The Ring Two (PG-13, 2005)

In THE RING TWO, single-mom and journalist Rachel (Naomi Watts) has packed up son, Aidan (David Dorfman), and the city apartment in favor of a new start away from the killer-video-tapes of Seattle. No sooner can Rachel say "we are safe now," then she hears about a local teen who has died from terror in front of his television. Rachel destroys the new tape only to find that deadly little tape-ghost, Samara, has designs on taking over Aidan. The chase is on: Rachel must find out how to get Samara out of their lives for good, seeking help from the young ghost's biological mother (Sissy Spacek). Realizing she will have to take care of business herself, Rachel dives into a series of watery endings that come together in a muddy puddle, ultimately demonstrating that maternal love wins over evil. Or something to that effect.

First off, this is the kind of sequel where you really should see The Ring before seeing this sequel. In addition to the many visual and character references, you also will understand that the second in the series, while scarier, lacks the first's novelty and many of its strengths. Here, Samara is free from the rules of the first movie. She pops out of the video and into their lives without the requisite seven-day waiting period and shows no intention of leaving.

Director Hideo Nakata, who was the mastermind behind the Ring's inspiration (Japanese blockbuster Ringu and its sequel), excels at atmospherics but is lazy with plot. While spookier than the first, the bare bones of the movie read like a rehashed Lifetime channel drama. If you're willing to jump over the plot's many weak bits, then this psychological thriller is a good-looking spook-fest and a should-see for fans of the original. For those looking for a tight, tense stand-alone horror movie, they might want to peek into another dark corner.

Studio: DreamWorks
Director: Hideo Nakata
Cast: Naomi Watts, Simon Baker, Sissy Spacek
Genre: Horror
Run time: 107 minutes
Theatrical release: March 18, 2005
DVD release: August 23, 2005
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: violence/terror, disturbing images, thematic elements and some language