Watch it for the atmosphere and the brain shut

Rating: 6/10 (23 October 2019)

Is this remake of a Japanese film scary? It depends. Depends on how much you care about the plot and characters because even the scariest of scenarios will fizzle if the character does something stupid. On the other hand this is a atmospheric film with a strange, scary vibe(thanks to Gore Verbinski). To describe The Ring, two adjectives leap to mind: spooky and lame. The former refers to the tone and atmosphere, which are about as good as it gets for a ghost story. The latter refers to the storyline, which is about as poorly constructed as can be imagined - a sad amalgamation of irritating contrivances and gaping plot holes that defy even a generous attempt to suspend disbelief. And, while I normally appreciate open-ended motion pictures, The Ring takes things too far by leaving about 75% of its questions unanswered. This isn't an artistic choice; it's screenwriting sloppiness, and it results in a profoundly dissatisfying experience.