Feature Review | The Ring
Written by: Brian Orndorf

When a newspaper reporter’s niece is found dead from a scare-induced stroke, the reporter, Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts, “Mulholland Drive”), sets out to find how such a young girl could die such a horrible death. Her investigation leads her to an enigmatic videotape. Legend has it that when you watch this tape, you see “a ring” and then have seven days left to live. Rachel ends up watching the tape by herself, then uses the next seven days to track down the mysterious people featured on the tape (which plays like a German expressionist horror film). As the clock ticks down, Rachel finds that the reasons for the tape’s existence are even more horrifying than the tape‘s ultimate plan for her.

Dolby shocks. Those are the shrieks on the soundtrack of any type of horror or suspense film that are employed as a way of keeping the audience on edge. For some films, loud piercing noises can be used to great effect (think David Lynch), but for the rest of the imagination-free filmmakers out there, they are used as a creative crutch to keep the audience entangled with a story that just doesn’t have much else going for it. “The Ring” is the latest, and possibly the best example of this tactic.

Based on a 1998 Japanese horror sensation “Ringu,” this straightforward remake has such a wonderful premise of restrained terror, that the only way to screw it up is by trying too hard. Enter director Gore Verbinski, a man who has spent his entire career trying too hard (“Mousehunt,” “The Mexican”). Verbinski makes a crucial misstep with his version of this dark tale and cranks up the sound design, when imagery is the film’s greatest asset. Every scene begins and ends with some sort of loud clang, so that after a time you become desensitized to it. When the film should have been reaching some kind of terror peak, all I could do was try to anticipate when the next jump would come. I want to be scared, not panicked. I want to be absorbed by the mystery, not waved away as some sort of annoyance to the filmmaker. Verbinski seems so obsessed with keeping the tension taught unnaturally, that the rest of the film crumbles through his fingers like sand.

Having already covered this PG-13 terrain with ghosts stories like “The Sixth Sense,” “The Mothman Prophecies,” and “The Others,” what “The Ring” ultimately becomes is something of a let down. The film features very little graphic content, and while I can applaud that, it is a story that is almost entirely dependant on visuals. Verbinski tries to compensate for the lack of gore by ratcheting up the mood of the film. Photographed meticulously by Bojan Bazelli, the film has such a dark, wet look to it that, coupled with the constant rain and seven day countdown, it begins to look more and more like a David Fincher film (ooooh, what he could’ve done with this story!). Verbinski even places subliminal shots of “the ring” throughout the film, ala “Fight Club.” While the extra attention to the visual aesthetics is pleasing to the eye, the aforementioned Dolby jumps slaughter whatever visual constant the filmmakers are trying for.

In her first lead role after tearing up the screen as the slutty Nancy Drew in “Mulholland Drive,” Naomi Watts gives it her all to make “The Ring” a scary experience. She’s committed to the story, and whatever Verbinski and screenwriter Ehren Kruger give her, she handles with ease. It’s a good performance, considering she’s surrounded by a wealth of untalented supporting players (including a flat, silly looking Martin Henderson as Rachel’s investigative partner, and David Dorfman as her son).

Even when it was failing me, I prayed for “The Ring” to shed its laziness and transform into the heart-attack inducing chiller that it could’ve been. For all its window dressing and potential, that moment never comes. For those easily susceptible to scares, I wish you all the best. “The Ring” will certainly give you a kick, but it will never stay with you as it should.

Grade: 4 out of 10     

COMMENTS
Date/Time of Posting:  Oct 27 2002 / 21:12:38
IP Address:  168.18.147.66
name = Chris
Email = acewrkr@hotmail.com
comments = Wow!  This was, most likely, the scariest movie I have ever seen.  I wasn't at all desensatized by all the loud clangs.  In fact, it had much the opposite affect on me.  I applaud the director for making a frightful movie that is PG-13.  True, there have been other (and I applaud them as well) movies that are scary at PG-13 but, I think this is the best.  It is the only movie I have paid for that I would pay to see again.  Definately a 9.5 out of 10!

