Ringu 2 (1999)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Hideo Nakata

Writers:

Hiroshi Takahashi (screenplay)
Kôji Suzuki (novel)

Release Date:

23 January 1999 (Japan)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Reiko takes Yoichi into hiding when her son begins to display frightening powers. Meanwhile, Mai Takano and the authorities begin a desperate search for them, as the mysterious Ring curse spreads...

Plot Keywords:

Psychic | Videotape | Curse | Sequel | Urban Legend

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Miki Nakatani	...	Mai Takano
Hitomi Satô	...	Masami Kurahashi
Kyôko Fukada	...	Kanae Sawaguchi
Fumiyo Kohinata	...	Kawajiri Ishi
Kenjirô Ishimaru	...	Ômuta Keiji
Yûrei Yanagi	...	Okazaki
Rikiya Ôtaka	...	Yôichi Asakawa
Yôichi Numata	...	Takashi Yamamura
Masako	...	Shizuko Yamamura
Miwako Kaji	...	Kazue Yamamura
Katsumi Muramatsu	...	Kôichi Asakawa
Daisuke Ban	...	Heihachirô Ikuma
Rie Ino'o	...	Sadako Yamamura
Reita Serizawa	...	Okazaki no Dôryô - Sakuma
Shinmei Tsuji	...	Manshon Kanrinin

Also Known As:

Ring 2 (International: English title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | Philippines:PG-13 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | Germany:16

Company:

Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co.

Trivia:

Ringu (1998) and Rasen (1998) were shot back-to-back from the novels by Koji Suzuki and released in theaters as a double bill. After audiences hated The Spiral, Asmik Ace Entertainment hired the cast and crew of the original to make this replacement sequel.

Quotes:

Ryuji Takayama: Yoichi, give your fear to me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Ring Two (2005)

Soundtrack:

Kôri no yô ni hohoende

Not bad...

This sequel picks up right where Ringu left off. Mai Takano, the pretty young woman who found Ryuji dead in the first film, is the star of this one as she searches for the missing Reiko and Yoichi. Young Yoichi is in danger and is kept in hiding by his frightened mother as he begins to exhibit the same deadly powers that Sadako possessed. The same is also true of a teenage girl who was present at the death of Reiko's niece, Tomoko. Doctors attempt to find a way to diffuse the terrible energy which infects the survivors of Sadako's wrath. But Sadako herself is not done wreaking her vengeance yet. More terrible truths emerge about Sadako's unholy conception and her demonic capabilities, and both Mai and Yoichi are in terrible danger. However, Sadako's repentant grandfather and the ghost of the powerfully psychic Ryuji stand between Sadako and her goal - to possess Yoichi and begin the cycle all over again.

There are some great moments present here in Ringu 2, but sadly, nothing comes close to the shock of Sadako's emergence from a television in the first film. All of the original characters are back, as well as a few new ones. Great moments include a scene with the freaky ghost of Shizuko - Sadako's mother, a roomful of people reacting with insane horror to the brief presence of Sadako on a TV screen, and another claustrophobic ending in a dark, creepy well. This isn't quite the spooky good ghost story that the original was, but it's not bad, all things considered. I've seen worse sequels.