This was great, I love how it goes straight to the point and every scene matters and advances the plot. I thought that this was going to be scarier than it was. There were some creepy bits but overall I felt it was more thriller than horror.
Much more subdued than the American remake, but in the long creeping quiet of time marching forward I found myself more invested than expected into the plight of the characters as they work frantically to break the curse.
The well sequence alone is worth the build up; the unfolding mystery done in stylish fashion that set the standard to be copied poorly time and again, but here the mystery works well and informs the narrative in a tangible, believable way (again, unlike the american remake.)
More than anything, Ringu really does feel like a book adaptation in the best ways, and what the director achieves in the subtle emotional moments of wordless exchanges is something I was not expecting to be affected by. I liked it a lot!
I can't deny however that there was a creeping boredom in the middle act. It does drag, but thankfully the ending is just the right amount of tragedy and spook that plays with conventional story telling just enough to make this film the iconic piece of horror cinema it is.
In this way, I found myself retroactively appreciating the ridiculous American remake more for doing its own very American thing. You are never going to confuse the two, that's for sure, and by extension allows them to exist seperately in a way that the Grudge and its remake do not (if that makes any sense.)
Deserved classic; don't skip this one.
Nice effective spooky movie, has interesting sound effects and plot, does not rely on shocking imagery or screaming to scare but just eerie context.
Overall quite a simple film
Not as scary as I thought it’d be, left me with a chain email type of vibe. Excellent premise and hook tho.
Reviews
Ring
Razorbitz reviewed
The Ring
November 29, 2025Much more subdued than the American remake, but in the long creeping quiet of time marching forward I found myself more invested than expected into the plight of the characters as they work frantically to break the curse.
The well sequence alone is worth the build up; the unfolding mystery done in stylish fashion that set the standard to be copied poorly time and again, but here the mystery works well and informs the narrative in a tangible, believable way (again, unlike the american remake.)
More than anything, Ringu really does feel like a book adaptation in the best ways, and what the director achieves in the subtle emotional moments of wordless exchanges is something I was not expecting to be affected by. I liked it a lot!
I can't deny however that there was a creeping boredom in the middle act. It does drag, but thankfully the ending is just the right amount of tragedy and spook that plays with conventional story telling just enough to make this film the iconic piece of horror cinema it is.
In this way, I found myself retroactively appreciating the ridiculous American remake more for doing its own very American thing. You are never going to confuse the two, that's for sure, and by extension allows them to exist seperately in a way that the Grudge and its remake do not (if that makes any sense.)
Deserved classic; don't skip this one.
