“Seven Days…”
Can you remember what it was like the first time you heard those words uttered back in 2002 when The Ring was first released? The horror genre tends to have these moments of significance when something new and fresh comes along that grabs the attention of the masses. At the time of release, Japanese horror remakes were not the norm so when the 1998 film Ringu was given the Americanized treatment, we were gifted with a ghost story that played on conventional genre tropes while also maintaining the unique style of its source material. The film ended up being a true example of a word of mouth hit when it opened to just $15 million but went on to earn north of $129 million at the domestic box office.
In all honesty, The Ring only packs a true horrific punch the first time you see it. As soon as the second viewing it lacks the element of surprise which numbs some of the scares but the film is drenched in a spooky atmosphere that keeps it interesting from start to finish. It’s all about the mood when it comes to how successful the film is and it maintains a consistently unsettling mood that sticks with you. So while the jump scares become old hat after that first watch, the film’s aura is something that continues to stand out nearly 15 years after its initial release.
The film is about the existence of a videotape that, when watched, means death to the viewer who has watched it. The moment the tape ends, anyone having enjoyed the surreal images represented on it receives a phone call informing them that they have one week to live. Exactly seven days later, they die, and nothing they do can stop their impending. When a skeptical Seattle-based investigative reporter, Rachel (Naomi Watts), learns about the tape, she tracks it down and watches it. Shortly after being marked for death, she becomes a believer. So, with the help of her ex-boyfriend, Noah (Martin Henderson), who has also seen the tape, she begins an investigation to unravel the mystery before her time runs out. Along the way, a horrifying thing happens – Rachel’s young son, Aidan (David Dorfman), sees the tape which seems to seal his fate.
Director Gore Verbinski is effective at creating a series of chilling moments that stick with you. This is evident as early as the opening scene which could honestly be its own horror short. He makes great use of the old school ghost story nature of the opening but also creates great moments to escalate the rising tension of the opening. There are some “boo” moments but it’s the atmosphere the wins out and sets the tone for the rest of the film. Possibly the best and most iconic moment comes during the film’s climax which finds an apparition in the tape coming out of the TV to pursue a would-be victim. It’s still one of my top moments in any movie theater I’ve been to because the scene made the whole audience react in unison and that’s a sign of a powerful moment that makes a full audience, who doesn’t know each other, react the same way.
Verbinski has to make use of the atmosphere and tension he’s creating because there is actually very little action at play in the film. It plays more like an investigative mystery with elements of the ghost story added to spruce up the suspense. The mood he sets is what keeps you interested as we learn of the tape’s mysteries along with Rachel. He also does a good job of allowing us to feel the growing necessity to beat death’s clock as the seven days draws closer. We feel the desperation of all involved and it puts us in the thick of the story. The one thing I have always loved as a viewer of this film is that the first time Rachel views the tape in its entirety, the audience has viewed it along with her and we feel like we need to beat the seven day clock along with her. It’s an effective aspect of its execution and I’m not sure if that was the intention of the filmmakers but it definitely works.
Naomi Watts, who was fresh off her breakout role in Mulholland Drive, is a highly effective lead. She is smart and her devotion to the task of saving her son is palpable. She’s not the typical horror heroine and that’s what makes her stand out. As her ex-boyfriend, Martin Henderson is adequate in a rather thankless role but he is featured in the film’s best moment so he’ll always be an iconic part of the film as a whole. Brian Cox offers up a chilling turn in a cameo role that continues to resonate and David Dorfman channels the best of the creepy kids of the genre by giving a performance that appears to be a bit of blank slate but is also strangely intriguing. The mother/son dynamic is at the heart of the film and while their relationship isn’t entirely normal (he’s rather strange and distant) you still feel their connection despite how withdrawn he is and that’s a testament to Dorfman and Watts.
It’s interesting looking back on The Ring all these years later. In 2002, it was viewed as the scary movie you just had to see and it spawned a period of remaking Japanese horror titles for the mainstream American market that saw various degrees of success. It may not pack the punch it once did, but the film is still a key film of the genre and its atmosphere and mood still hold up in 2017.
Reel Talk gives The Ring 3 Reels
