A sequel to a remake of an overrated original, The Ring Two is as confusing as it is unnecessary. Naomi Watts again stars as a journalist who stumbles across a sinister VHS tape that kills viewers within a week of watching it. This time, to protect her son (David Dorfman), she destroys it, but the evil spirit within it sets out for revenge, through a series of increasingly
illogical, daft, and dull 'scare' scenes. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.
Watts is a terrific actress, but there's little she can do to cover the cavernous gaps in logic in Ehren Kruger's script. The first film at least had a smart, scary hook - one that could have worked again with a different set of characters. But using the same leads requires abandoning
any sense. Things happen here for no other reason than, well, the makers need something to happen.
"NAKATA'S BORED AND IT SHOWS"
Making his Hollywood debut, is director Hideo Nakata, the man behind the original Japanese hit Ringu and its lacklustre sequel. This is his third take on the same material - he's bored and it shows.
A potentially interesting angle on motherly madness and abuse is touched on but underexplored, while the only really distinctive touch comes from the director's fear of deer. But this results in the most ludicrous scene in the film, when a bunch of badass Bambis attack Watts and her sprog. It's the unintentionally funny low point of a franchise that's run out of ideas. Ring off.
The Ring Two (2005)
