The Ring Review
by Shannon Patrick Sullivan (shannon AT morgan DOT ucs DOT mun DOT ca)October 21st, 2002
THE RING (2002) / ****
Directed by Gore Verbinski. Screenplay by Ehren Kruger, based on the novel "Ringu" by Kôji Suzuki and the 1998 screenplay "Ringu" by Hiroshi Takahashi. Starring Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman. Running time: 115 minutes. Rated AA for gory scenes by the MFCB. Reviewed on October 19th, 2002.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: There is a videotape. If you watch it, your phone will ring. An eerie voice on the other end of the line will inform you that you have seven days to live. The voice speaks the truth. After her niece falls victim to the curse of the video, reporter Rachel Keller (Watts) and her sometimes-boyfriend Noah (Henderson) start to investigate its mysterious origins. But they must work quickly... for they, too, have watched the tape.
Review: Not since "The Blair Witch Project" has there been a movie as scary as "The Ring". Both succeed by assaulting the mind as much as the senses, but whereas the former trades heavily on the device of the unseen terror, "The Ring" overwhelms us with creepy imagery. The death video itself, for instance, is a classic piece of cinema, taking seemingly everyday images, filming them in an oh-so-slightly bizarre manner, and mixing them with more disturbing shots to instantly set the pulse racing. And I liked the way the movie makes sparing use of seemingly supernatural phenomena, especially in the early going; it's three-quarters of an hour before we can conclusively determine whether or not there's a rational explanation for everything. Indeed, it's a shame that Verbinski occasionally over-indulges in cheaper horror effects -- a lot of scenes needlessly open with a loud noise, for example -- because "The Ring" is plenty scary enough already. Watts, so impressive in "Mulholland Dr.", is in fine form here: determined, courageous, yet suitably vulnerable. David Dorfman is very good as her preternaturally mature young son. "The Ring" boasts pretty much everything one could hope for in a thriller: an absorbing story, heroes to cheer for, plenty of chills, and moments which will dwell in the mind for days to come. Required Hallowe'en viewing.
Copyright © 2002 Shannon Patrick Sullivan.
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