Ringu (1998)

Ringu (1998)

The iconic but still underseen Japanese horror mystery that's smarter than you remember

7.5

Movie

Japan
Japanese
Drama, Horror, Thriller
1998
HIDEO NAKATA
Daisuke Ban, Hiroyuki Sanada, Hiroyuki Watanabe
96 min

What it's about

A mysterious video has been linked to a number of deaths, and when an inquisitive journalist finds the tape and views it herself, she sets in motion a chain of events that puts her own life in danger.

The take

Despite being remade, parodied, and absorbed into pop culture over the years, the original Ring defiantly marches to the beat of its own drum. Focused entirely on building a slow-burn mystery instead of dispensing scares, the film provides ample space for a number of interpretations: on the spread of technology, the erasure of traditional beliefs, or even motherhood. It's all relentlessly quiet and extremely creepy, the tension building with the same energy as ghost stories told around a campfire. And while famous for its eerie images and the rules surrounding its cursed videotape, Ringu also serves as a reminder that great horror should compel the audience to keep on watching, even if they already know exactly what awaits them if they do.

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