Ring

Plot synopsis:
High school students Katie and Becca discuss an urban legend about a cursed videotape which kills anyone who watches it seven days later. Katie admits that she watched the tape with her boyfriend and two friends the previous week. That night, Katie is killed by an unseen force.
At Katie's funeral, her aunt Rachel, a Seattle journalist, is asked by Katie's mother, Ruth, to investigate her death. Rachel discovers that Katie's boyfriend and two other teenagers mysteriously died on the same night as Katie. After learning that they watched the cursed videotape at Shelter Mountain Inn, Rachel travels there and watches the tape, which contains disturbing and surreal imagery. Afterwards, she receives a phone call from an unknown caller who utters "seven days".
Rachel recruits the help of Noah, the estranged father of her son, Aidan. He watches it and has Rachel make him a copy to study. Rachel discovers hidden footage of a lighthouse on the tape. Her research leads her to identify a woman on the tape: a horse breeder, Anna Morgan, who committed suicide after her horses were involved in a mass suicide in Moesko Island. Rachel discovers Aidan watching the videotape and informs Noah.
Leaving Aidan in Ruth's care, Rachel heads for Moesko Island to speak to Anna's widower, Richard. At the same time, Noah travels to Eola Psychiatric Hospital to view Anna's medical files, which contains missing footage. On the ferry to the island, Rachel spooks a racehorse and it leaps off the ferry to its death. On the island, she discovers Anna had an adopted daughter, Samara, but Richard denies it.
Rachel speaks with the island doctor, who explains that Anna could not conceive and so adopted Samara. Samara possessed an uncontrolled ability to psychically etch images onto objects and into the minds of her parents and their horses, tormenting them. Noah also learns of Samara's existence and heads for the island.
Rachel sneaks into the Morgan house and watches the missing footage of Samara explaining her powers during a psychotherapy session. Richard discovers her and strikes her. Realizing that Samara's evil is still at large, he electrocutes himself in the bathtub. Noah arrives and he and Rachel enter the barn. In a loft converted to Samara's bedroom to isolate her from her mother, they find an image of a tree behind the wallpaper; Rachel realizes it is the image of a tree at the Shelter Mountain Inn.
In Cabin 12, Rachel and Noah discover a stone water well beneath the floorboards. They remove the lid but Rachel is pushed inside. A hand grabs her, and Rachel experiences a vision of Anna pushing Samara into the well, where she survived for seven days. Samara's corpse surfaces in the well and Rachel tries to appease her spirit by giving her a proper burial. Afterwards, Noah informs Rachel that seven days have passed since she watched the cursed videotape, leading them to believe that the curse is broken.
Aidan warns Rachel that the curse is not over. Rachel realizes that Noah is next and rushes to save him, but the vengeful ghost of Samara crawls out of his television and kills him. Rachel finds his corpse and returns home to destroy the tape. She realizes that she was spared because she made a copy and showed it to Noah. Rachel helps Aidan make his own copy and plans to show it to someone else.

Tags: paranormal

Review:
This is a Korean remake but with new material which focuses more on Koji Suzuki's original Novel 'Ring'.A mysterious video tape causes the death of 4 teenagers all at the same time on the same day.
One of the victims aunt decided to investigate and soon finds herself in a race against time to find the source of the video tape.This film chose a more plot driven story than the suspense of the other versions.
Another nice addition to this version of the story is a deeper background about the character Sadako (or in this film Eun-Suh).
I would only recommend this film to people who are fans of the ring series and would like to see the novel brought to screen more accurately or would simply like to see another adaptation of the story.
This film should not be viewed as an introduction to the ring series but more as a supplement.Overall, I enjoyed this film but couldn't help feeling it could have been better.
The story unfold at a much better pace and relies less on 'mysterious insight' and the random exposition that sometimes clutters the Japanese 'psychic horror/mystery' films...you know the kind of scenes: two characters walk up to a piece of string and one looks at it and starts telling the other (and the viewer) the events leading up to the string's appearance.
