Rachel Keller is a journalist investigating a videotape that may have killed four teenagers (including her niece). There is an urban legend about this tape: the viewer will die seven days after watching it. If the legend is correct, Rachel will have to run against time to save her son's and her own life.
Samara is just what happens when you ghost a girl for seven days straight
I was in highschool when I first saw this, and it stuck with me for a long time, like an effective horror movie should. Still scares me to this day. This was my intro to horror movies and is the classic I think of when I think good horror movie!
The phone rings. You answer. On the other end, suddenly.... "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies plays
In Memory Of Daveigh Chase July 24, 1990- June 16, 2026
I'd already seen the highlights of this film so there was basically nothing fresh it could offer to me but it still had me caught up all the time and kept me wondering about it. But I just would've loved it more if the plot were a bit more dramatic. Like, how am I supposed to feel bad for that girl if I don't know anything about her? And I could just tell that it was made under a production value of less than $1-2 million but it really didn't need that all for what it was. Anyway, these things just didn't matter because I couldn't think of nothing but the film while watching it.
And I really needed an explanation to understand what happened in the ending lol :)
When I first watched it, it was one of the scariest movies ever. Not because of the horror images but because of the meaning. Still a great watch 20 years later.
Plot:
A journalist, Rachel Keller, investigates a mysterious videotape that curses anyone who watches it, killing them seven days later. She races against time to uncover the origins of the girl Samara, whose vengeful spirit haunts the tape, in order to save herself and her son.
Strengths:
Suspense & Atmosphere: Builds tension effectively, combining eerie visuals, dark settings, and unsettling sounds.
Samara’s Horror: The cursed girl is terrifying, with iconic scenes that remain memorable in modern horror.
Modernized Story: Adapts the Japanese original while appealing to a Western audience, keeping the horror fresh.
Twist Ending: Delivers a shocking and memorable conclusion that reinforces the story’s dread.
Weaknesses:
Some Predictability: Those familiar with the Japanese original may anticipate plot points.
Limited Character Depth: Some supporting characters are underdeveloped.
Less Psychological: Compared to Ringu, it emphasizes scares over the subtle psychological horror of the original.
Overall:
The Ring is a highly effective remake, introducing Samara as an iconic horror figure and delivering suspense, scares, and a memorable story. It successfully brought Japanese J-Horror to Western audiences while keeping the tension alive.
It is sooooo awful. It is just the most dull horror movie I've ever seen.
as '2002' as this movie may be, it surprisingly holds up well jump-scare wise - as long as you just ignore the storyline and enjoy the ride
Reviews
The Ring
One Maggi after Another reviewed
The Ring
October 29, 2025I'd already seen the highlights of this film so there was basically nothing fresh it could offer to me but it still had me caught up all the time and kept me wondering about it. But I just would've loved it more if the plot were a bit more dramatic. Like, how am I supposed to feel bad for that girl if I don't know anything about her? And I could just tell that it was made under a production value of less than $1-2 million but it really didn't need that all for what it was. Anyway, these things just didn't matter because I couldn't think of nothing but the film while watching it.
And I really needed an explanation to understand what happened in the ending lol :)
ርልዪረ reviewed
The Ring
October 16, 2025Plot:
A journalist, Rachel Keller, investigates a mysterious videotape that curses anyone who watches it, killing them seven days later. She races against time to uncover the origins of the girl Samara, whose vengeful spirit haunts the tape, in order to save herself and her son.
Strengths:
Suspense & Atmosphere: Builds tension effectively, combining eerie visuals, dark settings, and unsettling sounds.
Samara’s Horror: The cursed girl is terrifying, with iconic scenes that remain memorable in modern horror.
Modernized Story: Adapts the Japanese original while appealing to a Western audience, keeping the horror fresh.
Twist Ending: Delivers a shocking and memorable conclusion that reinforces the story’s dread.
Weaknesses:
Some Predictability: Those familiar with the Japanese original may anticipate plot points.
Limited Character Depth: Some supporting characters are underdeveloped.
Less Psychological: Compared to Ringu, it emphasizes scares over the subtle psychological horror of the original.
Overall:
The Ring is a highly effective remake, introducing Samara as an iconic horror figure and delivering suspense, scares, and a memorable story. It successfully brought Japanese J-Horror to Western audiences while keeping the tension alive.
1
2
