Ring

Im Rahmen der Klischees zeigt Ring nichts Neues und die Logik des Drehbuchs hat einige Lücken. Die Filmemacher-Seite ist aber so brillant, dass man begeistert ist. Dieser Horrorfilm ist scharf wie eine Rasierklinge, seine Kamera ist verregnet und düster, die Musik klingt bedrohlich. Die Rolle des kleinen Jungen wurde ideal besetzt. Naomi Watts ist schön, natürlich und spontan. (06.04.2003)

There are some excellent scenes, and a few compositionally clever shots, but after it finished I told myself “Is that it?”. I don't know what it was that didn't work, but I just wasn't scared, which is a pretty serious problem with horror. The Ring just fizzled through my head. I have quite a problem with remakes of Japanese horror movies. (02.03.2003)

I don’t like Verbinski’s The Ring much due to the long-haired ghost-story remake craze it generated. Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly a very scary movie. (14.08.2007)

If you ever feel like criticizing the movie genre called horror, go ahead and watch The Ring. It’s one of the modern horror movies borrowing a premise from Japan, but at the time it, it’s shot so inventively and originally that you’ll just have to enjoy it. (10.05.2018)

After more than ten years since the creation of the film, I am surprised how much the audience is fixated on Kruh as a devastating horror. And yet it works much better in its thrilling suspenseful dimension. Verbinski's move with the endless delaying of all the scary moments evidently succeeded. It then leads the viewer towards death through suspenseful scenes (watching the tape, discovering its images in the real world, the horse, the old Morgan) right to the literal edge of the well. You don't want to hurt anyone, do you? - But I do (29.01.2006)

Genre-wise, it's one of the best psychological horror films of the decade, a very successful remake of the original Japanese version, which is stylistically more appealing but less digestible for the Euroamerican viewer. In terms of gradually building atmosphere, it is very well executed both in terms of direction and screenplay. Overall impression, 90%. (12.01.2008)

An excellent horror, just the behavior of the characters at the beginning was a little strange. Verbinski layers up atmosphere, combining unpleasant chill with several very effective shockers. The investigation into the origin of the video tape drives the story nicely forward and several scenes are wonderfully surreal - the horse on the ferry, falling into the well, Samara’s emergence. Very good. (24.03.2013)

A remarkable thing. The Japanese original is probably a completely different film, but Gore Verbinski managed to capture a brilliant atmosphere in his remake, he succeeded in several nice compositions and visually excellent scenes. Traditionally, a ton of attention is drawn to the exceptional Naomi Watts, who has been in her best acting form in the past decade. (09.02.2014)

Eine Reihe von ausgezeichneten Szenen, eine solide geheimnisvolle Stimmung und eine geschickte Regie, die hier und da sehr schön mit abgedroschenen Horrorfilm-Klischees spielt (am Anfang gleich mehrmals, z. B. die Kühlschranktür). Leider ist die Handlung in einem Moment aus der Sicht der Logik gestolpert. In meinem Kopf sind einige Fragen aufgetaucht, welche den Fluch und sein Ende betrafen (Achtung, SPOILER): Warum hat Rachel die Halluzinationen die ganze Zeit, wenn sie der Fluch eigentlich nicht mehr betroffen hat und nur Noah sterben sollte (und später Aidan)? Gibt es da irgendeine Regel im Sinne von "Du wirst zwar nicht sterben, aber die Halluzinationen wirst du solange haben, bis der andere stirbt“? Oder handelt es sich hierbei nur um ein Loch im Drehbuch? Ich wäre bereit, auf die Erklärung einzugehen, dass Rachels Halluzinationen nur Erinnerungen an das Video sind. Das würde dann aber zu dem Finale im Brunnen nicht passen… Naja, ich weiß nicht. (12.02.2017)

If I've ever been scared shitless while watching a movie, this horror film is to blame. I don't know about the Japanese original, but Verbinski has managed to handle an absolutely brilliant and in itself terrifying premise in perhaps the best possible way. When Naomi Watts plays that evil videotape in that remote cabin, I was reluctant to watch it myself, as if I was already expecting a phone call and the deadly words "seven days" when the tape ended. Yes, the atmosphere is incredibly dense from start to finish, it's a completely different kind of fear, one I haven't encountered in any other horror film so far. The gloomy atmosphere is further deepened by the absolutely convincing performance of little David Dorfman. And yet, I’m not giving it a full rating. While the film was a real test of nerves, its story didn't have nearly the power of, say, The Shining or Hooper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Rather, it's a very skilfully packaged and spiced omelette that loses a bit of its flavour on a second viewing. But only a little, really... 80% (16.02.2012)

A thoroughly thought out "investigative" thriller. "Day after day" the tension builds and the atmosphere thickens nicely. Naomi Watts almost matches her performance from Mulholland Drive here, but only almost.) (10.05.2009)