Date/Time of Posting:  Oct 27 2002 / 05:28:10
IP Address:  24.61.107.8
name = Leah
Email = Double06LDT@hotmail.com
comments = The Ring was an awesome movie and I really think it you graded it poorly. I went to see it on my birthday (October 25th) with a bunch of friends (mostly ther guys cause the girls were scared to go). Sure, it does seem strange that all the horror movies have little kids that know too much (Aidan says to Rachael "You helped her?! You aren't supposed to help her!!" And in the Sixth Sence) But, other than that, it was pretty good. We all jumped out of our seats in about every freaky scene, and we scared the girl infront of us by tapping her on the shoulder(she jumped like 4 ft- it was soooo funny!!). The ending really creeps you out- everyone thought the movie was over when Rachael survived and her and Noah got back together. Instead, Noah was killed and everyone didn't expect that.
       After the movie, my friends went back over to my house and we couldn't even sleep because there was a tv in the room. We thought it would help if we just switched on some spongebob but almost everyone ended up having nightmares.
      I would deffinetly give it an eight out of ten. Suprisingly,all you movie reviewers say the same things...are you sure you don't hold meetings together or even WATCH the movie? Seriously,One site had the names of the characters wrong...you have got to be kidding!!

Date/Time of Posting:  Oct 29 2002 / 07:34:14
IP Address:  192.197.178.2
name = BB
Email = carriere.paul@hotmail.com
comments = Well, I totally agree with the review. The movie does have an eerie feeling and the "tape" is quite bizaar and disturbing, but that's about it. The storyline is totally absurd and nothing can be explained as to why you die after watching the movie, where the paranormal power's of the dead child stem from etc..... A few spookers that made me flinch.....slightly oooooooooooo I'm scared, was overidden by how many times I laughed. I kept thinking Lassie would appear barking her head off. Arf arf arf arf....she's in the well she's in the well ! Oh.....ok than, let's just push this 2,000 lb slab of rock from the well and see what's inside.
Also, enough with the drawn out false endings.
Perhaps this would scare the PG-13ers, with a few scary faces, clangs and the ooooooo phone call, but in time you hopefully will appreciate true suspense.
Throw the movie in the well too !

Date/Time of Posting:  Oct 30 2002 / 08:49:41
IP Address:  207.70.110.133
name = Dave
Email = dave@spotsbme.com
comments = I agree with your review. Actually, I would rate it a 2 out of 10. None of the story made sense. I was really hoping that this would be a 'thinking' horror movie like "Sixth Sense", but it tried way too hard. Here are a few unanswered questions (Warning: spoilers): The flashbacks to the life of the little girl looked like she lived in the the 1800's (the clothes of both her and her mother). Also the timeline of her life was never made clear. Did her parents lock her in the barn after she killed the horses? If so why does she say, the horses keep her up at night? And if not, why did they lock her up there? What was the purpose of the phone call telling you you had seven days to live, because obviously you don't actually have to answer the phone. I also don't buy Aidan knowing all the answers, he really didn't have anything to do with the girl but somehow he knows her real intentions. Also the friend of the first girl that dies also seemed to know a lot (she tells Rachel she only has 4 days left) but how did she all of a sudden know all this? Lastly the discovery of making a copy to save your life makes a little bit of sense, but when Aidan says "What happens to the person we show it to" what does that mean? Rachel destroyed one tape with no effect, so why not destroy them all! Sure this was a spooky movie, but it was mindless. People who think this is a deep movie must not be thinking too hard.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 02 2002 / 21:36:44
