The Ring

[Wesley Clark]

Having just seen parts I and II I thought it was a good movie. part 1 was the first scary movie I've seen in a decade, but part two wasn't nearly as good or scary at all. I know at least one thread discusses this movie but;



What is meant by 'she never sleeps' and why would it bother Samara to be in the barn? She said she didn't like the barn because the horses kept her awake, but since she never sleeps why does that matter?

When Samara is at the ward and she says 'daddy wants to get rid of me, but he doesn't know', he doesn't know what? He doesn't know that she is telepathic and will follow him the rest of his life?

Was Samara the one that told Anna Morgan to push her into the well? I am assuming so.

What possessed Samara, and why does it seem afraid of the water? Samara implied that she wasn't in control, and each time people tried to end what was happening water was involved.

Was the father responsible for all the miscarriages Anna went though? He said 'she was never supposed to have a child' and Anna had miscarriage after miscarriage. I am assuming the father was responsible somehow for all of those.

[Timshel]

My take on "The Ring":

There really IS a thing such as evil. In this case, its name is Samara.

The irony, of course, is that a child, the very symbol of innocence, could be the embodiment of evil. So no one suspects -- or can accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence -- the simple truth. Except her father. And, ultimately, her mother (which is why Anna inexorably concedes, choosing to kill Samara and then herself). Interestingly, Samara's first victims in the film are also children. Interesting also that the boy, unencumbered as he is with sophisticated adult cognitive skills, is the one who understands her nature best.

The "evil" theme is carried out in the film in disease, sickness, and death symbolism. Evil is a pathology that infects, spreads, and corrupts.

"She [evil] never sleeps." What causes evil? Who knows? And does it matter? The film doesn't really hint at causation. It's rather Kafkaesque.

The horses keep her awake because they're restless in the presence of evil, suggesting an animal sensitivity to the inchoate.

Daddy doesn't know that she will never be gotten rid of.

Water is a symbol for life and health. The movie uses it as a symbol for (temporary) respite from evil and death, a sort of force that holds evil in check.

Anna, legitimately, wanted children. Nature didn't provide, so she and husband adopted. They got a little more than they bargained for. The child's biological origin is obscure (where does evil come from and why?). In retrospect, the father speculates that they probably should have left well enough alone, as Nature intended.

I thought the movie was very good. It contained a lot of allusions to Hitchcock, who was also preoccupied with evil in its many manifestations and the theme of innocence betrayed.

[Timshel]

Originally Posted by Timshel

My take on "The Ring":

There really IS a thing such as evil. In this case, its name is Samara.

The irony, of course, is that a child, the very symbol of innocence, could be the embodiment of evil. So no one suspects -- or can accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence -- the simple truth. Except her father. And, ultimately, her mother (which is why Anna inexorably concedes, choosing to kill Samara and then herself). Interestingly, Samara's first victims in the film are also children. Interesting also that the boy, unencumbered as he is with sophisticated adult cognitive skills, is the one who understands her nature best.

The "evil" theme is carried out in the film in disease, sickness, and death symbolism. Evil is a pathology that infects, spreads, and corrupts.

"She [evil] never sleeps." What causes evil? Who knows? And does it matter? The film doesn't really hint at causation. It's rather Kafkaesque.

The horses keep her awake because they're restless in the presence of evil, suggesting an animal sensitivity to the inchoate.

Daddy doesn't know that she will never be gotten rid of.

Water is a symbol for life and health. The movie uses it as a symbol for (temporary) respite from evil and death, a sort of force that holds evil in check.

Anna, legitimately, wanted children. Nature didn't provide, so she and husband adopted. They got a little more than they bargained for. The child's biological origin is obscure (where does evil come from and why?). In retrospect, the father speculates that they probably should have left well enough alone, as Nature intended.

I thought the movie was very good. It contained a lot of allusions to Hitchcock, who was also preoccupied with evil in its many manifestations and the theme of innocence betrayed.

Addendum: She was put in the barn by her parents (maybe just her father) in an effort to isolate and contain her. And it is possible to inoculate oneself, as Rachel discovered.

[gigi]

I just couldn't get past the idea that the guy with Naomi Watts watched the tape after knowing he would die. It's one thing to watch it not knowing any better, but that was just dumb.