And no, I don't dislike that style completely, it does save a lot of time (and money for the crew) and advances the story rather quickly...it's just that I found slower building story of the Korean version to be far more interesting - and as far as my investigations have found, truer to the novel these films are based on.
The scary, more straight horror aspect of the Japanese (and even more so with the gore injected U.S. version) have been toned down to an almost non-existent state...one of the reasons why most people probably don't like this version.
Simple version: See Ring Virus if you want a more detailed, story-driven version (some say 'boring') - more of a creepy drama.
The Japanese version if you want a mysterious psychic-powered ghost film.
When Sun-ju's little daughter watches the movie, Sun-ju has a stronger reason to unravel the mystery to save her daughter and her own lives."The Ring Virus" is the South-Korean remake of the excellent 1998 "Ringu".
The story is exactly the same of the original Japanese film and in spite of the good acting, there is nothing new in this remake.
Every review I see for this film is for the original horror movie classic based on the best-selling novel by Koji Suzuki 'Ringu'.
Very few people have watched this film has it had received its share of insults and bashing.However, I recommend to any one who loved either or both 'The Ring' (American adaption) or 'Ringu' (Original Japanese version) to watch this version.
Damn, Koreans can make great films, just like their Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese counterparts.
"Ring Virus" has to be one of the greatest Korean horror films besides "The Whispering Corridor" series.Sure it may be somewhat simple in the Special Effects department, but that usually does work the best when working with supernatural horror films.
This one, as well as many Japanese horror films and an earlier Korean techno-horror film called "Screen Sairen", "Ring Virus" as well as "Ringu" has quite an original plot.
An accursed video tape is being spread around and people who don't copy it and share it or live a lonely life, will die.And Unlike the US version of "The Ring", the video shown in this movie is not a typical rip-off of a Marilyn Manson music video.
This film is the first remake of the Japanese film Ringu, which was later remade into the Hollywood film, The Ring.
In the end, some of this gets all jumbled and it leaves a couple plot holes as well as weakens believability at times.I noticed right away that The Ring Virus generally takes a different aesthetic approach.
While Ringu had a lot more natural/fluorescent lighting, generally casting the film in whites, greens and blues, The Ring Virus accepts warmer tones from incandescent lights and thus adds more yellows and oranges to the palette.
Add in a couple plot holes and a lack of attention to detail and The Ring Virus fails to impress.I found myself yelling at the screen during the course of this film and slapping my head in disbelief.
It might be an interesting first watch of the various Ring movies or an interesting comparison viewing, but otherwise, I think you'd be better served trying one of the other versions of the Ring story.
This movie is really great, and made scary without the use of too many special FX, just like a horror movie should be.
This film may at first seem like a run of the mill horror, but somehow the director puts together elements needed to create some *very* chilling scenes.
However, the film's strength is in the director's management of the central conceit - a mysterious video which, when watched, ensures that you will die a horrible, yet inexplicable death in precisely a week.
And the climax, where we learn precisely what has apparently scared the video's victims to death, is shocking in its clever effacement of the one thing which reassures about television and film - it's only on the screen, it can't really hurt us...
Ring is put simply, the scariest thing I have seen for years, and this is coming from a hardcore horror fan who was watching italian Zombie films from the age of ten.
compared to the original " ringu ", it has better lights, better direction, better acting maybe and scenes are very beautiful but to my mind the original movie is the better because it's more frightening, sound is more important and stick to your fear, and the more important " ringu" is a movie where picture is dirty and wicked, " the ring virus " is just a very well directed movie and i think hollywood will be very interested by this korean version of " ringu " ..
The general mood of the film makes you feel uncomfortable from the outset and even when the film is over and you crawl from behind the sofa you cant forget this film because it makes you think.Lots of people compare this film to Blair Witch Project and i can see why, although the plots are completely different, both the films are made in the same simplistic way and because of this they dont have to rely on gore (although i am a big fan of the gore/splatter genre) or big special effects to create the suspense or the scare.There is a holywood remake of this film in the pipeline which i am sure will be complete crap, so i urge you all to watch this film rather than the remake.thanks for reading this and i hope you enjoy RING as much as i did..
