remake, which itself is a solid horror movie. Ringu is more direct, with less emphasis on the back story of the murderous TV-witch. This has the dual advantage of making the movie shorter (by 15 minutes than The Ring) and more sinister in its ambiguity and lack of explanation. This film is also very confident in its ability to scare without any use of exploitation. There is no blood, no gore, no profanity and no skin. Similar to the great J-horror film Kwaidan, Ringu is a very impressionistic film, building tension through atmosphere, mood and bizarre sound design. Overall, Ringu is among the finest of horror films. Watched 11/1/2009.

Japanese horror movies don't come much better than this. A mysterious video tape kills people seven days after they watch it. One TV reporter tries to uncover the mystery which leads down several dark paths.

It was re-made into a Hollywood movie that tried to 'improve' it but only resulted in making it un-focused. If you're lucky enough not to have seen the re-make yet, do yourself a favour and grab a DVD of Ringu and get the living daylights scared out of you.