Where to begin, I had high hopes for this sequel. Well, not terribly high, but I was hoping for something more than this. I remember late one night a month or so ago, I should have been in bed, but no, I was doing some final surfing around in the darkness of my room, when I came across the teaser trailer for this movie. I clicked the link, the video slowly loaded up, then there was a figure on the left, back to the camera, cutting something, whispering something about the dead, then she fades into darkness, focus shifts to a television in the bottom right playing nothing but snow, then suddenly Samara jumps out of the blackness on the left. I swear, I jumped a mile, I was tired, and not ready for that. That moment made me start looking forward to the movie.
The first film, directed by Gore Verbinski, did a very good job at creating a feeling of unease, along with a story that held together, and one of the creepiest films that has been made in some time. The original Japanese film, was also very good, not as advanced in its effects, but was a genuinely creepy film. That original film spawned a sequel, a prequel, a TV series, and a Korean remake before it even hit American shores. Now, the director of the the original Ring 1 and 3, Hideo Nakata brings his sensibilities to the American screens with the remake sequel. I cannot compare this to the original sequel, as I haven't seen it yet, so this will have to stand up on it's own merits.
The film opens with a teen boy trying to get his girlfriend(?) to watch the tape. This scene sets up the first of the new victims for Samara. Following this is the title card and the reintroduction of Rachel (Naomi Watts) and her son, Aidan (David Dorfman). And guess what? They just happen to live in the same town as the previously mentioned teens, now what are the chances? Apparently, the tape has had further copies made since the first film and followed them to the small town that they have moved to, to further torment the young boy and her mom.
I wish I could say that this movie is up to the level of the first film. I would like to say that Nakata will wow American audiences with the same skill that he has wowed the Japanese audiences. I would like to say that we know have an equally creep y film that furthers the mythology that was begun in the first. But, sadly, I cannot say any of that and mean it. The best I can say about it is that it does a good job of creating a very real feeling atmosphere of unease, while simultaneously not making any sense whatsoever. And let's not forget the moments of absurd, and completely unintentional (I hope), comedy.
Article comments
1 - marry shelly
good excelent
scary
2 - DrPat
Thanks, Chris! I have to say, I never "got" the creeps from the first film, so it sounds as if my money would be wasted on the second. My budget thanks you!