IP Address:  140.142.171.80
name = Yilin Wu
Email = noneofyourbiz@you.com
comments = The ring is BAR NONE the scariest movie I've ever seen since Prince of Darkness.  There's a saying, "It is too easy to criticize, and fools often do."  Reviewers really should keep their criticisms in check if they want to appeal to the majority of movie-goers.  Everyone knows you can never trust a movie critic.  Movies are made to be good, not perfect.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 03 2002 / 15:09:56
IP Address:  64.219.213.236
name = BRENDA
Email = BRENDAYG2002@YAHOO.COM
comments = WOW THIS RATED PG13 MOVIE WAS REALLY GOOD.I LOVE IT,IT REALLY HAD ME SHAKING.I THINK IT IS EVEN SCARIER THAN THE EXORCIST.I HAD TO SLEEP WITH MY
MOM FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT BEFORE I COULD SLEEP
AGAIN IN MY ROOM BY MY SELF.IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE PLEASE GO SEE AND BE PREPARED TO GET SCARED,JUMP OUT OFF YOURE SEAT/CHAIR AND SCREAM BECAUSE YOURE IN FOR SOME HORROR.I GIVE IT A 10.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 03 2002 / 17:16:38
IP Address:  68.99.218.113
name = Jay
Email = mysterywhiteboy78@hotmail.com
comments = Well...I must say, that if there isn't another movie or two, The Ring is a pretty shotty movie.  I was left with an ocean of loose ends that could only be pulled together by another movie.  Such as...how exactly did this tape get made?  From where does this little girl derive her power? Will she have even more power now that she is out of the well?  If not, why did Aiden say that Rachel "wasn't supposed to do that"? Where did they get Samara from?  What was the deal with Samara's parents giving her up for adoption?  I tell ya, there had better be some high powered DreamWorks guys sitting behind a desk writing the screenplay(s) for the next movie(s) or I'm gonna be upset!!
Aside from all of the questions that I hope will be answered by more well done films, I thought that The Ring was at least a 7 out of 10 possibles.  Honestly...the acting was a bit contrived and didn't flow too well in some parts.  Naomi Watts, who is stunning in this movie, kinda forces herself too much, as do the other two male characters in the film, giving the movie a sort of fake feel...but over all I thought it was excelent.  Also, there was a great scarry feel to the cinamatography...I thought it was brilliant.  Anyhew...4 outa 10 is a lil' rough...but I'll agree with you whole heartedly if there isn't a sequal.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 04 2002 / 10:37:58
IP Address:  64.156.73.228
name = Paul
Email = PWoolsey@jwoperating.com
comments = Yes I too believe you graded this one very wrong.  I went to see it last night and am still shaken up by it this morning.  As I am a horror movie veteran, it is hard for me to even find a horror flick that I have not seen as well as hard to get me fired up about one.  This one gave me all I was looking for.  It makes you tense all the way through it from start to finish, it has jumps and visual scenes that not only make you jump but also leave chills going through your body.  But this movie also has a very good in-depth storyline that keep unfolding all the way through it.  Also with leaving you startled at the very end...this was a VERY good movie indeed.
Anyone who would grade this as 4 out of 10 needs to watch a bit more horror movies.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 04 2002 / 17:14:21
IP Address:  12.224.225.144
name = Chimmy
comments = Holy Crap.........This is the scariest freakin movie ive ever seen...You are on the edge of your seat the entire time.  I advise you to take an extra pair of underwear if you plan on seeing this movie.  After seeing it, your mind will play games with you and you'll end up freaking yourself out. Congrats to the man who made this film

