Ringu (1998)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Hideo Nakata

Writers:

Kôji Suzuki (novel)
Hiroshi Takahashi (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 January 1998 (Japan)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

"One curse, one cure, one week to find it"

Plot:

A mysterious video kills whomever views it, unless that viewer can solve its mystery.

Plot Keywords:

Videotape | Friend | Volcanic Island | Son | Girl

Awards:

6 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Nanako Matsushima	...	Reiko Asakawa
Miki Nakatani	...	Mai Takano
Hiroyuki Sanada	...	Ryuji Takayama
Yuko Takeuchi	...	Tomoko Oishi
Hitomi Sato	...	Masami Kurahashi
Yoichi Numata	...	Takashi Yamamura
Yutaka Matsushige	...	Yoshino
Katsumi Muramatsu	...	Koichi Asakawa
Rikiya Otaka	...	Yoichi Asakawa
Masako	...	Shizuko Yamamura
Daisuke Ban	...	Dr. Heihachiro Ikuma
Kiyoshi Risho	...	Omiya the Cameraman
Yûrei Yanagi	...	Okazaki
Yôko Ôshima	...	Reiko's Aunt
Kiriko Shimizu	...	Ryomi Oishi

Also Known As:

Ring (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Iceland:16 | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:12 | Japan:R-15 | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 (TV rating) | UK:15 | USA:Unrated

Company:

Omega Project

Trivia:

The effect of Sadako coming out of the well was accomplished with only one simple special effect. Rie Inou, who is a student of the Kabuki theatre, which uses exaggerated motion and jerking movements to emphasize emotion, was heavily involved in the development of the Sadako character. Inou was filmed walking backwards and the film was run in reverse - the end result is Sadako walking forwards with unnatural motions.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning of the movie, the TV in Tomoko's room is on. However, in the next scene when Tomoko has a close up, it's off. Neither Masami or Tomoko had switched it off.

Quotes:

[Ryuji takes Reiko home]
Ryuji Takayama: You better get some rest... I have a deadline!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Grudge (2004)

Soundtrack:

Feels Like Heaven (Xtra Soundscape Mix)

A joy (or rather, terror) to watch!

Forget the fact it's subtitled - that only adds to the effect. The director's use of angles, sudden appearances of characters in the frame, wonderfully puzzling flashback and periods of absolute silence combine to form THE best horror film I've seen in years. Forget Blair Witch, this is a true horror story - it could happen to anyone. The Japanese location may make the story more remote, but also makes it more mysterious. The story would work in another locale, say, the Deep South, US, but there's just something about "Ring" which works due to its defiance to comply with cliche. Just when you think you've got the film nailed down and swaggeringly predict the next events, you're proven totally wrong and dealt the double joy and horror of a perfectly timed shock revelation or two. No spoilers about the ending, needless to say, you will not see this one coming...