Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Supernatural scares in original Japanese horror.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Ring
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE RING, high school students pass on scary stories about a cursed VHS tape that causes the death of anyone who watches it exactly seven days later. When a group of teens die a week after watching the tape, journalist Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) investigates the story—hoping to find answers for the death of her niece. As she's pulled further into the mystery, she enlists the help of her ex, Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), and the clock is soon ticking to find answers before their own seven days are up.
Is It Any Good?
A frontrunner of the J-Horror era—which took the world by storm during the late 1990s/early 2000s—this is a genuinely creepy movie full of imagery that will haunt you long after the credits roll. Certain shots have become iconic, and The Ring (also known as Ringu)'s central ghostly figure Sadako (Samara in the U.S. remake) is etched in a collective horror unconscious, just waiting to crawl out. Talking of the remake, this is definitely scarier than the U.S. version. The tension feels higher, there are more shadowy unknowns, and a less drawn-out backstory. The day-by-day countdown structure keeps the intensity building as we get closer to Reiko's week-long deadline, and it only becomes more urgent as other loved ones watch the video too. For those who haven't seen Japanese horror films before, but enjoy a good ghost story, this is a great introduction to a body of work that still has a strong presence in the wider genre today.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the approach The Ring takes to horror. How does it create atmosphere? How much scary stuff is shown on-screen compared to implied? What are some of the scariest moments and why?
What do you think it is about this story that has gone on to encourage Japanese sequels and American remakes? How does this compare to the U.S. remake? How does it compare to other Japanese horrors you've seen that have also been remade for Western audiences?
What did you think of the ending of the film? How do you feel about the choice Reiko makes in order to try and protect herself and her son?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 4, 2003
- Cast : Nanako Matsushima , Hiroyuki Sanada , Yûko Takeuchi
- Director : Hideo Nakata
- Studio : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy ( Ghosts )
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 17, 2026
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