The Ring (2002 film)

The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ringu, which was based on the 1991 novel of the same name by Koji Suzuki.

The film centers on Rachel Keller (Watts), a journalist investigating a cursed videotape that supposedly kills the viewer seven days after watching it. As Rachel delves deeper into the mystery, she discovers the tragic story of Samara Morgan, a young girl with psychic abilities whose malevolent spirit is behind the curse.

The cursed videotape contains disturbing and surreal imagery, including a well, a ladder, a comb, and a centipede. Anyone who watches the tape receives a phone call shortly after, warning them of their impending death.

Rachel, desperate to save herself and her son Aidan (David Dorfman), who also watches the tape, must unravel the secrets of Samara's past and break the curse before it's too late. The film explores themes of childhood trauma, repressed memories, and the power of technology to spread fear and terror.

The Ring was a commercial success and received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its atmosphere, suspense, and Watts' performance. It helped to popularize the J-horror (Japanese horror) genre in the West and spawned a sequel, The Ring Two (2005), and a third film, Rings (2017). The film is notable for its visual style and its exploration of psychological horror rather than relying on gore. It remains a significant entry in the horror genre of the early 2000s.