Ring (aka Ringu) Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: A reporter tries to solve the mystery surrounding a video tape that kills the viewer seven days after watching it.

Review: It's probably been long overdue, but now we come to the franchise that started it all and launched Asian horror into international success and appreciation. Although J-horror had been around for decades, the success of "Ring" helped stir a revitalization as well as establish other Asian countries to blossom their own industries and styles. The influence and impact on horror, as well as cinema in general, is impossible to deny. In fact, the look of Sadako--a ghost girl dressed in white with hair covering the face--has become the quintessential image of a ghost all over the world; even people unaware of the origin seem to be frightened by this visage. Now, due to the convoluted nature of this franchise, I will kind of just review the various sequels and remakes in my own order rather than a strict sense of continuity. I do want to stress, however, that I'm not going to redo the "Sadako 3D" movies as I'm satisfied with those reviews, and I have little left to add beyond that they're mediocre and gimmicky; you can still check out those reviews if you feel so inclined. Okay, let's dive headfirst into this series, shall we!

I'm not going to explain the story, since I think we're all aware of it at this point, so let's go over what worked first. Obviously we have to acknowledge the elephant in the room: Sadako coming out of the TV. Even if you've never watched this movie, you've more than likely seen a clip, recreation, parody, or some form thereof of this scene. Is it awesome? Yes! It's one of the absolute creepiest things you could possibly imagine. Was "Ring" the first to propose an idea such as this? No, but they were the first to instill the true level of fright others wanted the audience to feel. Then you have the shot of Sadako's pissed off eye, and you have the recipe for a legend. Beyond this scene, the story feels like an old school ghost story that relies heavily on atmosphere and dread over in your face action or cheap jump scares. The mystery enhances this atmosphere as the audience is engaged and intrigued by what direction the story will go. As for Sadako herself, she is iconic and has become embedded heavily into the horror mythos. She looks creepy as fuck, and intimidating to boot, considering she's just some little Japanese girl with surprisingly nice legs. Finally, in retrospect, the shitty video quality actually goes a long way in giving the film a visceral style with its dingy lighting and drab sets. I guess this is an indirect win for pathetic VHS transfers to DVD?

As for where the film failed, there are more moments than you'd think. These problems aren't that substantial, but this is far from the greatest J-horror film out there despite what some biased fans may claim. I do applaud the use of atmosphere over scares, but that doesn't mean the film needs to be this barren. Other than Sadako coming out of the TV, there aren't many other scary moments which hurts the pacing. The ex-husband having psychic powers was seriously lame. I have never liked this plot device, because it takes away from the mysterious nature of Sadako if others casually have similar powers. Speaking of the ex-husband, the scene with him emptying the well by bucket was presented poorly when it's supposed to be a climactic moment. By extension, Reiko keeling over due to her being a frail woman is laughable especially when she gets bitch-slapped following it. The music is lacking as well with many instances where it just sounds like somebody fell into the orchestra pit (the music does pick up at the end however). The last thing I will say is that there are tiny details that feel empty when in comparison to the American remake (yeah, I'm going there).

Overall, this film holds up remarkably well despite VHS losing all relevance--after all, this film isn't a legend for nothing. It may not be as scary as it gets hyped to be, but the story, originality, and innovation more than present a film worthy of any viewer's expectations. Sadako is an icon and rightfully so as she demands notice with such an unsettling presence; she's just as notorious and famous as the likes of Freddy, Jason, etc. Sure, this franchise would go on to make less and less sense, but this doesn't deter from the original. "Ring" does have its flaws, but one cannot deny its tremendous influence--inspiring countless other films and reestablishing the horror genre in multiple countries. I certainly know this film established my interest in Asian horror, leading me to discover many gems including my all time favorite horror film, and for that I have great respect.

Notable Moment: When Sadako comes out of the TV. I mean, could there really be any other moment?

Final Rating: 7/10