Paramount+ Horror Remake Continues To Terrify Decades Later

Directed by Gore Verbinksi, the film stars Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, and Brian Cox. Based in the dreary and ever so moody Pacific Northwest, The Ring’s location may as well be another supporting character. And despite being 22 years old, this horror film still offers up plenty of terrifying scares.

The film follows hard-nosed reporter Rachel, who is tasked with investigating the mysterious death of her teenage niece. After unraveling the truth behind a spooky urban legend, Rachel discovers a bizarre video tape that may give her all of the answers. There’s just one catch.

Anybody who watches the tape has just seven days before they die. With the help of her ex-husband, Rachel works tirelessly around the clock to investigate the origin of the tape and the meaning behind The Ring. But she soon finds out that some mysteries are better left unsolved.

The Ring is based on the 1998 Japanese horror classic, Ringu. Directed by Hideo Nakata, the film was an instant hit and became a part of a cluster of horror films that hailed out of the land of the rising sun. The J-Horror boom included films such as Audition, Ju-on: The Grudge, and Pulse.

The frenzy of J-Horror films around the turn of the 21st century deeply impacted American cinema as well. Along with The Ring, The Grudge and Pulse were also developed into Hollywood remakes. However, neither of the latter two films was able to stand up to the success of The Ring.

With a solid score of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was a hit among critics. The flick didn’t do too badly with audiences either. The Ring raked in nearly $250 million worldwide at the box office.

Banking on the film’s success, The Ring Two was released in 2005. With Watts returning to star and Ringu director Hideo Nakata at the helm, expectations were fairly high for the sequel. However, the film was panned by critics and struggled at the box office.

So what sets The Ring apart from every other J-Horror film remakes? You should look no further than the powerhouse performance of Watts. The British actress thrived in her role, offering up iconic screams and memorable scenes throughout the film.

For most Hollywood remakes, just going through the motions of the original is enough. The Ring not only perfectly duplicates the story of Ringu, but it delivers on the tone and atmosphere as well. A sense of dread and uneasiness can be felt throughout the movie, which only enhances the horror element.

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In addition to the murky mood of the film, there is just the right amount of jump scares sprinkled in. It might not be the most frightening movie ever made, but it’ll certainly get the job done for anyone looking for a scare or two.

Whether you have seven days or seven decades left, The Ring is a must-watch horror remake on Paramount+.