The Ring
Every Halloween season, Hollywood unleashes a handful of horror films upon the unsuspecting masses. It's a blatant attempt to cash in on the public's craving for some good scares during the Halloween season. There's no shame in that -- except that most of these films are pure crap. They'll open big for a week or two, than quickly fizzle out faster than you can say "trick-or-treat."
One of this year's seasonal entries in the horror genre is The Ring, a remake of a 1998 Japanese film called Rings. The latest example of Hollywood Halloween exploitation? Surprise! You're in for a scary treat.
The Ring opens with a petrifying sequence that evokes memories of "Scream" while taking on a life of its own. Two teenage girls are alone in their parents' house, and one begins to describe an urban legend about a video that will kill you exactly seven days after you watch it. Much to her friend's chagrin, she's seen that same tape -- exactly one week before. You don't have to be a horror expert to know that all hell's about to break loose for these two girls -- and so it does, in a scream-inducing sequence of events.
Fast forward a few days. One of the girl's aunts, a newspaper reporter by the name of Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts), decides to look into the circumstances of her death. After some investigative journalism, she tracks down a copy of the aforementioned tape and pops in into the VCR. Big mistake. It's an eerie montage of extremely bizarre, troubling images. What's worse is the phone call Rachel gets immediately after her first viewing. "Seven days," the caller says. Uh-oh.
One of the characteristics that sets The Ring apart from the horror masses is that it's as much a murder mystery as it is a horror flick. After viewing the tape, Rachel sets out to determine its origins. It makes for compelling viewing to watch as she unlocks one puzzle piece after another in a desperate attempt to save her own life. It also adds an unusual element of intrigue to keep you locked to the screen between scares.
Another strength of the film is the casting of Naomi Watts in the lead role. Watts, who was robbed of an Oscar nomination for her impressive performance in last year's Mulholland Drive, is a far superior actress than you normally see in horror fare. It's a mystery why this talented, attractive actress has remained an unknown for so long. With her excellent turn as Rachel, a woman who's better at hunting down clues and sneaking a smoke with some teenagers than being a mother, she's won't be an unknown for long.
Director Gore Verbanski, roundly bashed by critics for The Mexican, has crafted a smart thriller that expertly uses bizarre visuals, sound and editing to increase the scare factor. Admittedly, some may not be able to suspend the disbelief necessary to roll with the film's supernatural fare (Roger Ebert argued that the film's twists bordered on the "absurd"). But let's face it: Virtually all the horror classics -- from A Night mare On Elm Street to The Blair Witch Project to The Sixth Sense -- require the viewer to suspend disbelief to an extent and use their imagination. The Ring never "took me out of the moment" by requiring me to suspend my disbelief to an extreme Ð maybe because I was so immersed in the story I never thought twice about it.
So fire up the Jack-O-Lanterns and bring out the candy. The Ring is that rare Halloween treat: a smart, unique and scary horror film that will scare the beejeebies out of you. Enjoy.
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Good horror films often go well with some libations -- just make sure not to pee your pants.
You may be too scared after this one to close your eyes, even for a kiss.
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