[WOOKINPANUB]

Originally Posted by Wesley Clark

What is meant by 'she never sleeps' and why would it bother Samara to be in the barn? She said she didn't like the barn because the horses kept her awake, but since she never sleeps why does that matter?

The horses sense she is evil and are uneasy in her presence, thus making noise and keeping her awake. That was before Anna pushed her down the well. Now she is a spirit / ghost whatever and never rests from her quest for revenge.

When Samara is at the ward and she says 'daddy wants to get rid of me, but he doesn't know', he doesn't know what? He doesn't know that she is telepathic and will follow him the rest of his life?

Correctamundo.

Was Samara the one that told Anna Morgan to push her into the well? I am assuming so.

I think Anna was going crazy and beside herself with sadness because the thing she wanted more than anything in the world was now causing her to lose her mind. So, yes, Samara caused it, but not intentionally.

What possessed Samara, and why does it seem afraid of the water? Samara implied that she wasn't in control, and each time people tried to end what was happening water was involved.

Remember, this is based on a Japanes story, and water plays a significant part in Japanese lore. Her lingering, horrific death took place at the bottom of a well, thus she was in a sense sharing the experience with her victims. As for her not being in control, not really sure except I got the sense that once a great evil is unleashed, no one can stop it. If you're thinking specifically of how she seems to be apologetically saying she can't help it in one scene and then maliciously implying she won't stop it in a leter scene, I think that was don't to illustrate how Rachel misunderstood Samara's motivations, i.e. she thought Samara was a victim until she learned the truth.

Was the father responsible for all the miscarriages Anna went though? He said 'she was never supposed to have a child' and Anna had miscarriage after miscarriage. I am assuming the father was responsible somehow for all of those.

I don't think we're meant to believe he was the cause of her miscarriages. I think by telling us how many times they'd tried and failed shows that nature didn't intend for her to bear a child and when they turn to "other means" (which is never really explained) we get a big fat lesson in why it's not nice to fool Mother Nature.

[jjimm]

Any inconsistencies regarding the horses and the barn should be seen in the light of these devices being (irrelevantly, IMO) stuck on to the original plot of Ringu.

[The Chao Goes Mu]

Originally Posted by gigi

I just couldn't get past the idea that the guy with Naomi Watts watched the tape after knowing he would die. It's one thing to watch it not knowing any better, but that was just dumb.

It's been a while since I've watched it but IIRC, he was in his apartment/studio when his t.v. clicked on by itself (Samara's doing) the tape started playing, I think, and he just couldn't take his eyes off of it. He was captivated by it. The longer he watched the stronger the hold it had on him. It seemed that he didn't realize what was happening until she (Samara) came out of the t.v. By that time it was too late for poor ol' Noah.

[Timshel]

Originally Posted by gigi

I just couldn't get past the idea that the guy with Naomi Watts watched the tape after knowing he would die. It's one thing to watch it not knowing any better, but that was just dumb.

Well, he didn't know he was going to die, or didn't believe it. He only became a believer after he saw his own distorted reflection in the convenience store mirror.

If you mean at the end, remember that he and Rachel thought that by releasing Samara's spirit they had neutralized her. Only Rachel was privy to the fateful conversation with their son: "You didn't help her!" After that, Rachel was unable to get Noah on the phone to warn him.

[The Chao Goes Mu]

Originally Posted by Timshel

Well, he didn't know he was going to die, or didn't believe it. He only became a believer after he saw his own distorted reflection in the convenience store mirror.

If you mean at the end, remember that he and Rachel thought that by releasing Samara's spirit they had neutralized her. Only Rachel was privy to the fateful conversation with their son: "You didn't help her!" After that, Rachel was unable to get Noah on the phone to warn him.

Yes! That's it. Thanks for correcting me. It's all coming back to me now.

[Sublight]

Originally Posted by gigi

I just couldn't get past the idea that the guy with Naomi Watts watched the tape after knowing he would die. It's one thing to watch it not knowing any better, but that was just dumb.

Do you mean the ex-husband at the end of the first movie?

If so, remember that he still thinks they've lifted the curse and set poor, tortured, victimized Samara free. Only when it's too late does he realize that she's still pissed off.

Also, one of the most terrifying things about Samara (perhaps portayed better in the Japanese version) was the feeling of absolute inevitability around her. Some victims ran and hid, some froze in their tracks, but no matter what, when time ran out, she took them.