Ringu 2

Horrorphile

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Ringu 2 (Ring 2)

September 3rd 2007 07:54

In this sequel to Ringu (1998), Mai Takano (Miki Nakatani) is trying to learn more about the death of her boyfriend Ryuji Takayama (Hiroyuki Sanada), the ex-husband of Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima). She learns of the malevolent spirit of a young woman named Sadako Yamamura (Rie Inou), who had spent thirty years trapped in a well. Her evil energy is harnessed within a cursed short piece of video footage. After some investigating, she learns that Ryuji's son, Yoichi (Rikiya Otaka), is developing the same psychic powers that Sadako had when she was alive. Yoichi and his mother Reiko are in hiding. Mai attempts to protect Yoichi from himself, and also prevent Sadako’s cursed energy from destroying more people.

An original sequel to Ringu called Rasen (Spiral) directed by Jôji Iida which actually followed the novel more closer, was shot back to back, but was met with considerable disdain by critics and audiences. Ringu 2 was produced the following year re-instating Ringu’s original director Hideo Nakata. In many respects it could be more precisely titled Ringu Part 2; a continuation of the first movie’s events.

Rikiya Otaka as Yoichi

The atmosphere of dread permeates Ringu 2 as vividly as in the first film, but with Ringu 2 the origins of Sadako come to the surface. These origins come into close-up with the third movie, Ringu 0: Bâsudei (Ring 0: Birthday, 2000) in which Sadako’s family history and the curse is examined in detail). Ringu 2 deals with the harnessing of energy and its transference, in particular malevolent energy.

Miki Nakatani as Mai

Although Gore Verbinski’s Hollywood remake The Ring (2002) does have its moments, it certainly doesn’t have the “foreign” atmosphere which elevates Ringu and Ringu 2 into a realm of its own. Also Mai isn’t perhaps as strong a character as Reiko, although this could partly be due to the less expressive performance of Miki Nakatani. One wonders if she was solid enough an actor to effectively propel the movie’s narrative momentum. It’s a tall order as Mai occupies the majority of the movie. The support cast is uniformly good.

Rie Inou as Sadako

There are some excellent special effects, nothing too ostentatious, and nothing too ambitious. The best sequence has Mai arriving at the home Sadako’s grew up in and witnessing the images from the videotape for real: Sadako’s mother Shizuko (Masako) combing her hair, gazing into the mirror, with Sadako as a young girl with her signature long jet black hair obscuring her face trudging up behind her mother, then the mirror suddenly flicking to the opposite end of the wall to momentarily reflect Sadako rather than Shizuko. It’s a thoroughly creepy effect.

Hitami Sato as cursed Masami

The dreamy visual style continues; a nightmare on slow burn. It might all seem frightfully silly; watch the cursed video, then a phone call informs you will die in one week, that is unless you copy the tape and coerce someone else to watch the dubbed copy. Sadako climbing up out of the well and awkwardly shuffling toward the television screen, then actually climbing out of the television set, crawling and scratching along the floor with her ragged fingernails, then standing, and finally, that hideous eye peering, staring, piercing your fragile soul … and you die of fright.

Ringu 2 Masako as Shizuko and young Sadako

Like mother like daughter

It’s strangely funny, peculiar, yet terrifying. Ringu 2 appears to come full circle, but no … the curse lingers in the background. Like a supernatural bloodstain, the curse lies permanently moist, never coagulating.

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

5 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by JohnDoe

September 3rd 2007 08:30

Film & TV on DVD

A worthy sequel, frightening in itself really.

Comment by Bryn

September 3rd 2007 09:53

Horrorphile

hey mate, cheers ... written in the blur of my fiance's birthday hangover ... hangovers are the curse from hell ... and my nemesis.

Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner

September 4th 2007 00:38

Bryn,

great review...is this one as good as the original though?

The first one you recommended was terrific...

Great review, and sorry about the hangover!

LOL

Take care,

Nick

Comment by Damo

September 4th 2007 01:59

Fun Fun Fun
Good review.

Comment by Bryn

September 4th 2007 02:49

Horrorphile

Nick, most certainly you should watch this, as it continues the same thread of story from the first Ring, but from a slightly different angle.

Damo, yes, yes, yes.

[ Previous - SAMOAN EVIL SPIRIT and VAMPIRISM REVISIONISM ]

[ Next - Ringu (Ring) ]