Ringu (1998)

Ringu (Ring) — 1998 When young reporter Reiko Asakawa begins looking into the mysterious death of her niece, she uncovers rumors about a cursed videotape that kills anyone who watches it exactly seven days later. After Reiko views the tape herself, she and her ex-husband Ryuji must race against the clock to trace the tape’s origin, protect their son Yoichi, and unravel a decades-old tragedy linked to a remote volcanic island and a strange, tragic child named Sadako. The film is a slow-burning, tightly plotted mystery that blends investigative drama with supernatural horror. You’ll follow methodical sleuthing—interviews, clues, and trips to eerie locations—alongside growing, unavoidable dread as the deadline approaches. The scares come less from jump shocks than from unsettling imagery, creeping atmosphere, and the mounting sense that something inexorable is closing in. Watching Ringu delivers a clinical, oppressive chill: a sense of isolation, the weight of time running out, and the emotional urgency of parents trying to save their child. It’s atmospheric and haunting rather than splashy, pairing plausible, modern-day concerns (media, rumor, and technology) with folkloric terror. Expect tension that tightens steadily, memorable creepy visuals, and a lingering unease that stays with you after the credits.

Actors: Nanako Matsushima, Miki Nakatani, Yûko Takeuchi

Director: Hideo Nakata

Runtime: 96 min

Genres: Horror, Mystery

7.2 /10 7.2 /10