RING is most famous Japanese horror film of all time, so this South Korean version of the same story has its work cut out. The narrative framework and scope of the storyline is almost exactly the same as in the Japanese movie, although there are a few differences, some of them crucial. One of the most notable things about this movie is that it sits more in the mystery/thriller genre, only hinting at horror in the occasional scene rather than dwelling on it as in the other movie.
Sadly, it turns out to be a disappointing watch, doubly so if you know the Japanese version off by heart. Where Hideo Nakata excelled in creating protracted sequences of drawn-out dread, THE RING VIRUS feels stately and slightly dull in comparison. Yes, there's a moment involving a television but it's nowhere near as petrifying as when Nakata did it. The cast and crew go through the motions of the story in a linear fashion without it ever fully engaging the senses; scary this isn't. Director Kim Dong-bin lacks the technical flourishes and sense of style that other Korean directors have brought to their work; the resultant film is passable rather than effective.
Sadly, it turns out to be a disappointing watch, doubly so if you know the Japanese version off by heart. Where Hideo Nakata excelled in creating protracted sequences of drawn-out dread, THE RING VIRUS feels stately and slightly dull in comparison. Yes, there's a moment involving a television but it's nowhere near as petrifying as when Nakata did it. The cast and crew go through the motions of the story in a linear fashion without it ever fully engaging the senses; scary this isn't. Director Kim Dong-bin lacks the technical flourishes and sense of style that other Korean directors have brought to their work; the resultant film is passable rather than effective.