I've seen every well-known horror film on the market - but none have scared me half as much as this film did!I knew I was onto something good when I found myself curled up on my couch watching through the gaps between my fingers.Good old fashioned suspense, light on blood and dialogue.
It's very clever, very scary in bits, and the final twist is worth waiting for.It just goes to show that a decent horror film can be made without all the blood and guts.
It's worth a look, and you never know, you might be pleasantly surprised.And if you really can't be bothered to watch it, watch out for the Hollywood remake which will either be a total load of rubbish, or a good adaptation - probably the former!!6/10Enjoy!.
It just goes to prove if a film has a superb story , good acting and good cinematography you dont need flashy special affects or blood and gore to make a good horror film.
Believe me this IS a very scary horror movie.The story is so simple that the horror takes over without you being distracted by a complex plot or over the top Hollywood stunts.
The nearest film that compares to Ring is maybe The Blair Witch Project , not for the story because they are completely different but for concept.
This is one of the scariest film I've ever seen, even if i did watch it by myself on Friday 13th at midnight.The photography is inspiring, along with the beautiful Japanese scenery.
In referral to the story line, it is a refreshing 'back to the old school' style of a horror movie.
It seems many of the votes and comments on this page have been confused with Hideo Nakata's Ringu(which is superior in every way).This is a joint Korean and Japanese re-make of that film, and although it follows the book by Koji Suzuki(a great read) much more closely, it still fails to deliver the spine-tingling chills of 'Ringu'.
Now, all those who are into good,great quality suspense/horror/thriller movies, see this movie before you see the American remake which is in the works.
See my review of the Korean remake, The Ring Virus..
Coincidence?To be honest, I really don't want to give any more plot away as this is the sort of story, like Sixth Sense, that frankly one should see knowing as little about as possible.It is genuinely chilling throughout, and uses suggestion and psychological manipulation to achieve the terror.
Coincidence?To be honest, I really don't want to give any more plot away as this is the sort of story, like Sixth Sense, that frankly one should see knowing as little about as possible.It is genuinely chilling throughout, and uses suggestion and psychological manipulation to achieve the terror.
Ring is the way horror film should be.
And Ring, without a doubt, is the scariest movie I have ever seen.
If you can't do that, the movie will not be frightening and if it's not frightening, there is nothing else to keep you interested.So my suggestion is, if you want to see Ring, Blair Witch (or films like space odyssey 2001) make sure you know why.
If you want to watch a movie that has a great albeit slow story, no special effects or anything else you'd expect in a high profile film, you will be mortally terrified by the Ring..
It was not a better movie than Ringu or The Ring, but it was a slight bit more true to the book Ringu than the other two films.
Personally The Ring being the first one of the entire series which includes over 5 films that I have seen is my favorite, followed by the book Ringu.
Sadako, Samara, or Eun-suh, they are all the same character, which ever you prefer to call her is most like her book counter part in Ring Virus.
It's a good movie if you are into the whole Ring view of horror, running against the clock, that you already beat because you are to stupid to just except your death..
Note that this isn't the original RING but the Korean remake...If the Americans can remake Hideo Nakata's masterpiece RINGU, why can't the Koreans?
THE RING VIRUS follows the familiar story of a reporter who must unravel the secret behind a mysterious videotape that kills anyone who watches it exactly seven days later - before her own seven days are up.
She's helped in her unenviable task by a fellow cursee, a doctor whose fatal misjudgement years earlier has led to him being outcast.THE RING VIRUS isn't exactly a shot-for-shot remake of RINGU but it is much truer to its inspiration than the US version.
Instead, we see a pathetic remake of the original Japanese film "Ringu" (1998)..
RING is most famous Japanese horror film of all time, so this South Korean version of the same story has its work cut out.
One of the most notable things about this movie is that it sits more in the mystery/thriller genre, only hinting at horror in the occasional scene rather than dwelling on it as in the other movie.Sadly, it turns out to be a disappointing watch, doubly so if you know the Japanese version off by heart.
