1st August 2005 : The water levels have been steadily rising here in pune.The weather is gloomy and almost black n white...its amazing, how nature can play with your moods. The gloom had somehow seeped into my mind and after dinner I decided that I could spend an hour or so in front of the TV before going to bed. As cable tv was out for the whole evening, I decided I could treat myself to a movie. I decided to pick up a DVD randomly from my collection and unfortunately, the first cd that came to my hand was that of ’THE RING’ !! I say ’unfortunately’ because the first time I saw the movie, the gloom of the movie resided in my mind for more than a few days.It was not because of its scariness but had more to do with the uneasiness of the situation. I wont be exaggerating if I say that it makes you feel sick for a few hours or maybe a few days after its over. Like an invisible curse it somehow hovers around you...threatening you... And then you can just brush it off thinking that it’s just a movie but if a ’movie’ can do that to you, I think its purpose is fulfilled.And in this category, ’The Ring’ excels...far beyond the stereotypical hollywood horror flicks...
I was never a hollywood horror flick fan...it seemed as if Hollywood had truly lost the art of scaring people out of their skin. Mindless bloodshed, throat slashing, clownish extras wearing frankenstein masks is not my idea of feeling scared.And then it seemed as if the director’s habit of overdoing those ’BOO’ moments was nothing more than cheap means to make the audience scream.
And my view about hollywood if further strengthened because ’’The Ring ’’ is not a Hollywood original in the first place.Its based on, or should I say, a cover of the hit Jap flick ’Ringu’ which is more freaky than this version. I’m yet to see the original version which has attained a cult status in itself.
I guess the prologue has been a bit too long so before you people start throwing things around or do something really wild, i’d better get on with the review of the movie at hand...!!
The curse..
Well, it was still in my hand and I was thinking whether to go through the ordeal again or not.But, I put up a brave face and inserted the dvd into the player.Thank god, it was not the doomed video tape!! For those who havent seen the movie yet, let me tell you that this movie is based on a fictional urban legend doing the rounds of seattle(where the movie is based) about a video tape and the underlying curse that kills you exactly after seven days of watching it.The authenticity of the curse is further enhanced by a freak phone ring once anybody has watched the short video.Someone knows that you have watched the tape and reminds you that you have only 7 days left.
In the first scenes, two teen girls are seen discussing the legend in the dead of the night.The discussion takes a grim turn as one of the girls confesses to have seen the video tape exactly a week ago.At first they dismiss the whole story but soon the phone rings at exactly 10 p.m. and gloom takes over their innocent faces...The consequent scenes are extremely freaky and the episode ends with the terrible but mysterious death of one of the girls and drives the other to end up in a mental institution. I would not elaborate the scenes as it would not do justice to the suspense.
Here enters the beautiful Naomi watts in the role of Rachel Keller, an investigative journalist by profession and the Aunt of the unfortunate dead girl.After a lot of persuasion by the girl’s mother (her sister) , she decides to investigate and , if possible, find out the cause of the girl’s unnatural death. After all, what could make the heart of a girl, in her teens, to stop beating all of a sudden, in a flash..??
Her investigation leads her to discover that all of the friends of her niece, who had watched the tape with her, died in freak accidents exactly at the same time and day..!!
Realising the seriousness of the situation, she decides to delve deeper into the mystery. A mystery which takes her to the isolated ’Shelter mountain inn’ in the woods where the group had possibly seen the tape and finally, to the dreaded tape..
The following scene is brilliantly executed as time freezes around Rachel as she sits through the horrifying contents of the video tape. And its also the first time you’ll witness the video tape yourself!! Surely, the tape is freaky and at one point really made me feel if my countdown had started too!! Who ever designed the video, he sure has the most wierd imagination of all.Wierd, extreme, in your face but quiet commendable. Hats off to you, sir!!
As soon as the video is over, menacingly, the phone rings.As she picks up the receiver, a haunting voice from the other side says....’7 days...’And thus begins her countdown... but, like any sensible person, she desists from believing in the curse and shows it to her boy friend (martin henderson..Oye!! balle balle..haha, forget it, he is in a more deserving role in The ring..)
But as soon as the video finishes, the sinister phone rings again.This leaves no doubt in Rachel’s mind about the curse’s dark reality..She feels guilty for dragging him into the ordeal but its too late...the countdown has begun... The most mysterious role is played by Rachel’s son, Aidan (david dorfman).He seems to know a lot, for his age, and acts way too mature. When Rachel is trying hard to unravel the mysterious contents of the tape bit by bit, all hell breaks loose as Aidan secretly watches the tape.
From here onwards, its a desperate need of a mother to try and find out a way to stop the countdown of the curse on her son.A need which will take her long distances to find out the mysterious contents of the tape and the underlying curse of a merciless grim reaper. Its a dark story in itself.A story which leaves more questions in your mind than answers.I shall not elaborate any further as far as the story is concerned.See it for yourself..i dont want to play spoilsport here...!!
The ambience
Through out the movie only a single feeling keeps crossing your mind, time and again..the feeling of gloom. The ambience aggravates the situation. The cinematographer has chosen to use the least of hues to make it look more grim than your average horror flick...and should I say, it works wonders on your senses...its constantly raining, the sun has taken a long vacation and the nights are almost 18 hours a day!!
Full marks to cinematography!!
The background score further adds to the grimness.
The actors
The movie belongs to Rachel(Naomi watts) all along.She has played a woman you eventually start caring for.David dorfman is commendable.He sure is superb for a 6-7 years or so child actor. Martin henderson, though for his small role, has done a good job. The remaining actors are equally upto their tasks and since their roles are shrouded in mysteries, I would steer clear of introducing them!!
Verdict
As I have said earlier, this movie has got the power to make you sit and think about it long after its over.Often for days, if you are watching it for the first time!!The movie doesnt progress hastily and takes all the things into account in its own gradual pace.
The best part is that as the movie progresses, more questions, than answers, are flung at the viewer.I personally liked this approach.
The Ring is one merciless and hard hitting movie which will have you reeling under its curse for many days, even after it’s over!!
Watch it meter
10 out of 10. But dont watch it alone.And surely not with your girlfriend!!