The Ring

October 18, 2002

Starring: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox, Daveigh Chase, Amber Tamblyn

Director: Gore Verbinski

Official Website: http://www.dreamworks.com/thering/

The Ring revolves around a weird videotape of odd images and a phone call which follows saying you have a week left to live. Little was known about this film except it is a remake of a Japanese box office hit in 1998.

Above anything else, this movie is very disturbing and scary, take my word for it. I see a lot of thriller movies (those of you who read my site regularly, yes all three of you, know I`m a big scary movie fan). This one has something to freak you out at every scene. The videotape itself referenced above is enough to send serious chills down your spine. Many cool camera tricks were used as well. The movie is also sort of a puzzle developing thoughout.

Unfortunately, too much of a good thing isn`t gonna cut it. This isn`t a cheesy slasher flick with dumb teenagers, but it still manages to include unrealistic and stupid characters. You can`t tell me a woman with a 7 year old child who knows she will die in a week will spend the week on a treasure hunt on the maker of the tape, leaving the son with a babysitter. There are a few "spinoffs" from other flicks, such as The Sixth Sense, The Omen and The Amityville. This one needs a little comedy too, majorly depressing and narcissistic.

This is definitely one of the scariest, most disturbing movies I have ever seen. However, a touch of reality is what lacks in this one to compare this to classics like The Exorcist.

In short:
Comedy: Not Really
Violence:Yep, lots of gore too
Nudity: None
High Points: Freaky and disturbing throughout, the boy, the girl
Low Points: A little copycat, characters not very realistic

Rating: B