RINGU

MOVIE SYNOPSIS:

--Exactly one week after staying at a remote cabin, a group of Japanese teenagers all meet sudden inexplicable deaths. A cousin of one of the victims, reporter Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima), begins an investigation that leads to the discovery of a videotape containing hauntingly bizarre footage. Upon viewing the tape, Reiko receives a phone call stating that she, too, will die in one week. As the clock ticks away, Reiko enlists the help of her estranged husband, Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), who possesses limited psychic abilities. Together they attempt to discover the meaning behind the cryptic film and break the supernatural curse.

Hideo Nakata's RING, based on a novel by Kôji Suzuki, was such a hit in Japan that it spawned both a sequel and prequel, along with a huge cult following. Like a horrific version of an X-FILES episode, the dark, moody film makes the most out of the mysterious and the unknown. As any viewer will admit, the surreal, death-inducing video presented within the movie is extremely effective. And as RING's tension builds, so does its sense of mounting doom. One of the creepiest motion pictures ever made, RING culminates in an unbelievably chilling finale. Do not watch this film alone...and make sure the phone ringer is off.

My thoughts...

Ringu was given to me buy a friend in Japan, that new of my love of horror movies...I had never heard of it...When I watched it I was impressed by the "mood" and the overall "feel"  of the movie...One of the things that had been lamented on by the fans of the movie, is the obvious lack of funding that Nakata had to work with..To me this is a good thing instead of a bad one. Here's why:...Nakata had to use lighting and setting's to imply the feel of the movie instead of "FX" that any computer can generate...To me the impending feeling of dread that the movie imparts is 1000 times more effective than a CGI ghost of monster...To me it is the equal of the underrated American version "The Ring" if not the better of the two..

Do not mistake me.  Ringu is FAR from a perfect film. yes at times it tends to drag, especially during the first few minutes and during the middle 15 minutes...But I can be very forgiving. This movie never bored me and kept me in the story the whole way through...

Watch this movie REALLY late at night or during the early morning hours, WITH THE LIGHTS OFF!!...I think you will be impressed as I was...

Dave

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