It is only fair in a blog that has no issue with picking apart bad movies, the same scrutiny should apply for movies regarded in a positive light. Yes, I not only enjoyed The Ring, I adored it when it came out. Why? The primary attributes will be capitalized.
First, and foremost, it was ORIGINAL. Even a remake of an Asian film obliterated American movies that year. In the years since its release, few American movies can be compared.
Second, the movie was PLAUSIBLE. It had a very real single-parent household with the very real scenario of the single parent working a lot to make ends meet. There was a believable tension when the screenwriter let the audience know who both parents were.
Third, URGENCY. There was a dark riddle that had to be solved within 7 days. There was no time for rambling, back story, or anything else to slow the pace. We didn't really care who was doing what or who was a villain, there wasn't time, and it was excellent.
Fourth, IMMEDIACY. The action began last week. The movie gives you no time to get bored because the conflict and suspense begin just a few minutes into the movie.
Fifth, it was actually CREEPY. Thank you Gore Verbinski for making this a masterpiece. A movie that actually uses creepy imagery and lighting that ties up the atmosphere nicely. There are giant centipedes, medical equipment, and the like to stir fear in the minds of viewers.
The original movie, titled Ringu, was a blockbuster in Japan. This 1998 film broke expectation and began a quest to explore a seemingly new realm in horror.
Again, what elements made this so popular:
* Originality
* Plausibility
* Urgency
* Immediacy
* Creepy
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