Ringu 2 (1999)

The curse of the yurei Sadako is back in "Ringu 2", this time being looked into by Ryuji's girlfriend/teaching assistant Mai and Reiko's coworker Okazaki. While Okazaki works on the interviews that Reiko made and he continued on with, Mai searches for Reiko and her son Yoichi to demand answers to why Ryuji died. A detective working on the case tells Mai about Sadako and her mother, and even forces Mai to see the body of one of Sadako's victims who was found in a similar state that she had found Ryuji. Mai also has visions of Ryuji as he tells her that she has his powers now even though they won't be able to save anyone. Eventually Mai finds Rieko and her son and reveals their presence to the detective. Reiko and Yoichi try to escape after Yoichi demonstrates that he has powers similar to Sadako, but Reiko is killed by a truck as she is deep in a vision. Mai takes Yoichi and seeks out the man who raised Sadako as a child, hoping that he has answer as to finally stop the vengeful spirit.

Mother and daughter

Poor Reiko

Mai destroys a tape so no one can see it

Ringu (1998)

"Ringu" is the movie that started it all, the massive influx and popularity of Japanese horror to American audiences. It was also the highest grossing horror film in Japan when it was released. The original Japanese version and the American remake tell the same story but it two very different styles. The two films follow each other almost exactly up to the point where the father figure, Ryuji (Japanese) / Noah (American) is introduced. Once he watches the video, the two versions take their own path in telling the mystery of Sadako/Samara. In "Ringu", Ryuji has the ability of ESP and plays a more prominent role it helping his ex-wife solve the mystery. Together they go to the island where Sadako's mother, Shizuko, lived. Shizuko was considered a seer on her small island and attracted the attention of a scientist from the city. Shizuko had an affair with him and concieved Sadako. After a public demonstration go astray, Sadako is taken away by her father and never seen again. He is the one responsible for pushing her into the well and leaving her to die alone. Sadako's power is so strong that she curses all who see the video tape; the phone call also only happens at the site of her tomb rather than anywhere as it does in the American version. In order to enjoy and understand the Japanese version of "Ringu", the viewer needs to understand, or at least accept the fact that mental powers such as ESP are readily accepted in their movies.

Kaidan (2007)

In 2007 Hideo Nakata, the director of the Japanese version of "The Ring" and "Dark Water", decided to try something different and directed a classic style Japanese horror film called "Kaidan". The movie has great production values and is believably set in ancient Japan. The story focuses on the concept of eternal revenge between two families. Because of the actions of their fathers, a man and a woman are destined to suffer similar fates. When the man is ultimately responsible for the death of his wife, he ignores the dire warning his wife makes before she dies, which in turn effects and ruins his life later on.

The Ring 2 (2005)

"The Ring 2" is the kind of sequel that carries over bits and pieces from the original film but attempts to be it's own movie with it's own strengths and flaws. The film tries to evolve but struggles in doing so, feeling overly complicated and silly at times. Hideo Nakata, the director of the Japanese versions, takes over in this installment from Gore Verbinski and offers the viewers something different that was not previously presented in the Japanese films. Naomi Watts and David Dorfman return as Rachel and her son Aiden.

The aspect of the VHS tape and watching the film on it plays a very small role in this film and is only dealt with in the very beginning. Samara's power of coming out of the television is revisited and expanded on because now she is able to pull victims through the screen and bring them into her world. When this happens, I can't help but to think of the alternate world from "Silent Hill", how the characters become trapped and left alone.


Rachel and Aiden have left the "big" city of Seattle and have relocated to Astoria, Oregon. Six months after their encounter with Samara, her ghostly activity begins again after local high school students begin watching copies of her film. Rachel tracks down the copy and destroys it but it's too late because Samara has already found them. Samara possesses Aiden (why?) and Rachel looks like an abusive mother as her son's body becomes bruised and unhealthy. Rachel is forced to seek out Samara's real mother and find out even more back story/mystery surrounding the child.

Favorite WTF moment - Rachel and Aiden are driving home through a heavily wooded area when their car is attacked by a heard of CGI deer. It made sense in "The Ring" that horses would be driven crazy by Samara or those with her curse, brought upon the by the mental abuse that her adopted father inflicted on her, loving his horses more than her. But why would deer be affected? Beyond the fear of the unnatural of course. The scene is over the top, silly, and completely unnecessary for this movie.