Ringu
| Ringu | |
| Missing image Ring.jpeg The UK DVD cover for Ringu, which recycles a camera shot from the climax of the film. | |
| Directed by | Hideo Nakata |
| Written by | Hiroshi Takahashi |
| Starring | Nanako Matsushima Hiroyuki Sanada Rikiya Otaka Yoichi Numata |
| Produced by | Taka Ichise |
| Distributed by | Toho Company Ltd. |
| Release date | January 31, 1998 (Japan) |
| Runtime | 96 min. |
| Language | Japanese |
| Budget | $1.2 million |
| IMDb page | |
Ringu (リング, the Ring) is a 1998 Japanese horror mystery film from director Hideo Nakata, adapted from a novel by Koji Suzuki of the same name. The film was later remade in Korea as Ring (1999), and in the United States as The Ring (2002).
Both films retain the basic premise of a cursed videotape that kills the viewer seven days later. There were several differences between the book and film(s), however, including the main character being changed from male to female (Kazuyuki Asakawa becomes Reiko Asakawa), an omission of the more unsavory personality traits of Ryuji Takayama (Asakawa's companion), and a glossing over of the scientific explanation behind the cursed videotape in favor of a decidedly supernatural one.
There were two sequels shot in Japan: Rasen (also from 1998, aka Spiral) and Ring 2 (from 1999, and which was not based on Suzuki's works), as well as a prequel, Ring 0: Birthday (2000). Rasen made up for its predecessor in scientific detail, which was one of the reasons for its unpopularity. There was also a Korean remake (called Ring in Korea and The Ring Virus abroad) that was the first-ever joint filmmaking venture between Korea and Japan.
The Ring and Rasen (released in English as Ring and Spiral respectively) were best-selling novels by Koji Suzuki. Loop (which has yet to be adapted to the screen) comprises the third book in the series. It was later followed by a collection of short stories called Birthday, from which the story entitled Lemonheart provided the basis for the aforementioned theatrical prequel.
The international success of the Japanese films launched a revival of horror filmmaking in Japan that resulted in such pictures as Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Pulse (from 2001, also called Kairo or Circuit), Takashi Shimizu's Ju-on (2000), Hideo Nakata's Dark Water (from 2002, aka Honogurai mizu no soko kara, also based on a short story by Suzuki), and Higuchinsky's Uzumaki (2000, aka Vortex, based on the Junji Ito horror manga).
Most of the Ring stories also appeared as manga novels.
Fans of the series are known as Ringworms. Many dislike using the name Ringu for the film, preferring to call it simply Ring.
See also
External links
- the ringworld - a fansite covering all aspects of the Ring series and movies.
- Ringu at the Internet Movie Database
- Snowblood Apple's Ring Cycle article - an overview of all Ring films.