A little horror hokum never hurt anybody

Rating: Null/10 (1 September 2003)

Ring, The (2002) Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox, Jane Alexander, D: Gore Verbiniski.
There's a videotape out there (made up of eerie images) that when watched the viewer gets a phone call and is told they only have seven days to live. Watts is good throughout as a Seattle reporter and mother trying to uncover the tape's mystery after her niece dies from it.
Combo of urban legend and ghost story shows how to execute spooky hokum and make it fun, though the investigation turns out to be pointless and the film never ends. But when it sticks to the creepy stuff, it buys you into believing that you see the ring when you die! Based on a novel by Koji Suzuki and remade from the 1998 Japanese hit RINGU.
Running Time: 115 minutes and rated PG-13 for thematic elements, disturbing images, and some language.
RATING: ** ½ (out of ****)