The Ring Two Review
by Michael Dequina (twotrey AT gmail DOT com)June 29th, 2005
_The_Ring_Two_ (PG-13) ** 1/2 (out of ****)
If for no other reason, I can appreciate _The_Ring_Two_ for trying to be its own distinct animal. The cursed videotape is back, but it only serves as a mere jumping point for not-so-innocent little Samara's latest, less technology-rooted reign of terror. But the "terror" remains that only in theory as, for all its isolated amusements, this original follow-up to the hit J-horror remake never truly scares.
That's all the more surprising since the film, in a rather inspired move, marks the American debut of Hideo Nakata, the Japanese horror maestro who helmed the film that spawned _The_Ring_, _Ringu_. To his credit, he does manage to milk some creepiness out of damp carpets and water in general--but then, that's old hat to him, particularly after building a whole film about the evils of wetness in 2002's _Dark_Water_ (which, as it happens, is set to get the Hollywood treatment this summer, directed by Walter Salles and starring Jennifer Connelly--incidentally, one of the initial choices for the lead in _The_Ring_). Potential for greater creepiness can be mined from the sequel's basic premise. After spreading Samara's killer videotape to save themselves, reporter Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) and her son Aidan (David Dorfman) have attempted to start over in a new town. But a copy of Samara's tape somehow makes it there as well, and Rachel tries to end Samara's rampage (at least in her area) by destroying this copy. But with this broken ring, Samara then attempts to carry out her dream in the real world by invading Aidan's consciousness.
It's a great hook, but neither Nakata nor returning screenwriter Ehren Kruger never quite figure out what to do with it--not even how to build up to it, as Aidan's increasingly odd (or, should I say, even odder than usual) behavior is treated and played as some sort of mystery when Samara quite clearly takes possession of him not long after Rachel burns the tape. Until the time is right for Rachel to face the issue head-on--that is, the third act home stretch--Nakata and Kruger buy time by introducing a nominal male lead (Simon Baker) even more bland and useless than the original's Martin Henderson, enlisting recognizable faces such as Elizabeth Perkins and Sissy Spacek to do showy cameo turns, and--above all else--throwing in a lot of literally splashy water effects. A fright-wigged Spacek is notable in her one scene and the latter definitely makes for some (no pun intended) cool visuals. But scary? Not especially.
The slack tension and pace hence lend Nakata's admittedly well-crafted climactic set pieces an entirely different effect than one would expect--and, I suspect, than was intended. Instead of coming off as creepy, let alone frightening, the film's final showdowns between Rachel and Samara is entertaining for entirely more action-oriented, popcorn-ready reasons--and a one-liner spat out by Rachel with all the flip swagger of a blockbuster badass cements the decidedly non-scary atmosphere of what should--and could--have been a follow-up as chilling as the first film.
(c)2005 Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
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