While The Ring delivers all the clichéd excitement and shock of a fright night horror film, its method is interesting and it is able to provide a thoughtful commentary on the nature of technology in our lives.
Based on a Japanese thriller by Hideo Nakata, The Ring follows Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts of Mulholland Drive fame) as she discovers that her niece’s recent death may be linked with a mysterious video. A suspicious and inquisitive reporter, she naturally follows up on the case, tracking down the video and viewing it herself.
While the audience has to suspend disbelief and accept the protagonist’s eagerness to watch a video that causes death, her clueless behavior is in line with the typical diminished intellect of a horror film victim.
After watching the film, she receives a call with a voice on the other end saying only Seven Days. As her fear and drive intensify, she starts unearthing more disturbing details, including a creepy little girl who is somehow involved in the carnage. The suspense continues to build and finally culminates in an unsettling climax.
The film’s underbelly is a familiar criticism of technology and its threat to society. As the medium of television and video actually cause death in the movie, evil becomes embodied in imagery and the imagery comes to life to kill its next victim. Although one might think that escape would be as easy as unplugging the television or retreating to the woods, both are eliminated as possibilities.

The former does not seem to matter, as the individual’s agency is taken away. Her desire to “not watch” is disallowed, as she must bear witness to her own death. As the movie’s tagline says, “Before you die, you see the ring.” Technology, especially television and video, seem to be unavoidable, making existence without the media impossible. In fact, the only way to escape the evil of the medium is to replicate it — increasing its potential damage, even if the individual escapes harm in the process.

The Ring is a disappointing thriller, lingering a bit too long on plot development and the build to its climax, and failing to provide enough crap-your-pants kind of moments. However, the film’s commentary on technology gives the viewer a reason to watch closely as the action unfolds.