'Ringu' Rules

Rating: 4/10 (12 November 2019)

I've avoided seeing this Americanized 'product' of the original Japanese classic up until now and for good reason, as I've discovered.There's nary a scare in it.America, as it had done with so many great overseas properties, just waddles along and sits on them, remaking them in replicant form and throwing in big star names for credibility and to push box office.The exteriors in this one are somewhat atmospheric but apart from that, it's pretty stale and Samara, when she finally appears, looks more like your cranky, white trash neighbour than anything sinister or foreboding.Definitely for the easily pleased or those not even aware that Ringu exists or is the definitive, original version.