The Ring (2002)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Gore Verbinski

Writers (WGA):

Ehren Kruger (screenplay)
Kôji Suzuki (novel)

Release Date:

18 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Before you die, you see the ring

Plot:

A young journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it.

Plot Keywords:

Video | Journalist | Death | Videotape | Cabin

Awards:

7 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Naomi Watts	...	Rachel
Martin Henderson	...	Noah
David Dorfman	...	Aidan
Brian Cox	...	Richard Morgan
Jane Alexander	...	Dr. Grasnik
Lindsay Frost	...	Ruth
Amber Tamblyn	...	Katie
Rachael Bella	...	Becca
Daveigh Chase	...	Samara
Shannon Cochran	...	Anna Morgan
Sandra Thigpen	...	Teacher
Richard Lineback	...	Innkeeper
Sasha Barrese	...	Girl Teen #1
Tess Hall	...	Girl Teen #2
Adam Brody	...	Male Teen #1

Also Known As:

Ring (USA) (pre-release title)
Seven Days (USA) (working title)
Static (USA) (working title)
Za ringu (Japan)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, disturbing images, language and some drug references.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital EX | DTS-ES

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (New Brunswick/Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Portugal:M/16 | Malaysia:U | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Brazil:14 | India:A (cinema release) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (bw) | Ireland:15PG (original rating) | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Israel:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Bern) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39347) | Greece:K-17

Filming Locations:

5th Ave & Stewart Street, Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

Among Samara's medical files is a piece of paper containing the name "Anna" and oriental writing. The writing is a combination of Chinese and Japanese letters, and roughly translated it is a prescription for "purging agents".

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Rachel is holding the tape at sunset just before watching it, the shadows and red light move across her and the room downward; however shadows cast by a setting sun would move upward not downward.

Quotes:

Noah: [after watching the tape] I'm sure it's a lot scarier at night.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Robot Chicken: Operation Rich in Spirit (#1.17)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Hey John

Great!

This movie makes you realize why so many other movies fail to be scary...not enough psychological elements. What this movie does right is that it skips the gore, and blood, and over-the-top overacting crazed lunatics that seem the norm in horror movies.

I saw this with a friend in the theater and 10 minutes in we were sinking into our chairs with fear. Not even the annoying teens making their phones ring to scare their friends (when you see the movie you will understand why) were a powerful enough distraction to undo the terror we felt.

Definitely see it, make sure you have as big a TV as you can get your hands on when you rent it, and that you watch it at night in the dark...if you want the full effect. Also, make sure you rent it on DVD and NOT cassette...you know, just to be safe ;)