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 05 2002 / 11:02:06
IP Address:  66.185.84.206
name = Avinash
Email = gizmomania2000@yahoo.com
comments = This was truly a disaster. The ring was by no means a "scary" movie..Yes there were times when the loud sounds at the end of every scene made you jump a little, but the actual plot was weak.  For a horror flick, there was very little graphically to be scared about...at times you were even confused about what was goin on...to sum it all up ..i would say the same thing a guy in front of me said once the movie was over; "$13.50 for this?? I coulda filled my tank up!!"...I would give this movie a 3/10 ( scariest movie of all time for me was definitely..."The Blair Witch"..

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 09 2002 / 03:31:21
IP Address:  65.212.90.33
name = Tracy
Email = foxknob@operamail.com
comments = Great effects, but plot made absolutely no sense. Was the little girl killing the horses? If so why? If not who was? Why did Mommy throw her down the well.  Because she was mean? Somebody help me get my $11.50 worth on this one!

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 09 2002 / 09:43:08
IP Address:  198.81.26.170
name = Michael
Email = MikeJa235@hotmail.com
comments = I thoguht that the people who made this mvie tried way to hard to get us to be scared.  I dont understand why every one was screaming so loud and had to leave in middle of the movie.  If anything i thoguht it was funny.  Plaus, the plot mad no sense.  Why would all of the scenes from the "video" take place on the island up the coast, but the well scene took place many miles away under the floor of the in.  Sure, it had its scary parts, but i still give it a 3 out of 10.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 09 2002 / 15:39:09
IP Address:  203.134.171.144
comments = whom ever posted the last review... is a silly silly person.  "The Blair Witch" left alot of people going... i paid 13.50 for this.  It had no more graphically than "The Ring" and was by far worse acting.  This movie had suspense, and tension.  The Video itself did a good job of being disturbing without being overly stupidly gross.  As for the corpses, and the "lack of graphics" in this movie.  I think they were scarrier corpses than i have seen in any other movie.  No one is scared by seing alot of blood and body parts, they never look real anyways.  People are scared by suspense and a distrubing story, this movie had both and will appeal to a much larger group of people than a movie full of gore ala the pet cemetary.  GO and See it.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 09 2002 / 16:10:18
IP Address:  203.222.88.23
name = Diz
Email = dizzer@hotmail.com
comments = i reckon we should all watch the japanese version of it. i've seen the japanese one and it was as scary as hell. when i found they were making a hollywood version of it, i almost puked out of my mind. but i suppose the movie ain't that bad. 4 out of 10 is harsh. i'll give it around a 7 maybe. but as for the jap version, i give it a 10 out of 10.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 09 2002 / 20:23:50
IP Address:  172.175.234.107
name = Violet Nyte
Email = violet_nyte@yahoo.com
comments = I must agree with all the other "The Ring" supporters when I say "The Ring" is the scariest film I have ever seen. Sure, I might not have jumped or screamed, but this was a different KIND of scary. The kinda that stays with you, sending chills down your spine.
I will agree that there were a lot of unanswered questions, but the sheer terror that parts of the movie invoked madeit possible to look past these. The sound wasn't as bad as you make it seem, and the acting was decent. The movie starts off freaky and carries that freakiest right up to the bone-chilling ending. I'm sorry, but seeing Samara climb OUT of the well and OUT of the television scared the shit out of me.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 09 2002 / 20:55:08
IP Address:  24.121.8.71
name = Prophet5
comments = Rubbish review. This is like david lynch collaborating with david fincher. I hate cheesy horror movies and this is not a cheesy horror movie. The cinematography was absolutely beautiful. As for loose ends, some people need to be spoonfed a plotline. Not me. There's something to be said to leaving some things up to the imagination. The soundtrack was quite brilliant actually, and IMO not used a s a 'crutch'. This movie is more cerebral fare, and may put off the Friday the 13th /  I know wot u did last summer crowd. Which is a good thing.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 10 2002 / 00:28:10
IP Address:  199.182.190.240
name = lala
Email = none
comments = What is the twist of this movie? and can someone answer all of daves questions beacuase those are realli good questions. After i watched the movie, i was confused and didn't really get the movie.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 10 2002 / 09:01:23
IP Address:  66.142.42.12
name = Tom
Email = wildhawker@excite.com
comments = I'm still puzzling out Rachel's son's comment on,"Who should we show this, too?"  Does that take the burden off of him?  I give it a five for all of the symbolism.  I just didn't get the ending.  I would love to hear someone explain it.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 11 2002 / 02:52:47
IP Address:  62.171.194.40
name = me
Email = dunno
comments = You review-ish people are all just sooo wrong... maybe you should try watching the movie?

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 12 2002 / 08:40:44
IP Address:  141.211.120.140
name = westley king
Email = wking1978@aol.com
comments = This was the scariest movie I have ever seen, and anyone who grades this film poorly must not have much of an imagination and i feel sorry for them.  No movie has ever impacted me like this one, and i couldnt sleep right for 10 days straight!  Ive seen probably every horror movie made so far, and most of them arent even scary, in fact some times they are actually funny.  If every scary movie was like "The Ring"  I would actually seriously think about never seeing a horrow film again.  The Ring was so scary i wish I didnt see it.  It went above and beyond what any horror movie has accomplished so far.  From this point on every horror movie should be compared to "The Ring" just as every basketball player is compared to Jordan.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 12 2002 / 10:01:30
IP Address:  207.24.72.12
name = Jason
Email = lucajs@bp.com
comments = Ridiculous review.  This movie is what horror is supposed to be all about.  Ever heard of Dario Argento, perhaps the greatest horror director of all time?  His theory was to keep the audience so tense as to make their bodies ache.  This is the same tension that THE RING induces.  The use of sound was incredible and added greatly to the horror and tension.  John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN would have been half as frightening if it were not for the sound and effects used during the killing scenes.  This movie has seared a place for itself in my brain among the great classic horror masterpieces.  While the plot does contain holes, as many great movies do anyway, the overall quality of the horror and the atmosphere created was overwhelming and intense.  I will see it again.  This is what horror is all about.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 14 2002 / 15:58:22
IP Address:  208.40.47.253
name = Jess
comments = I have to say that parts of the movie didn't add up right, but I'm pretty creeped out by it. It's not the best movie I've seen, and it really wasn't worth seeing considering I'm so creeped out! If I could do it all over again I probably wouldn't see it, but it wasn't bad.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 14 2002 / 19:10:48
IP Address:  209.153.141.67
name = tim
Email = wrongwonka@yahoo.com
comments = Some of the scenes are just awesome scary. Everyone seems to think the storyline is weak, but you'll tend to overlook the holes in the plot until you get out of the theater. Making fun of the plot helps to fade the images of bloated evil corpses that will be stuck in your head anyway, so a few scoffing points seem almost beneficial...

