Ring

Hideo Nakata, Japan, 1998, 96 minutes

Scary films? I'd say it's hard to find them: they are mostly so formulaic that you know 15 minutes ahead what is going to happen. Genuinely scary films, that will have you scared for a few nights to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom are rare.

But Ring (or Ringu if pronounced in Japanese), is one of those rare films. Ring's premise is very simple: a strange, grainy video tape, showing smeared images of a woman brushing her hair, and bizarre Chinese characters floating

along as well. And this tape inflicts a curse on its viewers - right after you watch it you'll receive a phone call and exactly one week later you will die, with a twisted expression on your face. This is exactly what happens to

television reporter Reiko's niece. Reiko starts to investigate, searching for an answer to her niece's mysterious death. Soon she finds a tape and - that's professionalism for you - watches the tape. As her investigation continues, a downward spiral of ever-increasing terror begins.

Whereas your average "horror" film isn't scary at all, Ring definitely is. There are no violent or gory sequences, the film might even be slow and leisurely paced at first sight, but it builds up a terrifying feeling of claustrophobia that cannot be kept at bay. You'll be at the edge of the seat by the end of the film.

This is your only chance to see the film in complete safety. Imagine getting the film from your local video store, watching it at night with your flat-mates and then... the phone rings!

(Note: Despite the above statement EUFS cannot be held liable for any bodily harm that might result from the viewing of this film on the big screen.)

Review by Sarah Stark
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2002