Ringu 2 (1999)

Director:

Hideo Nakata

Writers:

Hiroshi Takahashi (screenplay)
Kôji Suzuki (novel)

Release Date:

23 January 1999 (Japan)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Reiko takes Yoichi into hiding when her son begins to display frightening powers. Meanwhile, Mai Takano and the authorities begin a desperate search for them, as the mysterious Ring curse spreads...

Plot Keywords:

Videotape | Curse | Sequel | Psychic | Mother Son Relationship

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Miki Nakatani	...	Mai Takano
Hitomi Satô	...	Masami Kurahashi
Kyôko Fukada	...	Kanae Sawaguchi
Fumiyo Kohinata	...	Kawajiri Ishi
Kenjirô Ishimaru	...	Ômuta Keiji
Yûrei Yanagi	...	Okazaki
Rikiya Ôtaka	...	Yôichi Asakawa
Yôichi Numata	...	Takashi Yamamura
Masako	...	Shizuko Yamamura
Miwako Kaji	...	Kazue Yamamura
Katsumi Muramatsu	...	Kôichi Asakawa
Daisuke Ban	...	Heihachirô Ikuma
Rie Ino'o	...	Sadako Yamamura
Reita Serizawa	...	Okazaki no Dôryô - Sakuma
Shinmei Tsuji	...	Manshon Kanrinin
Tarô Suwa	...	Kadokura Keiji
Kinto Tamura	...	Shorô no Otoko
Shirô Namiki	...	Gishi
Takashi Nishina	...	Joshu
Yoshiko Yura	...	Kangofu - Hayashi
Yôko Chôsokabe	...	Kangofu - Ukai
Isao Yatsu	...	Takushî Untenshu
Mebuki Tsuchida	...	Shôjo Jidai no Sadako
Kazumasa Taguchi	...	Keiji
Satahiko Irisawa	...	Wakai Keiji
Takahiko Tamura	...	TV Kyoku Kameraman
Hiroyuki Asano	...	TV Kyoku Sutaffu
Kôichi Shirato	...	TV Kyoku Sutaffu
Tomo Taniguchi	...	Fukei
Ai Ohara	...	Kangofu
Mitsuko Iwamoto	...	Kangofu
Katsue Matsushita	...	Kangofu
Kaho Yamaguchi	...	Kanja
Hana Yamanashi	...	Kanja
Sanae Kagaya	...	Kanja
Yôko Ashikawa	...	Kanja
Akeno	...	Kanja
Utsumi	...	Kanja
Mito	...	Kanja
Shôko	...	Kanja
Ayumi Tachibana	...	Kanja
Junko Sasaki	...	Kanja
Nanako Matsushima	...	Reiko Asakawa
Hiroyuki Sanada	...	Ryûji Takayama
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kazu Nagahama	...	Doctor #2 (uncredited)

Directed by
Hideo Nakata

Writing credits
Hiroshi Takahashi		(screenplay)
Kôji Suzuki		(novel "Ringu")

Produced by
Masato Hara	....	executive producer
Takashige Ichise	....	producer
Makoto Ishihara	....	producer

Original Music by
Kenji Kawai

Cinematography by
Hideo Yamamoto

Film Editing by
Nobuyuki Takahashi

Production Design by
Iwao Saitô

Makeup Department
Yûichi Matsui	....	special makeup effects artist
Takuya Wada	....	special makeup effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Hajime Matsumoto	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Marc Cole	....	additional Steadicam operator

Production Companies

• Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co.
• Ring 2 Production Group
• Asmik Ace Entertainment
• Oz Productions

Distributors

• EDKO Film (1999) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Toho Company (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Euripide Distribution (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Potential Films (2001) (Australia) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co.
• MTV Netherlands (2007) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Madman Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• Nihon Eiga Satellite Broadcasting (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• SBP (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• SBP (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• World Wide Cinema (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (200?) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Ring 2" - International (English title)
"El aro 2" - International (Spanish title), Venezuela
"A kör 2. - A félelem" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"Ring 2" - France
"Ring 2" - Sweden (imdb display title)
"Ringu 2: El círculo 2" - Spain (imdb display title)
"The Ring 2" - Argentina (video title)
"The Ring 2" - Denmark
"The Ring 2: I katara" - Greece (DVD title)
"The Ring: Krag 2" - Poland (imdb display title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-11 (2003) | Finland:K-18 (self applied) (2002) | USA:Not Rated | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | Philippines:PG-13 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | Germany:16

Company:

Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co.

Trivia:

Ringu (1998) and Rasen (1998) were shot back-to-back from the novels by Koji Suzuki and released in theaters as a double bill. After audiences hated The Spiral, Asmik Ace Entertainment hired the cast and crew of the original to make this replacement sequel.

Quotes:

[only line]
Sadako Yamamura:Why were you the only one saved?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film (2009)

Soundtrack:

Kôri no yô ni hohoende

I perfect sequel to the original blow away movie

Ringu 2 for me has to be one of the best sequels made. It has all the feel of Ring and also refers to back to the original movie. The scene at the hospital with the kid from the original who is too frightened to see a TV was a brilliant piece of look back setting.

It is definately a movie that makes one think that Ringu & Ringu 2 were one whole movie split into two separate ones. There is no indication of a budget increase, or special effects to impress existing fans, and definately holds the Ringu style strong.

With clever use of the original cast and elimination of them when needed and the introduction of newer characters makes this film seem as though you have already seen it but are reminded, that you have not.

Yes it is scary, yes it delves more into the mind of Sadako and Yoichi in brilliant technique and yes it will continue your nightmares. I think that something very clever has gone on with the directors in how they want to leave the audience thinking. The original movie left the audience thinking about something coming out of their TV. Then, in the second, tries to create a fear of TV all together and combined with what we see in the original and now in the sequel, does a bloody good job.

I am personally fearful of an "off" TV in a dark room alone. I know nothing is gonna happen, or that Sadako is not real. However, because of the shear impact that this movie has had on me my imagination can create a fear so bad that I must sleep with the TV on.