Ringu 2 Review
It's easy to fault sequels for not standing up to the originality of their predecessors, and even if the sequel turns out to be a decent, if not quite as effective film, the urge to attack sequels strictly on the basis of familiarity is just too difficult for some to resist. While this sequel to 1998's Ringu may not have an original plot device as unexpectedly chilling and urgent as that film's deadly videotape, it does provide a slow-burning terror that integrates minor characters from Ringu into an effectively creepy yarn that respects its viewers' intelligence and knowledge of the previous installment. Those unfamiliar with the original plot and characters will undoubtedly drown in the sea of speculation and newly revealed facts surrounding the mysterious Sadako, and for this reason a viewing of its predecessor is an essential prerequisite. Refining his almost clinical visual scheme into an even more effectively icy canvas, director Hideo_Nakata has obviously progressed in terms of style, and while there is no immediate driving threat as compelling as the cursed videotape, Nakata has also mastered the art of maintaining a sustained dread that relies more on tone than situation. As the protagonists of Ringu 2 attempt to decipher the true abilities of Sadako's power in order to capture it and render it ineffective, viewers are drawn into their plight and offered a curious twist in the form of another, potentially much more explosively powerful, psychic child. Where Ringu implemented a fairly conventional means of distributing its scares, this sequel abandons the first film's methods, and in doing so, often catches the viewer off-guard to great effect. In all of its quiet moments of speculation, the viewer is never quite sure what corner of the screen the next chilling image will emerge from, and therefore, can never truly relax. This is where Ringu 2 truly excels in keeping viewers' pulses racing without the mystery of the first film, and their breath quickening with uncertainty. Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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