A solid remake

Rating: 8/10 (19 March 2020)

The American remake that launched 100 more American remakes to varying degrees of quality. The truth is if the movie wasn't so damn good it wouldn't have started such a big trend. That being said its really one of the only ones that adapts it's source material quite successfully. It takes the story of an evil girl whose thrown down a well and haunts a cursed video tape. That if you watch it you get a call and only have 7 days to live. It's truly a nightmarish concept that has an urgency that just works. The original Ringu is superior and a brilliant film that is saturated in Japan's religion and mythology. Director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) adds a domestic spin to the material that doesn't overdo it and just works. I remember going to see this at a preview show weeks before it came out and people freaked during the finale. In fact one grown man ran out of the theater. It's easy to see why the film was such a word of mouth big hit and deservedly so. From the stylish direction to the star making performance from Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive) as well as solid work from hunky Martin Henderson (Torque), David Dorfman (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Amber Tamblyn (Grudge 2) and Brian Cox (X2). Unfortunately it was followed up by an overly mediocre sequel and an awful reboot. Hopefully somewhere down the line they'll be able to continue it all successfully. A direct sequel to the first wouldn't be a bad idea.
Budget: $48m
Domestic Box Office: $129
Worldwide Box Office: $249
4.25/5