Ringu 0 (2000)

In this prequel to Ring, a young Sadako becomes an actress in hopes of escaping her troubled past. But strange visions and terrifying powers begin to manifest...

Director:

Norio Tsuruta

Writers:

Hiroshi Takahashi (screenplay), Kôji Suzuki (novel)

Stars:

Yukie Nakama, Seiichi Tanabe, Kumiko Asô

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yukie Nakama	...	Sadako Yamamura
Seiichi Tanabe	...	Hiroshi Tôyama
Kumiko Asô	...	Etsuko Tachihara
Takeshi Wakamatsu	...	Yûsaku Shigemori
Ryûshi Mizukami	...	Wataru Kuno
Kaoru Okunuki	...	Aiko Hazuki
Yasushi Kimura	...	Togashi
Mami Hashimoto	...	Joshikôsei
Daisuke Ban	...	Heihachirô Ikuma
Masako	...	Shizuko Yamamura
Norio Murata	...	Gekidan'in
Kôji Yano	...	Gekidan'in
Hinata Takamine	...	Gekidan'in
Tasuku Unô	...	Gekidan'in
Akira Igarashi	...	Gekidan'in

Storyline

The prequel to the horror film Ringu, this movie provides the background story of how Sadako later became the vengeful murdering spirit. The story starts with her as a shy, somewhat withdrawn, college student who nonetheless gets involved in a drama club. The director thinks she has talent, but some of the other performers start to get jealous of the attention he gives her. Meanwhile, a reporter investigating Sadako's spiritualist mother thinks there's something very suspicious about the young woman, and arrives on campus to confront Sadako just as a series of strange deaths start sweeping through the drama club.

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Plot Keywords:

supernatural power | theatre | horror icon | prequel | third part | 

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Taglines:

The ring grows wider.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

22 January 2000 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Ringu 0

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Black and White (some sequences) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is a semi-loose adaptation of the short story Lemonheart by Koji Suzuki. In 1999, Suzuki was finishing his written sources for the Ring series by including a fourth titled Birthday which collects three short stories that filled in details of the story. Asmik Ace decided to hire Ring 2 (1999) screenwriter Hiroshi Takahashi to adapt the story Lemonheart from Birthday. Birthday captured the life of the character of Sadako just before she songigned to her fate seen in the later Ring series.

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Goofs

In one particular shot, Etsuko goes backstage for a scene in which no other person should have been present. And yet, in this scene, one can plainly see a small hand poking out from behind one of the dresses.

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Quotes

Heihachirô Ikuma: Forgive me, Sadako. Please forgive me.

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Connections

Followed by Sadako 3D (2012)

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Soundtracks

Finale
Music by Tetsu
Lyrics by Hyde (as hyde)
Performed by L'Arc-en-Ciel

User Reviews

Best story of the series

When Ring conquered the far east in 1998, then began to spread to the west, audiences were shocked at the nature of new horror. No longer was blood, guts and gore the content used to scare viewers, but sheer unadulterated terror caused by a whole new approach of psychological tension and a surreal dreamlike fear. It spawned a decent sequel which didn't *quite* live up the original due to convolucence of the plot and slight contrivance. But for the 3rd movie in the series (I ignore the Korean 'Ring Virus') they went back to basics, and told a simple story. Ring 0 is a prequel. Yes, not everything is cleared up, but for sheer story telling and quality of drama Ring 0 is the best in the series. It doesn't quite contain the same level of fear as Ring, but that's on purpose to portray Sadako (Who could well be one of the most enduring 'villains' in movie history) as a vulnerable girl - to convey her upbringing and troubled existance. And on this level the movie works extremely well, and the viewer identifies with her. But it just wouldn't be Ring without a scare or 2, and the ending, while not *quite* as terrifying as Ring's ending (Due to the fact we are now getting familiar with Ring's 'tricks') is still extremely chilling and will scare you. Overall, excellent movie and thoroughly recommended.