This is the South Korean remake of the Japanese movie Ringu.This is no were near as good or even as scary, as the original it creepy moments,I liked the new things adied, that were not in the Ringu.Added a lot from the book, might sound good, sometimes I think less is better, as I felt some scenes, drag for way too long, i was nodding off for few seconds.The acting was decent, from the whole castI would say the US remake is better then this movie but Ringu will always be the scariest of them all!.4 OUT OF OF 10.
Ringu is a great work of horror, but this remake is horrible!I'm not sure why anyone would take a great horror film and remove all of the elements that make it scary or creepy.
I saw Ring a couple of days before Halloween when a couple of friends and i were watching some scary movies.
Generally it isn't very scary for the most part but the last ten minutes or so scared the life out of me.The names of the characters get confusing so I'm only going to mention one.Basic plot: A journalist is investigating rumors spreading through the teenagers in her area about a video tape.
Rumor has it that if you watch the tape, your phone rings soon after and then 7 days later you die.
(I just want to say, you'll never view TV the same way after watching it)Be warned: Watch this film with the phone off the hook, because if it rings after you've watched it...
I watched the movie and enjoyed it's not in your face hollywood style but it didnt creep me out much until a couple of days later when I was on edge for days (and nights!) then it hit me what a good job they did.
I guess it is like blair witch project with it's unstated horror but that didnt get to me the same way ring did.
I can only assume that those who raved about this film have seen little else by way of Japanese horror cinema.
Incredibly effective horror film..
(The best kind in my opinion.)  There is no gore and very few people die, this is not your typical horror film.
This is the officially sanctioned remake of the popular Japanese horror movie by Hideo Nakata entitled "Ringu".
It is a Korean version that doesn't live up to the original because it tries to up the pace and action and consequently loses the somber, underlying, flesh-crawling horror that made Ringu such a favourite.
I would recommend this movie only if you are a Korean movie addict or if you want an additional take on the Ring/Rasen/Spiral series of films (which, in my opinion, already numbers a few to many).
More horror movies should be like this!.
Good old fashioned suspense, which builds to more than one climax, and doesn't have to be followed by a wise crack from the "hero." It's wonderful that they are still making films like this, plot, very little gore, and characters outside the mainstream.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS Without doubt the best horror film ever made.
All in all this was a great horror movie, a lot more creepy than most of the Hollywood stuff.
What sort of fool am I?The idea of a sort of haunted video tape is rather American High School Horror Film-ish, but Ring is so much more than that.
I've seen all the Ring movies now (except for the TV versions) and out of all of them, I'd say this would be the weakest.
- The opening scene, instead of two girls together having fun at a sleepover we had the book's opening where one girl was all alone, and got bored so she got some pepsi and was interrupted by a phone call, which happened right before her death - The protagonist's child is a girl this time - The tape was very similar to the book- it had the "warnings" at the beginning and the end, as well as the eye and the grandmother, the only thing I didn't like was how they had Eun-Suh's mother throwing herself into the volcano.-Sun-joo vomits after seeing the video -Eun-Suh is a hermaphrodite in this, similar to Sadako in the book.-The whole story of Sadako's death- including the rape and the murder in the fields- was included.With those similarities, I was rather impressed that the director had decided to give it the mystery feel of the book.
Problem is, without the horror feel, the movie bores me.
The director stated in an interview that he wanted to take away the horror element and make it more mysterious, but sadly, it didn't work.There's not really much to see here if you've read the book or seen the Ring movies PERIOD.
But with that said, if you're a fan of the Ring movies and have not seen this yet, this is actually worth a look.
They even failed at the mystery part, because it can be so confusing for most viewers that they won't even care to wonder what the heck is going on.However, I insist you watch this movie to know exactly what I'm talking about.
Yeah right.Even though this film rips off the original, it does add some new stuff from the novel never seen in a Ring movie.
While this movie may be something you've already seen, by ripping off the original film, it also contains things from the novel, and that should be the only reason to want to watch this film..
As a horror movie, I felt it lacked, I don't know, intensity.
Thats why films like the Blair Witch Project and The Haunting are so frightening, you don't know what's going on.