It takes the time to make itself effective.

Rating: 7/10 (29 October 2016)

I haven't watched the Japanese original upon which this movie is based, so I'm uncertain of the differences between the two. Viewed on it's own merits, however, I find there's a great deal to commend in this Hollywood version. Roughly 99% of remakes and reboots can be dismissed as trash cash grabs. But this is a carefully wrought and interesting horror-drama. Not exactly original, but with enough variation on the usual clichés to keep it working.
The kid in the well thing may owe something to the 1979 George C Scott movie THE CHANGELING, another darn good ghost story. But it's an absorbing film to watch, and unlike so many throw everything AND the kitchen sink at the audience horror movies of the last twenty years The Ring develops its story carefully. The shocks when they come are not overdone (indeed just about the most frightening moment until the end is the simple device of a centipede crawling across a page); and there is a refreshing amount of STORY to tell rather than just horror set pieces.
Naomi Watts was believable and watchable as the central character, a reporter trying to track down why four teenagers died at the same time, exactly seven days after viewing a video tape. With her slightly spooky kid I thought we were about to go The Sixth Sense cliché route (yet again!); but happily the film largely stays away from that vibe.
There's an effective cameo from Brian Cox as a grieving widower, and the Ring is shot and edited in an interesting way, achieving some very haunting visuals. The tape itself is very well done.
But no Hollywood we don't need another remake/reboot/sequel of this. Just leave it alone!