*Spoilers* Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 14 2002 / 19:36:55
IP Address:  209.153.141.67
name = garand
Email = garand@yahoo.com
comments = A few logic hiccups I'll add:
-The evil video tape is sitting at the Mountain resort out of its box, so naturally Rachel knows it must be the right tape and steals it?
-Does the guy at the resort just keep rewinding it and returning it to the rental table, even though it has no label and kills all his guests?
-Who ever built these cabins anyway? Why did they decide to build it right on top of a well? Wouldn't you build your cabin to the side of a large 3" tall stone well?
-I guess he was supposed to be nuts, but when Samara's dad lights himself up in the tub was there some purpose for grabbing every appliance in the house? Does he realize that the power comes out of the wall, not out of all the TVs and toasters?
-If Samara's powers were psychic evil, was it really effective to stick her up in the barn top? Didn't that just piss her off? It was nice that they prettied it all up for her. If she was so evil, wouldn't she have had fun pushing that tall ladder over when pops tried to bring dinner up though?
-OK, so Rachel wants to be found. So she burns a picture of a tree that is on a hill near the well she is in under the wallpaper of her former secret quarters? Wouldn't it have been easier to just use her cell phone?

*Spoilers* Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 15 2002 / 06:21:11
IP Address:  203.134.10.91
name = AIDAN
Email = tr@aidan.com
comments = Rachel copied the tape and showed someone so she didnt die. Her boyfriend never made a copy so died. Aidan at end made a copy and will have to get someone to watch it to stay alive.
-Lil girl was just straight EVIL and movie made me make the assumption that the parents were evil!
-Movie kinda slow but good enough. Abstract with lil bits of Blair Witch  -best part is what you leave the movie thinking about....the twists not so obvious
- 3/5 compared to all the other crap they have released lately here in Aus Oct/Nov.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 16 2002 / 06:56:45
IP Address:  202.69.160.133
name = Luis
Email = luisesguerra@lycos.com
comments = Man Your Rating Sucks !!!  I have seen the japanese version and although certain clues were left unshown, the storyline remains the same.  I think this is one of the best horror flicks for the year

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 16 2002 / 14:39:39
IP Address:  64.12.96.46
name = Hollie
Email = mypukeispink@aol.com
comments = Somebody answer my questions about this film its making me go insane!!!!!
1.)Why does Rachel and her boyfriends noses bleed?
2.)What do the horses have to do with anything in the movie?
3.)Why does Rachel throw up whatever that string thingy was that she throws up?
4.)Why was the little girls room up in the part of
barn? Did she do something wrong?
5.) Rachel helped the little girl. Aiden asked Rachel why she helped Samara. He said she never sleeps? Why does the little girl still want to hurt people if Rachel helped her? I just dont get it.
6.) Was Aidans babysitter watching the tape? Does nyone remeber how the babysitter told Rachel Aidan drew a picture of her? If the babysitter did watch the tape that means Aidan doesen't have to show anybody right?
7.)What do the bugs in the tape have to do with anything?

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 16 2002 / 15:34:54
IP Address:  65.89.125.111
name = me
Email = none
comments = i thought the ring was very very scary i almost left the cinamma couse i was so scacerd was wondering was that based on o true srory from the past or not well gosta bounce ight peace out home dogg

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 16 2002 / 19:46:20
IP Address:  205.188.209.176
comments = That movie made me mad! What did the ending even mean? I hate movies that don't have a resolution. The rest of the movie was good, but the ening ade it really bad!!

