Psychocandy
05-14-2002, 12:50 PM
For the record I count the first Ring movie as being worthy of classic status. Worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Halloween, The Exorcist and The Evil Dead. Along with The Others it is the only horror movie in recent memory that has succeeded in making the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. It had everything. An intelligent script, compelling story, excellent performances and atmosphere creeping off the screen like some kind of malevolent force intent on scaring the absolute bejesus out of the viewer. It scared me. Badly. The scene where Sadako crawled out of the TV screen almost made me switch the damn thing off (I was watching it alone and late at night...lights out). So it was with some trepidation that I watched the sequel last night. Was I disappointed? Yes. It was still a good movie but once again the law of diminishing returns that decrees the majority of sequels must be pale imitations of their predesessors was at work. The acting was still excellent but the atmosphere of dread and impending doom that gave the first movie it's impetus was missing. It wasn't a total failure though. Several scenes managed to evoke at least something approaching the level of fear provoked my the first movie. I may have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been so damn tired. During the last fifteen minutes of the movie I kept drifting off for several seconds at a time and likely missed something important. Anyway...it was good. The first movie probably has a place in the top twenty best horror movies i've ever seen (if I could be arsed actually making such a list). Ring 2 likely wouldn't make the top 100. If you loved the first movie then definitely make an effort to see Ring 2. If you just thought it was ok then give the sequel a miss. 3.5 out of 5