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The Ring Details

2002 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 27,407 members

In Gore Verbinski's remake of Hideo Nakata's chilling horror film, a group of teenagers all die suddenly and inexplicably exactly one week after watching a mysterious videotape at a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest. Journalist Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts), a relative of one of the victims, begins an investigation that leads .. Read more

Starring Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox
Director Gore Verbinski
Genres Horror

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The Ring

In Gore Verbinski's remake of Hideo Nakata's chilling horror film, a group of teenagers all die suddenly and inexplicably exactly one week after watching a mysterious videotape at a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest. Journalist Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts), a relative of one of the victims, begins an investigation that leads to a mountain resort where she discovers the tape, which contains footage of random and surreal images. After viewing the tape, Rachel receives a phone call stating that she, too, has seven days left to live. As the clock ticks away, Rachel enlists the help of her former boyfriend Noah (Martin Henderson), who is the father of her startlingly serious young son Aidan (David Dorfman). Assisted by the intuitive illustrations of Aidan and the initially reluctant research of Noah, Rachel attempts to discover the significance of the cryptic tape before her time is up.
The original RING, based on a novel by Koji Suzuki, was a cult phenomenon in Japan, spawning a sequel, a prequel, and other spin-offs. Although Verbinski's adaptation shares much in common with its Japanese counterpart, the director distinctly alters numerous plot elements and, in grandiose Hollywood style, employs a much larger budget. The beautiful cinematography is one of the more telling enhancements, along with added screen time for other characters, including the morose Richard Morgan (Brian Cox). However, the key to this RING is Watts, who shines through the creepy atmosphere in a role that follows her success in MULHOLLAND DRIVE. This would appear to be no coincidence, since the film comes across like a David Lynch version of an X-FILES episode that presents shockingly scary moments and makes the most out of the unknown.

Starring Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox
Director Gore Verbinski
Studio DREAMWORKS
Run time DVD: 1 hr 50 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Collections 100 Horror Films
Genres Horror
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 04 Aug 2003
Production year: 2002
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Ring

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    The words “Hollywood remake” may fill film fans with dread — foreign language movies ruined by a refit for the multiplex crowd — but Mousehunt director Gore Verbinski's version of Hideo Nakata's Japanese horror classic is a surprisingly good effort that retains much of the unnerving, creepy atmosphere of the original. An unlabelled videotape is in circulation, bringing death after seven days to anyone who watches it. One of its victims is the niece of journalist Naomi Watts, who decides to uncover the source of the tape and find out whether this “curse” is real, a quest that's given added urgency after Watts chooses to view the video herself. Verbinski makes a couple of inventive additions — a horse going berserk on a car ferry is a brilliantly surreal innovation — and although the spine-chilling terror of the original is muted by the overuse of CGI, this is still a worthy substitute if you're not in the mood for subtitles.

    • Radio Times
  • A remake of the Japanese movie Ringu (qv) that at least produced a slight other-wordly frisson in its story of a vengeful ghost; translated to an American setting, it seems no more than feeble.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of The Ring

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  • 71 out of 80 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    supernatural

    Whether you enjoy this film depends on whether you can suspend belief far enough to enjoy this type of fantasy. It did not work for me, although I can understand people liking it.

    The suspense is well built up.

    I have seen the Japanese version as well as this remake, but I found too many loose ends in the storyline to make it interesting.

    If you have not seen it, I would say it is worth giving it a go. You may enjoy it. Even though it was not for me, I thought it was quite well produced.

      • RIP from Manchester
  • Most recent members' review of The Ring

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Freaks you out, but not as good as the original

    Still pretty damn scary, moments that will make you jump and moments that will just plain scare you (televisions will never look the same again), yet somehow I wasn't quite as gripped as I was by the original Japanese film, "Ringu". If you can get that, watch it, you're in for a treat. It's exactly the same plot, just better acting, and no squealing, ludicrously attractive blonde Americans.

    Enjoyable, nonetheless, prepare to be freaked out. But watch the Japanese original. It's better. :)

      • Moose from Greater London
  • News and features

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    Top 10 - Naomi Watts

    • 08 Jul 2009

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Rating breakdown

27,407 Member ratings
  • 100
2,153
  • 90
2,352
  • 80
4,324
  • 70
4,749
  • 60
5,567
  • 50
3,369
  • 40
2,199
  • 30
1,341
  • 20
898
  • 10
455

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