Genuinely creepy

Rating: 8/10 (3 November 2005)

I liked The Ring a lot because of its genuinely creepy atmosphere. The mood of the movie is dark, gray, and eerie, and that's why it is so appealing. So many horror movies today are so intent on shoving gore and depravity in your face (*cough Saw*) that its refreshing to watch a horror movie that just lets its spooky story creep under your skin. Everything from the water motif to the strange and disturbing videotape is scary and different enough to not feel totally clichéd.
That being said, its not free of clichés. There is a little boy who draws a lot of creepy pictures (like, um, every horror movie in recent history). For some reason this movie's clichés didn't bother me as much as usual, though, because unlike other movies, The Ring wasn't built on clichés, it just borrowed them for its story. The excellent score by Hans Zimmer also helps move the film along and add to its dark, heavy mood.
A very enjoyable and fresh horror film.