by Richard Brecker in London
Possibly not for those of a superstitous or nervous disposition or for watching just before bedtime. But for scary movie fans, students and a large percentage of the teen to 30 something audience, it will undoubtedly win the thumbs up and possibly even the word of mouth buzz that turned "The Blair Witch Project" into such a box-office smash.
And if we are all still around to rave about the film in seven days (after which time anyone who has seen the dreaded Ring must surely die) so much the better ! This is a much more sophisticated, spooky and intriguing piece of work than Blair Witch for my money led with a powerful and convincing performance by NAOMI WATTS who, as journalist Rachel Keller, continues to impress after her widely acclaimed role in DAVID LYNCH‘s "Mullholland Drive".
DAVID DORFMAN also shines for me as Rachel‘s softly spoken young son Aidan with a performance reminicsent of HALEY JOEL OSMENT in the classic 1999 movie "The Sixth Sense" who, you will recall, had the ability to see dead people.
In all honesty, I found "The Ring" more disturbing than scary as there were not quite as many shriek/jump-straight out-of-my seat moments as I had perhaps anticipated. But overall an absorbing mind-trip which younger horror fans than this wizened old hack should roll up to see.
UK Release: 21st Febuary 2003
Celebrities Worldwide Rating: 6.5 to 7 out of 10
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
