Ring (1998)
"Ringu" (original title)

A mysterious video kills whoever views it, unless that viewer can solve its mystery.

Director:

Hideo Nakata

Writers:

Hiroshi Takahashi (screenplay), Kôji Suzuki (novel)

Stars:

Nanako Matsushima, Miki Nakatani, Yûko Takeuchi

6 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nanako Matsushima	...	Reiko Asakawa
Miki Nakatani	...	Mai Takano
Yûko Takeuchi	...	Tomoko Ôishi
Hitomi Satô	...	Masami
Yôichi Numata	...	Takashi Yamamura
Yutaka Matsushige	...	Yoshino
Katsumi Muramatsu	...	Kôichi Asakawa
Rikiya Ôtaka	...	Yôichi Asakawa
Masako	...	Shizuko Yamamura
Daisuke Ban	...	Heihachirô Ikuma
Hiroshi Sakuma	...	Komiya Kameraman (as Kanehiro Ri)
Yûrei Yanagi	...	AD Okazaki
Yôko Ohshima	...	Reiko no Oba
Kiriko Shimizu	...	Yoshimi Ôishi
Makoto Kakeda	...	Kanrinin

Storyline

Reiko Asakawa is researching into a 'Cursed Video' interviewing teenagers about it. When her niece Tomoko dies of 'sudden heart failure' with an unnaturally horrified expression on her face, Reiko investigates. She finds out that some of Tomoko's friends, who had been on a holiday with Tomoko the week before, had died on exactly the same night at the exact same time in the exact same way. Reiko goes to the cabin where the teens had stayed and finds an 'unlabeled' video tape. Reiko watched the tape to discover to her horror it is in fact the 'cursed videotape'. Ex-Husband Ryuji helps Reiko solve the mystery, Reiko makes him a copy for further investigation. Things become more tense when their son Yoichi watches the tape saying Tomoko had told him to. Their discovery takes them to a volcanic island where they discover that the video has a connection to a psychic who died 30 years ago, and her child Sadako...

---

Plot Keywords:

videotape | friend | volcanic island | son | night | 

---

Taglines:

"Will scare the hell out of you!"

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

31 January 1998 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Ring

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Gross:

SGD 1,706,363 (Singapore) (15 October 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Omega Project, Imagica, Asmik Ace Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The 2001 UK DVD release back cover carries a disclaimer, stating that the distributor accepts no responsibility for "for any injuries or fatalities that may occur during or after the viewing of this videocassette."

---

Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, the TV in Tomoko's room is on. However, in the next scene when Tomoko has a close up, it's off. Neither Masami or Tomoko had switched it off.

---

Quotes

[Reiko grabs Ryuji's arm]
Reiko Asakawa: Please. Please, it might help you find a way out. If you figure it out, look after Yoichi ...
Ryuji Takayama: Stop it! Have you forgotten there was a girl with Tomoko when she died? That girl's now in a mental institution. Who knows what could happen to be.
Reiko Asakawa: But you could stay with me, Ryuji! You'd be fine!
Ryuji Takayama: Why? Because I'm already insane?

---

Connections

Referenced in Final de partida: Festival de cine Macabro (2012)

---

Soundtracks

"Feels Like 'Heaven'"
Performed by HIIH

User Reviews

Why Hollywood Industry Insists in Spoiling Excellent Screenplays?

The journalist Reiko Asakawa (the gorgeous Nanako Matsushima) resolves to investigate the death of four teenagers who watched a videotape that might kill the viewer seven days after watching the film. The viewer would receive a telephone call and seven days later would die. She herself finds the videotape, watches the strange movie and becomes afraid of being killed. She prepares a copy for her ex-husband, who decides to help Reiko in her investigation, specially because their son has also watched the film.

This movie is great, with characters well-defined, excellent cast and direction and a screenplay focused on the story and not in special effects. An original horror movie, with a tight plot. Why Americans insist in spoiling excellent movies? It is amazing the quantity of (expensive) remakes of marvelous foreign movies that Hollywood spoils. Once I heard that American people would not like to read subtitles, but I refuse to believe in such non-sense. The American remake 'The Ring' is not a bad movie, and Naomi Watts is a great actress. But why the remake? The modifications introduced by the American screen writer and director changed a simple and terrifying plot into an expensive, complicated and non-resolved story. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Ring - O Chamado" ("Ring - The Call")