The first horror movie I ever saw was The Ring. I only got through half of it, but the distorted face of the first person to be victim to Samara, Katie, has been seared into my brain every since I was 12 (the name being a big factor, of course, because when you’re 12 you think there’s a significance to people having the same name as you). I refuse to revisit the film even though the vast amount of horror films I’ve seen over the years has probably prepared me to re-tackle it, but I can’t. There’s something about that first scary movie you see as a child, like realizing the monster under your bed doesn’t actually exist, but that doesn’t mean your fear wasn’t real.
I also haven’t seen The Ring Two, for much of the same reason. I imagine I’ll have the same feelings for Rings, the newest film about the creepy long haired girl from the well named Samara. The film releases February 3 from director F. Javier Gutierrez. From what I can tell, it’s the same basic premise — you watch the video of Samara’s life, you die seven days later, just with modern updates (video links through email instead of a VHS). The second trailer, which dropped today, shows what looks to be a young Samara, so I’m guessing there will be more backstory into how Samara became an evil murdering ghost.
Horror sequels don’t often fair too well, and I’m not feeling too positive about this one. Though I haven’t revisited The Ring, I have watched the scene in which she climbs out of the television a multitude of times. Not only do I think it’s a great scene, it’s also one of the greatest scenes in horror film history for the inevitable dread it provokes while watching it. Perfectly crafted and executed, it’s one of those scenes that’s hard to replicate. But replicate it does, in this Rings trailer. The Ring had a simple concept, which is probably why it worked so well. But to expand on it not once, but two more times, using the same horror beats no less, might be too much.
But who knows. It’s not like I’ve seen this film yet.
Rings stars Aimee Teegarden, Vincent D’Onofrino, Johnny Galecki, and Laura Wiggins.
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