Ring 2

I was worried the movie would follow the structure of the original to closely (which it does do at times) but overall it adds enough new ideas to the point where I think it separates itself enough from the original. It does it’s best to distance itself from the original cursed tape countdown aspect of the original by demonstrating Sadako’s power in new ways, whether that be the manipulation of new tapes and people or through being the physical manifestation of emotion.  The biggest issue I have with the movie is that it tries to throw in a bunch of different ideas that detract from the whole emotional imprint aspect the movie should have kept more in center focus. By throwing in Sadakos father and this idea that Yoichi (who’s straight faced the entire movie) is possessed by fear all feel either a. forced b. Like they should have been resolved in the previous movie or c. Better left for a future installment instead of trying to tie up a bunch of ideas and lose ends on your second movie. What sells the movie is the uniqueness of design and mythos building that separates it from more generic ghost movies. It uses the tropes that fit it whether that be the creepy kid or cursed visions while trying to stay from more annoying ghost story tropes. Overall a messy but relatively solid sequel to a good film, don’t really get the hate it gets. 8.75/10