Ringu (1998 ) Ring

Directed by Hideo Nakata

Starring Miki Nakatani, Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada

The success of this film is the reason we have and are being constantly bombarded by hordes of mediocre (at best) horror films from Asian countries for the last few years.

Basically its an urban legend about a mysterious videotape causing those who watch it to die a week later. It doesnt sound too promising but it is in a class of its own and stands head and shoulders above its imitators. Even though Id seen it several times over the last few years I thought Id better refresh myself with it and see how I felt after seeing so many other Asian horror films and Im glad I did.

Everything must have been perfect when Nakata made this, the story although sounding quite ordinary takes some well-timed twists and turns and is very well conceived. The editing is excellent, the actors are terrific and the mood is one of mounting tension and dread. 

What starts off as a typical teens dying in disturbing ways becomes far more crucial when its twisted onto a single mother and then even worse onto her only child, a brilliant way to put fear into all the mothers in the audience. Nothing is given away until right toward the end, like Alien and Jaws before it, youll catch glimpses but the true horror is left lurking till the last moment and despite (or maybe because of) the low tech and low budget it works!

If you only see one modern Asian horror film, Ring should be the one.

Cheers Trev.

BBFC rated 15