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 16 2002 / 22:10:34
IP Address:  152.163.188.198
name = Allison
Email = Unstoppablemp@aol.com
comments = This was a really scary movie at some parts.. its totally worth seeing.. although i did not understand the ending to this movie... if some one woulndt mind explaining it to me you can email me at Unstoppablemp@aol.com

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 16 2002 / 22:27:44
IP Address:  152.163.188.198
name = Big Joe
Email = Bigjoefosheezy@aol.com
comments = Holy mother of God. This movie was by far thescaiest movie in my life. i am a big guy that is touh and dont take sh*t from anybody. i had to sleep with my light on for 4 days and have my fried sleepover on the seventh. this movie was good although tough to understand due to the plot jumping around. in a way the review is right but still fr those who have an imagination it will toy withyour mind. now i hate to drive alone

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 17 2002 / 08:40:52
IP Address:  128.107.253.43
name = Dean
Email = dcmarin@aol.com
comments = GREAT MOVIE!  Scary and relentlessly thought provoking....exactly what a horror movie should be.  Blair Witch meets Sixth Sense!  I want a SEQUEL!!!!!!

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 17 2002 / 09:10:44
IP Address:  68.106.86.253
name = Hmmmm
Email = mrme@me.com
comments = Movie reviewers tend to write similar reviews because they tend to regurgitate what better known reviewers have already written.  It's kind of like Shakespeaean scholars--they seldom have any new insight, but they strongly agree with their most respected contemporaries. 
Why do you read a movie review?  To get a hypercritical, high-altitude flyby so you can decide if you want to drop the twenty or so bucks it costs for two tickets.  Remember that a reviewer is watching with a critical eye because he is there to report on what he sees, not to be entertained by the film.  Film is made to entertain, not to bear up under academic scrutiny, thus someone walking into a theater with the intention of buying entertainment will walk away from any given movie with a different impression than someone who went in with analytical intentions.
I wish it were easier to close the plot holes in "The Ring," not to make the movie better, but to achieve closure for those people who have to know everything.  "The Ring" intentionally leaves some questions unanswered because it is seen from the perspective of normals dealing with supernatural phenomena.  (Potential Spoiler info)  There is no need to explain why Samara can create pictures or video tapes or why she did/does.  Explaining it doesn't change the story.  The same is true with the origin of her power.  it simply doesn't matter.  I saw the movie last night, and I speculated that Anna Morgan sold her soul to have the child, and thus the child was demon spawn. 
It simply doesn't matter.  That's the point in horror movies.  Does it matter that we know or don't know why Jason Vorhees is an indestructable, murderous madman?  No!  It certainly doesn't matter to his victims.  Achieving complete closure makes us more able to understand the circumstances surrounding the story, but it doesn't inherently enhance the telling of the story.  In some cases, making sense of the details diminishes the effectiveness of the story itself.  I believe this is the case with "The Ring.."
I do agree that they tried too hard to make it scary with the sound effects.  The story and visual effects were strong enough to carry the story without impairing my hearing with all of the screeching and wailing.  In the end, I'd give it a 7/10 for production and plot and a 9/10 for horror and effects.  An enjoyable, but disturbing watch--not for the squeamish.  A must-see for horror movie afficianados.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 18 2002 / 22:34:31
IP Address:  203.12.166.31
name = Scott
Email = simple_minded_child@msn.com
comments = Yeah the movie was great and i would give it 9 out of 10, but can anyone explain to me what the end was all about? when they sit down and watch the tape again, and the boy asks "what happens when the next person watches it" i didnt see how that made sense
btw is there gona be a sequel?

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 19 2002 / 02:37:44
IP Address:  202.161.99.1
name = VOSKO
Email = screech182@hotmail.com
comments = Only someone that has watched the movie 10 times, and attempted to analyse, interpret and explain every intricate detail would give such a movie a 4/10.
Now, I'm not saying that the movie was perfect...however, the imagery & sound effects were flawless. They made the movie.
The director too must be commended for successfully sustaining tension throughout the entire movie. While i agree with some of the illogicalities of the plot, i only noticed these when reading your reviews. The movie should be appreciated for what it is...an eerie horror movie. An 8/10 at least!

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 19 2002 / 20:42:21
IP Address:  12.89.0.239
name = thedudemann
Email = thedudemann@yahoo.com
comments = This movie was so God damn scary, my friend and I had tears in our eyes.  This was the only movie in the history of movies which made my spine tingle and the hair stand on the top of my head.  Hats of to the film makers, this is a very hard thing to accomplish!

