The Ring (2002)

Plot: They say there's a videotape that kills you seven days after you watch it. 16-year-old Katie dies suddenly, later being revealed she watched the tape prior to her death. Katie's maternal aunt, Rachel (Naomi Watts), who is a journalist, decides to investigate her niece's death after Katie's mother, who's Rachel's sister, asks her to. This leads Rachel to the cabin where Katie watched the tape. Rachel watches the tape. The phone rings and a voice says seven days. Rachel decides to discover the origins of the tape, getting help from an ex-boyfriend, Noah (Martin Henderson), who's the father of her 9-year-old son, Aidan (David Dorfman), who has been deeply affected by his cousin's death. But as Rachel goes deeper in the history, she puts herself in further danger.

Review: This is considered by many what started the string of Japanese horror remakes. But this is one of the better ones, if not the best one. I really, really liked this movie. The plot is very unique and interesting. It is confusing. This is one those movies that you can't leave without pausing. You have to focus in order to understand the plot and the clues. I really like the images that are used when Rachel and other characters are watching the tape. But again, you have to pay close attention in order to make the connections yourself.

The acting is pretty good too. Naomi Watts is very good as the heroine. Martin Henderson is also very good as Noah. David Dorfman is great at playing the troubled and slightly creepy yet innocent child. Daveigh Chase plays Samara, who is behind all of the chaos with the tape. She's very, very creepy and convincing in this role. She doesn't even appear on screen that much but she shines and sends chills down your spine.

The makeup effects in the movie are also very well done, especially with the bodies of those who were killed by the tape, like Katie and amongst others. It's very disturbing and very well done.

I will say that I really loved the twist in the end. The reason I liked it is because it isn't completely cliche, where you have a resolution but the problem hasn't completely gone away. That's what I like. But that ending also leaves the opening for sequels, which have been done.

Overall, a very creepy and suspenseful horror film. There are so many horror films that have been remade. I feel that since 2000 or so, horror films are constantly being remade. This is one of the better remakes. Check it out, it's worth it, unlike some remakes that I've seen.

Rating: 4/5