Rings – Film Review

A young woman becomes worried about her boyfriend when he explores a dark subculture surrounding a mysterious videotape said to kill the watcher seven days after he has viewed it. She sacrifices herself to save her boyfriend and in doing so makes a horrifying discovery: there is a movie within the movie that no one has ever seen before.

Rings is a film that attempts to revive the popular horror franchise centered around the cursed videotape that brings death to anyone who watches it after seven days. Directed by F. Javier Gutiérrez, the movie falls short in capturing the essence of the original Japanese films and fails to deliver a satisfying and engaging horror experience.

From the outset, Rings struggles to establish its own identity within the franchise. The opening scenes try to introduce new elements and expand the mythology, but they come across as convoluted and unnecessary. Instead of building on the established lore, the film adds layers of confusion, making it difficult for viewers to connect with the story.

One of the main issues with Rings is the lackluster screenplay. The dialogue feels forced and uninspired, with characters delivering lines that seem unnatural and devoid of emotion. The attempts at creating tension through conversations fall flat, leaving the audience disengaged from the narrative. The writing fails to capture the haunting and eerie atmosphere that made the original films so memorable.

The pacing of the film is another significant flaw. Rings drags in many places, with long stretches of monotony that fail to build suspense or maintain interest. The sluggish tempo disrupts the flow of the story, leaving viewers impatient for something substantial to happen. Even when the film does attempt to introduce a thrilling moment, it often feels contrived and lacks the impact necessary to create a lasting impression.

While the visuals in Rings are competent, they lack the creativity and originality that made the original films stand out. The iconic imagery of the cursed videotape is present, but it feels like a pale imitation of what came before. The cinematography fails to capture the unsettling beauty of the first films, and the use of CGI is often distracting and unconvincing, diminishing the horror elements.

The performances in Rings are serviceable at best. Matilda Lutz, in the lead role of Julia, delivers a competent performance, but the script limits her ability to fully explore her character’s emotional depth. The supporting cast, including Alex Roe and Johnny Galecki, struggles to elevate the material they are given, resulting in forgettable and one-dimensional characters. The lack of compelling performances further hampers the film’s ability to engage the audience on an emotional level.

In terms of scares, Rings falls disappointingly short. The film relies heavily on cheap jump scares and predictable horror tropes, failing to build a sense of genuine dread. The atmosphere is lacking, and the few moments that attempt to generate fear are too fleeting to leave a lasting impact. Instead of relying on psychological terror and a sense of impending doom, the movie resorts to predictable and tired horror clichés that offer little to no surprises.

Another aspect that contributes to the film’s downfall is its over-reliance on exposition. Rings frequently interrupts the narrative to explain the convoluted mythology behind the cursed videotape. While some exposition is necessary, the film leans too heavily on it, sacrificing moments of tension and suspense for lengthy explanations. This approach robs the story of its mystery and removes the opportunity for the audience to piece together the puzzle themselves.

Additionally, the third act of Rings takes a disappointing turn, deviating from the established formula of the franchise and introducing a lackluster plot twist. This decision feels forced and fails to add anything meaningful to the overall story. Instead, it further contributes to the film’s overall lack of coherence and undermines the impact of the climax.

Rings is a lackluster addition to the beloved horror franchise. With its convoluted screenplay, sluggish pacing, uninspired visuals, and underwhelming performances, the film fails to capture the essence and chilling atmosphere of the original films. It lacks the psychological terror and originality that made the franchise a success in the first place, relying instead on predictable jump scares and an overabundance of exposition. If you’re a fan of the franchise, it’s best to stick to the original films and avoid this disappointing installment.