Ring (1998) [Film Review]

Ring; or, You really should’ve demagnetized that vhs tape!

This week’s review will be about a classic J-horror film, based on a classic horror novel by Kôji Suzuki, the success of which sparked the series of sequels, Korean spin-offs, and American remakes of dubious aesthetic values. Put down your toilets seats and let’s discuss Ringu.
Release Info 

Directed by: Hideo Nakata Starring: Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rikiya Ōtaka, Rie Inō

Language: Japanese Original Title: Ringu Runtime: 95 min

Plot

A TV reporter, Reiko Asakawa (sweet as honey Nanako Matsushima) is investigating the urban legend of a cursed vhs tape that allegedly kills everyone after the period of seven days since viewing it. After the mysterious death of her niece, Tomoko (Yūko Takeuchi), Reiko discovers that three of Tomoko’s friends also died exactly on the same night. When it turns out that they spent a night in a cabin a week earlier, the reporter drives down to the Izu peninsula immediately and finds the unlabelled tape... Driven by curiosity (of course!), Reiko plays it and becomes another victim of the horrible curse. What’s more, her small son (Rikiya Ōtaka) also watches it accidentally. With the help of her ex-husband, Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), Reiko sets out on a quest to discover who created the evil tape and how to stop the curse before it is too late for her and her child.

 

Ring a Ring o' Ringu 

I would like to make myself clear that I’m writing this review from a standpoint of a person who neither have read Suzuki’s novel nor have seen the American remake as the first one (contrary to many Polish viewers). Having refreshed Ringu years after I checked it out on vhs, all I can say is that to me... it’s not a horror. With its intriguing story and the way it was executed, Ringu just does not seem to fit into this category. I think that it’s actually above the horror genre. It’s a well crafted mixture of a psychological thriller and a mystery flick with a few great jump scares. 

Even though I haven’t read the literary original, I’m aware that there were significant changes made to the plot itself and especially to the leading character; nevertheless, the movie is still interesting. It was quite a bold move to change the literary protagonist from a father trying to save his daughter to a mother trying to save her son (unintentional correspondence to Silent Hill?) and Nanako Matsushima manages to deliver the part along with great support from Hiroyauki Sanada as an ex-husband/disillusioned genius/medium. However, I was convinced that all of a sudden Eikichi Onizuka would pop out from a closet screaming “It’s a prank Fuyutsuki-sensei!”. Seriously, Great Teacher Onizuka (1998) is such a classic J-Drama that it’s hard not to associate Matsushima with it, even when seeing her in something completely different.

In terms of special effects, the movie does not make a great use of them, but they do their job when needed. The footage from the tape itself is extremely gripping and creepy at the same time, and that grainy effect only amplifies to its charm. The final sequence of Sadako (Rie Inō) coming out from a TV is also very well made and holds up even by today’s standards.

Speaking about the curse itself, I was left a little bit in the dark here. Namely, what was the exact purpose of Sadako’s creating the cursed vhs tape in the first place? From Reiko’s investigation we come to know Sadako’s mother tragic story and how Sadako was killed by her own father. Also, there was no local broadcast in Izu when the first victim was recording the tape, but Sadako herself was transmitting the images from the bottom of the well (I’m writing this solely on the basis of this film, if there’s an additional explanation to it, please write in the comments). Thus, on the basis on the curse, we can infer that Sadako’s intention behind creating the tape was to make as much people as possible aware of her disastrous plight. But... shouldn't there be some warning on the tape or a disclaimer before the footage about breaking of the curse by copying and making somebody else watch the vhs?

Sadako’s brilliant plan is simply pointless without it. Prior to the events of the film, random people who were residing in the cabin just died after viewing the tape. It was Reiko who initiated the chain of constant copying and watching as we see her riding with the VCR to her father at the end of the film. To be honest, I don’t feel sorry for Sadako at all (again, judging only by the film). She was one crazy sadist who had to keep on giving even after her death. As for the tape itself... just put it on top of the speakers and the wonderful process of demagnetisation will get rid of Sadako’s curse once and for all.

Recommendations

Recommended to every avid viewer of Japanese cinema and beginning horror fans in general. Ringu is an unusual flick with a plot that keeps you interested right up until the end. Decent performances, great screenplay, and that unique feeling of J-horror eeriness are its main advantages. Definitely worth checking out.

Overall score: 8/10