RING (MA) 1998
SYNOPSIS: May contain spoilers...
From Madman.com.au: Within a week of watching a mysterious videotape, a group of teenagers are dead. The bodies are found gruesomely contorted, their eyes frozen as if they had seen something more terrifying than any physical threat. The video then becomes an urban myth. Insidiously, an unseen force is pointing its deadly finger at those poor souls unable to resist their curiosity. One of those people is cynical journalist Reiko, who soon finds herself unwillingly drawn into a spiralling nightmare of fear from an unseen, omnipresent threat.
Horror film directed by Hideo NAKATA. 95 mins. Starring Nanaka MATSUSHIMA, Hiroyuki SANADA Miki NAKATANI, Yuko TAKEUCHI, Rikiya OTAKA. 91 minutes   DETAILS: DVD $29.95 (Japanese 2.0/English subtitles) Region 4 Rental VHS  Available in Australia from Madman.   WEBSITE (UNOFFICIAL): Ringworld - All about the Ring films (spoilers!)
HEROIC-CINEMA'S REVIEW: This is a rather late review, the movie was released in 1998, and only just wound its way to Australia. Unfortunately, when I did rock up to watch it on Wednesday night, it was on its last day. We entered the cinema and to our surprise, it was just the two of us in a vast, empty cinema. Luckily for us, a few more people trickled in at the last minute. Lucky because of what followed, it was definitely 'safety in numbers'. OK, if you were given a video-tape, which, by all accounts could render you dead in a week, and not just keeling over dead but dying in a horrifying, painful, twisted manner, would you watch it?
That is the dilemma that Reiko, a journalist, the central protagonist faces when she lands a copy of this video tape in her hot little hands. The same tape which could have caused the death of four teenagers and perhaps many more. Staying alive or journalistic zealousness? She picked the latter, which opens up the sinister story of Ring. Will Reiko die in a week as predicted?
Now, to the most important aspect of a horror film, which I'm sure all horror aficionados ask when they watch a horror flick - does it give you the heebie-jeebies, does it keep you up at night after viewing, frankly does it scare the bejesus out of all and sundry?
The answer is yes. Ring is incredibly creepy and suspenseful so much so yours truly actually 'yelped' [for want of a better word] at a critical scene. The sheer brilliance of its horror comes from its adherence to the 'less is more' mantra. There are no weapons, no violence and not even blood. Few horror flicks can claim that mantle.
The use of 'music' [consisting of mostly groans, electronic whirs and the like] in Ring is also excellent, amping up the creep factor a few notches at all the right moments. You won't look at your TV in the same way again. Rating: 9 embarrassing 'yelps' out of 10 Reviewed by Ching Yee   DVD REVIEW:
Ring is a modern horror classic, and now it has returned in DVD form to haunt us in our living rooms. Although it's best to watch this tale unfold at the cinema, it is still holds up on DVD, especially for those who haven't seen it. The end result will still be the same - the expression on the cover says it all!
The DVD arrives on our shores via Madman Entertainment, and includes the UK trailer, the trailer to Ring 2, the usual interactive menus and bios on cast and crew. In terms of Ring extras there's little on offer but there's an inclusion of an incredibly strange little piece of animation called Boogie Pop Phantom as a teaser.  Do not eat at the same time or you may lose your appetite - which was my mistake.  A young boy with bright future gets cancer which isn't too out of the ordinary but then his doctor offers him "alternative" treatment. Just what this treatment is is not shown but he starts to see the guilt, remorse, sorrow carried in peoples' hearts. It's what he does with the masses' burdens that will gross you out. A completely unfathomable piece but a perfect creepy appetiser to Ring. Reviewed by Ching Yee   MORE REVIEWS: Jasper Sharp at Midnight Eye The Wolf at Inside Out Film

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