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 20 2002 / 11:09:43
IP Address:  64.5.221.243
name = Aaron
Email = aaron_lawlor@hotmail.com
comments = Thanks Aidan.  I saw the movie last night, and have been trying to figure out the ending ever since.  I've searched all over the web for answers, and yours seems to make the most sense - that Rachael survived because she made a copy and showed someone.  This explains why they're both in front of the TV an VCR when Aidan asked something along the lines of 'who are we going to show this movie to'.  I can assume they were making another copy so that Aiden could show it to sombody, thus, saving himself.  As for all of the other questions people are asking, I agree with 'Hmmmm' - we don't have to know the answers to everything - although having an answer for the ending I think is necessary, especailly in this movie where you're trying to solve a puzzle the whole time.  Another question I had, but am content to leave it up in the air is, *The crazy family lived on an island and had a ranch, but yet the well is somewhere on the mainland in the mountains.  What's the connection?  It's even more confusing when you consider there were horses at the well also - shown in a flashback running around off in the distance. I suppose there is still one question I'd like answered -  What was the necklace type object that Racheal swallowed supposed to represent.  If anybody has an idea, please drop me an email.  In summary, I thought it was scary, but not as scary as everone is saying.  I was too busy tring to put the puzzle together.

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 22 2002 / 13:00:24
IP Address:  64.12.96.46
name = Dizzle
Email = atl7@aol.com
comments = The Ring was the scariest movie I have ever seen.

Date/Time of Posting:  Dec 02 2002 / 17:43:29
IP Address:  208.8.98.61
name = tgurl21
Email =
comments = I don't understand the rating.  Personally, I thought it was the scariest movie I had ever seen, although some parts really didn't make a whole lot of sense.  I still can't get the part when Samara comes through the television out of my head.  I have a feeling a lot of those images are going to be with me for a long time.  I give it 8 out of 10.  I can't wait to go see it again!

Date/Time of Posting:  Dec 14 2002 / 19:47:12
IP Address:  64.178.34.177
name = djakfrost
comments = you people who say you couldn't understand the movie need to stop watching so much tv.  why does the average moviegoer expect everything to be handed to them?  Yeah, it wasn't the sixth sense as in "oh, he's dead.  now i understand."  there are various elements you have to pull together, not one simple solution.  if you don't have the cognitive reasoning skills to work it out the first couple of hours after the movie, go back and watch it until it sinks into your soundbite, commercial-filled skulls.

*spoilers* Date/Time of Posting:  Dec 15 2002 / 02:03:42
IP Address:  208.186.193.190
name = blicero
Email = janscramer@ev1.net
comments = The parents adopted Samsara. They discovered that she was, let's say, different (never sleeps, evil as all hell), therefore they banish her to the barn. Child at some point ends up in mental hospital, but later is killed by her mother. Did the murder actually happen? Perhaps not, because why would she be released from the hospital considering that the hospital people are not seeing her as vaguely healthy? Remember, the brunette in the beginning with the girl who dies? She ends up in a mental hospital and is also the same girl who walks out after the death of the dad/boyfriend guy. Same girl...Samsara. The horses, are kind of the sixth sense type, they are umm.. let's say sensitive. The murder of the child is, in my mind, a ploy by the evil child to lure people into her trap. The murder probably never happened. Or did it? Was she both in the well, and out at large in the hospital? I think she may well have been. The well's location is suspect (so far away), and the tapes existence at the well site is also suspect. It all ties in to me to the fact that the girl is evil and that she plays with us. The girl in the loony bin and the girl in the well are the same to me. It isn't supposed to make perfect sense. The tape is a tool, an emblem, a way to tangibly connect to another world. Suffice to say that getting involved in the mess is a mistake for the Watts character! Evil in and of itself is not friendly, understandable, easy to wrap into a neat package or conveniently explained away. Sure there were holes, but the idea of Samara was brilliant. I'll take more of her please. I wouldn't have shown her face, the hair was much more frightening. It was a great horror film, and a sloppy one at times too. The questions it raises are good for the film ultimately, it shouldn't be tidy, it gives weight to the threat. I'm just glad it wasn't over with the hugging and the saving of the girl. That would have left even worse unanswered questions. The false ending immediately made me wonder, why the scenes of the girl in
 the video room. But here is one big question before I go, If the dad stole the video from the hospital, did he not deliberately loose it on the world himself? Again, it's one big mindf__k that leads me back to the evil of the girl, it was her world you play in from the beginning, what a charmer! She wins.