REVIEW- The Ring Two

[Misanthrope]

The Ring Two
Stars: Naomi Watts, Simon Baker, and David Dorfmann
Director: Hideo Nakata
Writer: Hiroshi Takahashi
Rating: M 15+
Genre: Horror

The general theme common to all ‘classic’ horror movies is the unique ways in which we are terrified. Recent horror hits such as ‘The Ring’, ‘The Blair Witch Project’, and even ‘Scream’ have been so successful and so terrifying because they introduced their audience to previously unexperienced thrills. Scientists have proven that the best way to combat fear is to confront it, and in the case of The Ring Two, confronting that which scared us in its predecessor is a recipe for boredom.

A change of director, to the man responsible for the highly successful Japanese films upon which this franchise is based, would seem to have been a step in the right direction. With horror needing new images to really work, changing directors should have given movie-goers a new batch of things to jump at. Instead, The Ring Two plays out like a dumbed down, more mellow version of the original film. There are a few moments that elicited screams from the girls in the cinema, but these were few and far between. Let’s face it, the concept of a video-tape that kills you is novel the first time around, and whilst The Ring Two tries to move away from this storyline, it’s always in the back of our minds that we already know what is behind the deaths. There’s no real sense of mystery as Naomi Watts reprises her role and tries to, once again, find out answers about the mysterious Samara. Instead, we’re left yawning in long periods of unnecessary drama. What’s perhaps most frustrating about the latest (and possibly last) instalment in ‘The Ring’ series, is that it has definite potential. As I mentioned, it doesn’t bother with trying to make a lethal video-tape scary again. However, the idea of possession has been covered many a time, and in the case of films like ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘The Shining’, it’s been done far better.

The basic premise sees Naomi Watts and her son moving to Astoria (of ‘The Goonies’ fame) to escape the horrors of the last film. Of course, just like in the Jaws franchise, Samara has found a reason and a means to make the protagonists’ lives hell again. Even solid performances from Watts and Simon Baker (who we’ll recognise from ‘The Guardian’) don’t excuse the fact that, as far as sequels to, ‘The Ring Two’ really didn’t need to be made. If anything, seeing this movie makes the original ‘Ring’ that much less interesting. More is revealed about Samara’s mysterious origins, but although the film manages to kill a few people, we’re never really worried. If Naomi Watts can outwit an undying little girl once, she’ll be able to do it again. And this time she doesn’t even have a seven day time limit to operate in.

The film is not without its redeeming futures, however. There are some truly memorable moments of promising horror throughout. I don’t think I’ll ever look at deer in the same way again. Likewise, the bath scene (unfortunately not involving Watts) is equally impressive. However, between these gems of cinematography or script-writing, we’re left with long periods of yawn inducing exposition. The first half hour of the film, in particular, is more like a dull Kevin Costner epic than a horror film.

If you enjoyed the original film, which I did, you’ll doubtless be disappointed by the newest instalment. The scares are few and far between, and as I said, there’s so much less at stake than there was in the original. Realistically, you’re never really afraid anyone will die, and that’s what makes a horror movie work. It’s hard to be frightened when Naomi Watts is having a conversation with a child psychologist about suspected child abuse.

The acting is, as we’ve come to expect from Naomi Watts, of the highest class. Hell, she even produced a Schwarzeneggar-esque final line that is worthy of a bit of a cheer. Simon Baker’s character is underused, and I was left questioning exactly why he needed to be in the film. Of course, most horror fans will have guessed why already. As it was with ‘The Sixth Sense’ it’s the child actor who really steals the show. Most don’t realise how hard it is to play two distinctly different characters, and to switch between them quickly. I know actors in their early thirties who still can’t manage it. For a child of Dorfmann's age to be capable of it is amazing, and impressed me perhaps more than the rest of the film. Dorfmann bounces between his normal persona (Aidan) and his ‘evil’ half (Samara) so smoothly that it’s actually scary; scarier than any of the special effects induced flaming trees, ghostly images, or loud noises- in fact.

My disappointment should be palpable, but if not, I’ll say it once more- if you’re going to make a sequel, there are a few generally accepted rules of thumb to follow:
- Don’t use the same scares over and over again
- Lift the body count
And most importantly
- Raise the stakes

‘The Ring Two’ fails abysmally in two of these, and tries valiantly at the first. Ultimately, it’s not worth catching at the cinema, even if you’re taking a girl for the inevitable ‘terrified hugs’ you’ll get. See it on video, but only if you really enjoyed the first.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 10 stars

 

[Eelectrica]

The scares are few and far between

That's disappointing - I was thinking of catching it today, hoping for a good scary movie. It's been too bloody long since I've watched a genuinly scary film.

 

[tiburon]

Yeh I saw it last night, it really was a v.big let down on all levels.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Had potential, but really went down the tubes and didnt have you guessing at all.

 

[fat_mike]

only thing i thought was ok about it was the obvious increased budget for special effects as there were alot better effects. storyline was rubbish. all over the place and i was bloody bored halfway through it.

 

[NZ Warrior]

It was utter shit. I slapped the usher on the way out of the movie.

 

[CC_Eagle]

Average....

Was more interested and enjoyed the company of the person I saw it with..

 

[Razor]

Was totally crap. It was obvious 2 of the other 3 people in the cinema at the time I saw it thought the same because they were having a conversation(that was nothing to do with the movie) at the top of their lungs for the last hour of the movie.