Rasen (1998)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Jôji Iida

Writers:

Kôji Suzuki (novel)
Jôji Iida (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 January 1998 (Japan)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The Spiral brings the dead back to life.

Plot:

A young pathologist seeks answers to the mysterious death of a friend and soon comes into contact with the same cursed videotape that caused the death of the friend's wife and son, which is haunted by the curse of Sadako, a relentless spirit.

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Good Versus Evil | Based On Novel

Cast

Koichi Sato	...	Mitsuo Ando
Miki Nakatani	...	Mai Takano
Hinako Saeki	...	Sadako Yamamura
Shingo Tsurumi	...	Miyashita
Nanako Matsushima	...	Reiko Asakawa (archive footage)
Hiroyuki Sanada	...	Ryuji Takayama
Yutaka Matsushige	...	Yoshino
Tomohiro Okada	...	Ando's ex-wife

Also Known As:

Ring 2: Spiral (literal English title)
Ring 4: The Spiral (Philippines: English title)
Ring: The Spiral (Australia) (cable TV title)
The Spiral

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:Not Rated | Australia:MA (TV rating) | South Korea:15 | Germany:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | UK:15

Company:

Omega Project

Trivia:

The author of the book, Kôji Suzuki, makes an appearance as the smiling father with his family in the fairground train.

Quotes:

[about Takanori]
Ryuji Takayama: I wonder what future he'll have.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Ringu 2 (1999)

An excellent re-interpretation of "Rosemary's Baby," Japanese style.

Originally intended to be viewed as the sequel to 1998's box office smash "The Ring," (indeed, the film was double-billed with its precursor), "Rasen" continues the story of Sadako Yamamura, a strange child possesed of demonic powers who was killed by her father some indeterminate time before the first of the trilogy of films opened. Whereas "The Ring" was primarily concerned with Sadako's murderous revenge through a chain-letter style video, "Rasen" concentrates on her attempts to be reborn into the world, essentially making the film a Japanese re-interpretation of "Rosemary's Baby." Like that film, "Rasen" is a strong film with plenty of moments of sheer psychological terror but few grisly "blood and guts" scenes. I don't know if it exists in translation, but if you can find a copy of it (it is out on video) I highly recommend it in conjunction with its prequel.