Ringu (1998) Review: Creepy but Lacking
“One curse, one cure, one week to find it.”Synopsis: A reporter and her ex-husband investigate a cursed video tape that is rumored to kill the viewer seven days after watching it. | ![]() Watch now on Amazon |
Calamity Brains:
I saw the American remake, The Ring, years before I ever saw Ringu. The experience was fine, but the end result was that I’d constantly get flak for not having seen the Japanese original.
So maybe it’s from years of incredulous questions, but I had really high expectations for Ringu. The movie wasn’t terrible, but it definitely didn’t live up to the hype.
Particularly disappointing was the quality of the video and cinematography. It lacked the polish I’d expect from the better-known foreign horror flicks.
The acting was generally mediocre, but there were a couple of moments when the actors really shone. The desperate tension of the scene by the well was particularly captivating. But in a movie where a lot of the action is driven by interpersonal relationships, the depth of emotion just wasn’t there for me.
One thing I appreciated about Ringu was the level of backstory the writers were able to achieve. In horror movies, the causes behind bad happenings are often glossed over at best. But here, the audience gets a good look at Sadako’s past – and even better, the backstory isn’t intrusive or a drag on the story. That’s a pretty difficult balance to achieve, especially in a shorter film.
Overall, I’d still say Ringu is worth a watch… but unfortunately, my recommendation is more based on the film’s well-known status than anything else.
Calamity Brains’ Rating: C+
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