The Ring (2002)

I believe ‘The Ring’ to be a goldmine of a story. This is a film targeted not just at fans of horror or crime mysteries, but of fans of

film. If you consider yourself to be a fan of film, watch this. It’s concept becomes all the more compelling and intelligent as the film goes on. If you’ve seen this film already, you may believe that I talk about this film in a high regard for a more “meta” reason - spread the message and the story of ‘The Ring’. In a meta and/ or superstitious way, I’m not protecting myself from ‘The Ring’. I thoroughly appreciate this film. I feel this film was mis-advertised because at heart it isn’t a horror - in fact, I’d argue that only the opening 10 minutes and the closing 10 minutes are really ‘horror’. The rest is a slow burning thriller mystery, race against the clock. For a director who’s name is ‘Gore’ Verbinski, this stands out as most definitely a psychological film over a blood-fest. Verbinski does a wonderful job with Naomi Watts which is bolstered through the aesthetic of the film - this cold, sorrowful aesthetic that really helps any shot from ‘The Ring’ standout from other competitors. Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson and Brian Cox (who came as an unexpected surprise) definitely had passion for this film. They put themselves into the roles like an actor might if the film where a contender for the Oscars. Subtle with careful inflections to creep feeling through to the audience in a somewhat subliminal way - when the horror strikes, they sell it. I’ve always found that horror films with a small, likeable main cast are always the most horrifying (with some exceptions: Alien, The Thing, Ju-on). One scene in particular is so well executed with perfect editing, jump cuts so unnerving it’s hard not to feel like the TV is visually attacking you. Though, I have to admit the the shock factor of this scene is thoroughly damaged by how iconic the scene is. It has become spread throughout pop culture. In that way it’s like the twist at the end of The Empire Strikes Back, though I’m not going to spoil it despite this. ‘The Ring’ doesn’t go without it’s flaws, the most significant part being the use of music. It’s over-the-top. If this film utilised silence more often. If had taken inspiration from ’Ringu’ (the original), this would’ve been infested with suspense the whole way through instead of on a scene by scene basis. It also strays from its own rules occasionally which makes you ponder all the plot convivialities after it ends. I don’t believe it was laziness because of how passionate the rest of the script is. How dedicated it is to chilling you through crime mystery plot revelations. I think they got carried away and for a 10 minute segment of the film threw logic away. I would recommend you give this one a watch. It’s a great chilling crime flick that stands apart from most horror schlock that we see. When this film wants to terrify, it will. Not through a loud jolt or ruthless filleting of the human body as I expected it to be... but through a line of dialogue and theme that was there, following you the whole time.