THE RING 2
US, 2005, 113 minutes, Colour.
Naomi Watts, Simon Baker, David Dorfmann, Elizabeth Perkins, Gary Coles, Sissy Spacek.
Directed by Hideo Nakata.
After The Ring, The Grudge and Boogeyman, comes The Ring 2, a series of very popular American horror films which avoids the emphasis on blood and gore and prefers to tell ghost stories with eerie atmosphere and some jump shocks. They all derive from Japanese originals. In fact, Hollywood has invited some of the Japanese directors to the US to do the remakes of their films. This was true of The Grudge and is true of The Ring 2, directed by Hideo Nakata.
The prologue to this sequel looks very similar to that of the original, teenagers watching a deadly video. But now we know the background to the video, so The Ring 2 concentrates more on the effect of the ghost of the deadly Samara in taking possession of young Aidan and his mother, Rachel’s attempts to save him.
The setting has shifted to Astoria, Oregon, as Rachel and Aidan try to make a new beginning and forget the video and its menace. But the video and Samara now come looking for them, appearing to frightening effect in their dreams, building to a climax where Rachel has to sacrifice her life for her son’s.
The film is moody not gory. It creates an atmosphere of unease and menace which should make it more accessible than some of the slasher horror movies – but which may disappoint those who want something more up front and obvious. The ominous symbol in The Ring 2 is water rather than blood.
Naomi Watts and David Dorfman continue their roles as Rachel and Aidan. They are sympathetic characters and ensure that audiences are on side. Simon Baker is the ill-fated friend this time round and there are cameos by Elizabeth Perkins as a serious psychiatrist, Gary Cole lightening the mood as a shifty estate agent and Sissy Spacek in a crucial sequence as the evil Samara’s real mother.
The surprise and ingenuity of the original have gone but this is a worthy continuation of the story and moods of The Ring.
1. The popularity of the original Japanese films? The popularity of the first American version? Employing the original director for an American version? A Japanese perception on America?
2. Audience expectations from the first film? How well fulfilled or not? The continuity of plot, continuity of themes, continuity of characters? The film focusing on the interrelationships between mother and son and the ghost rather than focusing on the clues within the tape?
3. The Astoria settings, the Oregon coast, the small town, the newspaper office? Water, hills, the bridge?
4. The Astoria News headquarters, the houses and the interiors, the hospital? The well itself?
5. The use of special effects, the video on television, the ghost reaching out from the television set? The bottom of the well, the walls of the well and the ghost climbing? The cliff, the forest? The musical score?
6. The opening with the range of ocean water, the moods of the water? Symbolism of water? The well, Samira’s death, the sea? The bath, the water on the roof, each of the characters being drenched? The focus on drowning? Samira’s mother falling into the sea?
7. The prologue, the two young people watching the video, the young man persuading his girlfriend to watch, her turning on the video but not watching, his death after the phone call? The girl being taken by the police? Rachel seeing her? The link from first film to second?
8. Rachel, seeing the girl, going to the hospital, trying to question her? A new beginning in Astoria? Her relationship with Aiden, his taking the photos, her picking him up from school? At home, her preparing the dinner? His calling her Rachel? Her wanting “mummy”? The irony of Samira entering Aiden and calling her mummy?
9. Her work at the newspaper, her relationship with Max, his writing, friendliness?
10. Aiden’s dream, Samira coming out of the television set? His going into the video? His telling his mother that they could communicate only in sleep? The importance of the dream sequences?
11. The effect on Aiden, his gradually changing in behaviour, attitudes, his eyes? Going to the fair, taking the photos, the photos in the mirror and Samira present? His bath, his being cold and frozen, going to the hospital?
12. His being in the hospital, the treatment, his discussions with Dr Temple? Samira effecting Dr Temple and her injecting herself? Aiden leaving the hospital? With Max, watching the television, Max’s death? His mother’s return and her dismay?
13. The character of Rachel, strong, caring, the ominous dreams, with Aiden and his bath, rescuing him, it being interpreted that she was trying to harm him? At the fair and his being lost, the photos? Going to the hospital, Dr Temple critical of her? Her going to seek the truth?
14. The discussions with the doctor, with Dr Temple? Her going to see the nun, the information about Samira’s identity from the officials?
15. The visit to Evelyn, Evelyn’s story, her madness, the cut-outs, the advice to Rachel, listening to her child, the love? Evelyn’s giving up her child, but knowing that she should kill her? The attendant and his comment about so many mothers coming to visit Evelyn?
16. Rachel’s return, finding Max dead, drowning Aiden, Samira unleashed, her saving Aiden, willing to die herself?
17. Her going to sleep, the water, her being in the well, starting to climb the walls, Samira pursuing her, the struggle, her shutting the top of the well, imprisoning Samira? The temptation to fall over the cliff and it being part of the dream in order to save Aiden?
18. The end, mother and son reconciled – but the television’s suggestion that Samira would not die?
19. Audiences enjoying this kind of scary film, atmosphere rather than blood and gore? Scares, editing and cuts? Identifying with the situation? Human nature, death, family relationships, ghosts?
