Atmospheric horror at its best **SPOILERS**

Rating: 8/10 (1 April 2006)

The Ring is not only one of the best horror films in recent years, but also one of the best remakes. Contrary to some truly awful remakes, such as The Fog, The Ring does not drown (no morbid pun intended) in ridiculous back stories and unnecessary characters. Instead, director Gore Verbinski takes the Japanese Ringu and transfers the story's elements to the Western world, without having the narrative lose any of its dread. While Hideo Nakata's original may have presented the fear in a more subtle manner, mostly using the actors' reactions and the imagined rather than seen, Verbinski presents it by way of gloomy, tense cinematography, music that hints at the unexpected horror right around the corner and locales that do not exactly spell out domestic bliss. Simply put, Verbinski is not attempting to translate Ringu; he is adapting the Japanese film in a new way and fully succeeding at conveying its themes of urban loneliness, parental worry and, of course, its supernatural aspects.
Needless to say, I loved the rainy, shadowy atmosphere of Seattle. Had the story been set anywhere else, the menace of the piece would have been lost. The dark weather also adds to the ending, further accentuating Samara's evil intentions.
The acting is good all around. Naomi Watts is great as a serious, rational reporter who has to confront an unbelievable, yet very real danger, all the while protecting her son. Martin Henderson also strikes a chord as a not-quite-grown-up father, whose outlook is also changed by the deadly video tape.
An excellent horror film, made even better by its underlying socio-cultural themes and unique imagery.
8/10