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DOWSE movie guide review of Ring

Ring
Director: Director: Hideo Nakata
91 minutes (15) 1999
widescreen 16:9
Tartan Terror
DVD Region '0' retail
Also available to buy on video
review by Steven Hampton

An astonishingly creepy Japanese mystery horror movie, Ring (aka: Ringu), has been favourably compared to independent American hit, The Blair Witch Project yet, in all honesty, this association is wholly unfair because the quietly enigmatic Ring is far superior to that scandalously over-hyped pseudo-documentary piece. Make no mistake, people, Ring is without a doubt the most unsettling and scary, genre-literate chiller for several years, and boasts a superb score by Kenji Kawai.
   Newswoman Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) investigates reports that some kids who watched a 'weird video' died just a week later, in suspicious circumstances. There's no evidence of murder but, from the looks on their dead faces, you would feel certain they were frightened to death. When Reiko gets hold of the unmarked tape and watches it alone, the telephone rings - and so begins a race against time to uncover the identity of the ghostly figure that appears on the TV screen. Where did the strange video come from? How do such bizarre rumours get started? Can a curse from beyond the grave really kill you?
   If for no other reason, Ring deserves to be seen so everyone can appreciate the cheeky simplicity of its built-in ad campaign. But, even if you are only vaguely interested in cult film sensationalism, you should track this one down for the impressive and accomplished handling of supernatural terror movie themes. The atmosphere is efficiently built up through a series of fairly ordinary domestic scenes, adding much to the film's verisimilitude; while the unnerving psychic flashbacks are enough to make this reviewer regret watching it with the lights off. I shall say nothing more about the plot, as it's best to leave the witty secret of this eerie drama for the individual viewer to discover. Beware!
   DVD extras: anamorphic transfer, striking animated menus, scene selection in 12 chapters (with film clip panels), exclusive UK trailer, preview of Ring 2, plus a trailer for Mike Takashi's intriguing Audition. There are welcome filmographies of the stars, director, and composer; gallery of haunting stills, screen text of Mark Kermode's perceptive review (adapted from 'Sight & Sound' magazine), and some quotes lifted from the tabloid press. Finally, after accepting full responsibility for your actions via the on-screen disclaimer, you can watch the disquietingly grainy footage of Sadako's Video in isolation.

Steven Hampton

originally published in VideoVista #25 (April 2001)

DOWSE Guide to the Movies is compiled by Tony Lee editor of Pigasus Press
You can order videos and DVD releases reviewed on these pages at Blackstar

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