The Ring (2002)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

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 | Journalist | Death | Videotape | Cabin

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:

Among Samara's medical files is a piece of paper containing the name "Anna" and oriental writing. The writing is a combination of Chinese and Japanese letters, and roughly translated it is a prescription for "purging agents".

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In one scene, there is a shot of a small clock ticking, but the hand is moving in a smooth motion. The make and model of the small clock does not tick, it is perfectly silent.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Aidan Keller: What will happen to the person we show it to?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Grudge 2 (2006)

Soundtrack:

Hey John

Horror with Depth!

Before I saw The Ring, I used to think of horror movies as something about a supernatural (sometimes not supernatural) force that gobbles up people in bizarre series of deaths usually accompanied by blood and gore. Maybe I ought to blame it on my own selection of movies. But I realized that horror movies can have a deep and a decent story line after seeing The Ring.

The Ring is an adaptation of the Japanese movie Ringu. Ringu is a well respected horror movie. Rather than call The Ring as an adaptation I would prefer calling it as an improvisation of Ringu. For I have seen both movies and in my personal opinion the producers of The Ring have made the story a bit deeper and of course with the music and special effects scarier.

A particular thing worth mentioning is the work done by the child actor David Dorfman (playing the role of Aidan). My personal opinion is that he has done a very good job. And Ehren Kruger, in his script for the movie has given a major role to Aidan as opposed to lesser important role given to Aidan's Japanese counterpart.

Full credit to the Ring's makers for a very fine adaptation of the original Ringu. And yes, a small word of advice for those who have not seen the real Daveigh Chase (playing Samara). After seeing this movie, do look up on the net for a picture of hers and make the comparison! And do try and watch Ringu as well. A very respectable movie indeed.

A good story, nice scares, decent acting and smooth direction! Enjoy the movie!