Ring Reviews

Just can't watch it again

I did buy this DVD after watching it the first time, but in a year have only just got past taking off the cellophane. I still see the final scene every time I close my eyes.

I don't know what some people define as horror, but it's certainly not butchery - that's just news.

This film is horrific because not a drop of blood is spilt, no one jumps out at anyone and no one runs away from anything. There's no other way to describe it than a creeping terror.

If you didn't think it was frightening, watch it sober, without a break, alone, in the dark, in the countryside, without a sound - other than the wind moaning softly down the chimney, the doors shifting in their frames, the branch of a tree gently tap, tap, tapping on the window...

A truly scary movie

For me this is one of the scariest movies I've ever seen, although some people that I know who've watched it don't know what all the fuss is about. It depends what you're scared by, I guess. This is more of the 'creepy, weird, unsettling, that's-not-nice' kind of scary. No blood, no gore, no jumps. Not only that, but it tricks you into thinking you know what it's going to do without ever delivering. It's never predictable. The finale is supreme cinema and has to go down as an iconic film horror moment.

The Japanese version does bring in different elements of mysticism, culture, and psychic ability that are missing from the American version, which go to making the characters seem more readily agreeable to some of the weird things that are happening.

Sadako is scarier than anything you can imagine

Ring is the orignal Japanese version of the story, focusing on Reiko, a Japanese reporter who gets caught up in the mysterious death of her cousin.

Rumors are out about a tape. A tape that, after watching you will die seven days later. Reiko finds and views this tape, and then the clock starts ticking. She has seven days to solve the mystery surrounding this strange tape, otherwise she will be it's next victim.

The plot of this film is essentially the same as the remake although the American remake took some liberties and tried to make the story more convoluted.

The story remains interesting and engaging throughout, with new threads being woven into the story as it progresses. Reiko's search for the truth steps up a few notches after her son views the tape, making her mission that much more important.

Time imposes itself greatly in this film, with the overbearing feeling that time is of the essence, which it is, and the slow countdown of the days as the week draws on. You really start to wonder if Reiko will be able to solve the mystery of the tape as we enter her final day.

This film is superbly crafted; at no point do you feel that the story is boring or uninteresting, and there is no 'filler' scenes to try and pad out the film. The last ten minutes of this film will go down in cinematic history as some of the scariest ever, with the twist ending really making this film better than it already was.

Simply A Brilliant Scare

Saw this film for the first time and I have to say it lived up to all the hype. Easily on a par with films like Blair Witch, this movie is going to go down as one of the all time classic horror movies. I've avoided watching the US version first on advice from others, but I intend to watch it anyway jusy to compare the two. Watch this terrifying work of art at night and prepare to feel the fear!

NOT Hollywood

If you have seen the Hollywood version of this film, or are in fact looking for that film then please read on.

Although I am a fan of the Hollywood one, which is a great re-telling of this story, this is the real thing. I am glad I watched it first and urge you to do so if you get the chance. It started as a huge success in Japan, then became a cult classic over here and is now regarded as one of the truly great moments of horror.

This original version was number 6 of the Ch4 “All Time 100 Scariest Moments”, alongside Jaws, The Shinning, The Exorcist etc - heady praise indeed. But it deserves it. Don’t expect to understand it like a normal horror, but do expect high sustained tension, and some moments of real terror, but without resorting to gore and needless violence.

There is no point telling you the plot, as this is history, watch it.

Oh deary me.....

Never thought I would say this...can't believe it....the American remake is MILES BETTER ! Phew....

DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM

Anyone who says this film is scary needs to have their heads examined. Frankly I've seen scarier episodes of Songs of Praise. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen, but it didn't. Seemingly the only thing they actually did to make me scared was have some creepy, yet slightly annoying music. There was no tension and no atmosphere, just rubbish lighting that was trying to create atmosphere. The only remotely scary and interesting bit in the whole film was ruined anyway by the DVD skipping. I have wasted 90 minutes of my life watching this rubbish, I advise you not to do the same.

Whats all the fuss about ?

Predictable, one paced, lacking in suspense. Felt like an 80's twilight zone / hammer horror movie.

Really disappointing given previous rave reviews.

The Grudge is far, far superior.

[Highly rated reviewer]

The original and best

If you haven't watched the US re-make of this film watch this first. It has a gritty stark feel that is lost in the US version after the first 15mins.

This is a truely disturbing film. It's one of the few films to actually scared me and got into your head. It's not as easy to follow with subtitles but its worth perserving with. This is how horror should be.

The US version just misses the X factor that this film has.

This is a triumph of style over content. Without really trying the director has managed to do some very, VERY eerie stuff indeed and all this with a script that has you cringing in places it's so corny. Without any great substance to the plot and a heroine who is straight out a Japanese white sock comic, it manages to leave you feeling icky and jumping at your shadow for a good few hours after. <br><br>Even if you detest the whole film it is worth watching for the hero's death scene alone. Quite the spookiest thing I've seen in a long time. A word of warning though: this Tartan Video disc has terrible subtitles. They are frequently against a white background and they haven't bothered to block them in in black which means you miss lots of dialogue. No doubt done for cheapness, it is exceptionally irritating and spoils your viewing pleasure. Shame on you Tartan!