Flawed but genuinely scary

Rating: 8/10 (17 March 2003)

I love the original Japanese Ring movies but having seen this, I think the US remake is just as good in its own stylish way.
The story (and some of the dialogue) doesn't hold water but this is first and foremost a horror film. It's supposed to scare the crap out of you and it delivers in spades. It goes for flinch scares rather than gore and is all the more effective for it.
Naomi Watts is that rare thing: a great actress who deserves her success. If the script occasionally lets her down, for the most part this film is creepy, atmospheric, stylishly shot and if it doesn't scare you, there's something seriously wrong with you. (Or you're a Japanese film snob who sniffs at the mention of remakes).