The Ring (2002/I)

Director:

Gore Verbinski

Writers (WGA):

Ehren Kruger (screenplay)
Kôji Suzuki (novel)

Release Date:

18 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Before you die, you see the ring

Plot:

A young journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it.

Plot Keywords:

Video | Death | Journalist | Videotape | Ring

Awards:

7 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Naomi Watts	...	Rachel
Martin Henderson	...	Noah
David Dorfman	...	Aidan
Brian Cox	...	Richard Morgan
Jane Alexander	...	Dr. Grasnik
Lindsay Frost	...	Ruth
Amber Tamblyn	...	Katie
Rachael Bella	...	Becca
Daveigh Chase	...	Samara
Shannon Cochran	...	Anna Morgan
Sandra Thigpen	...	Teacher
Richard Lineback	...	Innkeeper
Sasha Barrese	...	Girl Teen #1
Tess Hall	...	Girl Teen #2
Adam Brody	...	Male Teen #1

Also Known As:

Ring (USA) (pre-release title)
Seven Days (USA) (working title)
Static (USA) (working title)
Za ringu (Japan)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, disturbing images, language and some drug references.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital EX | DTS-ES

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (New Brunswick/Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Portugal:M/16 | Malaysia:U | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Brazil:14 | India:A (cinema release) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (bw) | Ireland:15PG (original rating) | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Israel:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Bern) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39347) | Greece:K-17

Filming Locations:

5th Ave & Stewart Street, Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

An interesting feature on the VHS release: rewind the tape to the very beginning. (Or just put the tape in the VCR when fully rewound.) When you play it, you see the cursed video. After the segment ends, you hear a phone ringing twice, then it goes into the previews. Also after the movie has ended, you see additional scenes that help explain the mystery of the cursed video.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: On the ferry, when the people gather at the stern to see the horse that fell overboard, a little girl next to Rachel screams, but the sound of the scream continues even after the girl stops and breaths in.

Quotes:

Samara Morgan: [Speaking of her father] He wants me to go away.
Doctor: No he doesn't.
Samara Morgan: But he doesn't know...
Doctor: He doesn't know what?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Timesplitters: Future Perfect (2005) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Hey John

Superior, Atmospheric, Twisted Little Creepfest

The Ring did three things no film of late has done. It took the genre of Horror seriously without going over the top. It is derived from a superior story and translated to American film superbly, regardless of what the naysayers say. And, while it starts off typically, it ascends into a beautiful, darkling, twisted, genuinely creepy story, which holds you through to the end.

Gore Verbinski's style is unmistakable. He has left this work well marked with his stylistic shots, and suspenseful progression.

Actually, I found this far superior to most horrors done in the last thirty years or so. A lot has been said about Ringu, the work from which this was adapted for American cinema, and inevitable subsequent comparisons made, however, that is certainly NOT the case. That argument is moot, as this work was based on the novel, "The Ring" by Koji Suzuki, so if you want something to which an honest comparison may be made, I would suggest you read the book, and leave Ringu where it belongs. Personally, I found the American adaptation much more to my liking than Ringu.

This is one twisted little creep-fest! It rates an 8.7/10 from...

the Fiend :.