How can two films with plots so similar be so different?
More than a month ago I had to sit through “FearDotCom” and wonder why it failed. A Web site that kills people?
Now, with “The Ring,” a killer video tape?
Seattle newspaper reporter Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) is about to embark on the story of her career that hits close to home. She starts investigating the death of her niece and discovers that a video tape may be the key to her suspicious death and more than an urban legend.
Those who watch the film are exposed to abstract images that conclude with a ring of light. A courtesy call is placed to each viewer following the tape’s completion and informs the victims that they have only seven days to live.
Rachel exposes herself to the tape’s contents to find answers. What she finds is that she is no exception to the rule. Not only are her days numbered, but the lives of her son, Aidan (David Dorfman) and his father, Noah (Martin Henderson) also are in danger.
Her investigation leads her to a remote island off the coast of Washington, where a rash of horse suicides have been connected to images in the video tape. But it’s a race against time for Rachel, not only for herself, but for those closest to her.
Sadly, “The Ring” replicates “FearDotCom.” Only now, “The Ring” somehow hits a nerve that makes the film worth watching. So why is “The Ring” more entertaining than “FearDotCom” despite the fact that their plots are nearly identical? That’s like asking why a sunset is good. It just is.
Excluding the appearance of a developing romance helps “The Ring” distinguish itself from “FearDotCom.” While there is a history between Noah and Rachel, something hidden from the audience when it could have been disclosed, there is no real urge to see them together. There is nothing worse than tying in a building romance to cheapen a thriller. It creates a level of urgency in characters to save their partners’ lives and inevitably ends with the two in each other’s arms just after the climax.
Big things come in small packages. Dorfman brings a freakishness to “The Ring” the same way Danny Lloyd did in “The Shining.” His role also is key in putting together the pieces because he seems to know too much. There is little explanation to why he knows what he does until the audience finally makes the connection.
The most intense scenes are shot slowly, as if to build suspense. This is a common trick to prepare the audience for something scary. But the way the shots are set up, especially interior shots, add to the suspense. Set design in “The Ring,” especially the low-lit hallway or a confined space to instill fear, is used perfectly.
No matter how many thrillers I watch, I am still surprised when it’s not over, forgetting about the second climax. Just remember, it’s not over until the credits roll.
