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Hideo Nakata's Ring 2: Horror Movie ReviewThe Japanese Horror Classic gets a SequelDirector Hideo Nakata follows up on the success of Ring, taking us back into the dark world of Sadako.
Ring 2 is centred on the student/girlfriend of Takayama Ryuji, Mai Takano (Miki Nakatani) in her own bid to uncover the truth of the lethal Ring virus. To that end she investigates previous cases, which lead her to Dr. Kawajiri (Fumiyo Kohinata) and his patient Masami (Hitomi Sato) – a friend of Asakawa’s niece. Masami has since been hospitalized in an asylum and carries a dark energy that is waiting for opportunities to spread. As Dr. Kawajiri tries to find a scientific explanation to the growing phenomenon, the curse is finding new ways to manifest, with journalist Okazaki (Yûrei Yanagi) weighing his options of watching a copy of the tape at the risk of another’s life and his own. Meanwhile, Detective Omuta (Kenjiro Ishimaru) is following Mai in her steps to track down Asakawa and her son Yoichi, who have been in hiding since the first outing. Less is More as the Ring Sequel GrowsWhereas Ring revolves around the delivery of one giant revelation, the sequel delivers an assortment of smaller, diluted revelations, according to the expansion of the curse and Takano’s investigation. Ultimately, Ring 2, in and of itself, is not a great film. Here we have a case of having to compose the sequel to it’s own formula rather than repeating that of the first. But, with Ring having a perfectly structured story that inexorably conducted us into ‘the eye’ of the maelstrom, then the structure of the sequel, by default, cannot be as rewarding. While not a great film, however, Ring 2 is a loyal sequel (as opposed to the general philosophy of sequels being bigger, badder, more expensive, and more often than not a shadow of their predecessors). Though it lacks some of the original’s pervasive atmosphere, it does make you appreciate the fact that Sadako is on-screen for that minute in the first film by showing her even less in the follow-up, all the while adding and never detracting from the mythos of her story. It wastes no time in doing that, as in the very first scene we learn how Sadako (who, of course, died at the bottom of a well) was in fact alive for no less than thirty years – in the well – before she died. How’s that for a starting point? The subplot involving Asakawa’s journalistic friend, Okazaki, and his promise to Kanae Sawaguchi (Kyôko Fukada) is also an inspired thread in the story that delivers a fantastically creepy new strain of the curse. Asakawa’s brief return and the changes in Yoichi are yet another insight into the secondary effects of Sadako’s vengeance. Will Hideo Nakata Return to the Franchise?There is, however, an ambiguous nature to the ending of Ring 2, which clearly paves the way for a – as yet unconfirmed – third installment. If the basic premise of the novels (which explore very different tangeants) is to be followed, then we are left looking at an apocalyptic scenario that foreshadows the end of humanity, with mankind constantly lagging several steps behind the evolution of the virus. Unfortunately, it’s unclear as to whether or not another sequel is in the works and seems unlikely to involve Hideo Nakata at the helm if it happens. However, after Ring 2 did come the prequel Ring 0: Birthday, which proved with a different director that the story can continue to inspire some of the best horror movies ever released.
The copyright of the article Hideo Nakata's Ring 2: Horror Movie Review in Horror Films is owned by Michael Pantazi. Permission to republish Hideo Nakata's Ring 2: Horror Movie Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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