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Miki Nakatani, Hitomi Sato, Kyôko Fukada, Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada ... see more see more... , Fumiyo Kohinata , Kenjiro Ishimaru , Rikiya Otaka , Yoichi Numata , Yûrei Yanagi

Hideo Nakata follows up on the phenomenal success of Ringu -- the highest grossing Japanese film up to that point -- with this effort. In the previous film, Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) was a television ... read more read more...reporter doing a piece on a videotape that seemed to kill those who watched it. Not long after learning that the cause of the killing was a vengeful spirit named Sadako who inhabited the video, Reiko's researcher ex-husband (Hiroyuki Sanada) died a painful death, and the fate of Reiko's son, Yoichi (Rikiya Otaka) -- who watched the tape -- was in doubt. Ring 2 opens with an autopsy of Sadako, whose supernatural rage was sparked when she was dumped in a well. Sadako's powers affect Yoichi, who survived the video and has become a medium of sorts for the wraith. Also affected is Reiko's dead husband's mistress, Mai Takano (played by pop star Miki Nakatani), whose life has become a living nightmare. Also under Sadako's power is Masami Kurahashi (Hitomi Sato), who was a schoolmate of one of Sadako's first victims. Though many try to get to the bottom of the problem -- including a psychologist (Fumiyo Kohinata) and a police detective (Kenjiro Ishimaru) -- the bodies start piling up. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Flixster Users

54% liked it

9,919 ratings

Critics

0% liked it

14 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Hideo Nakata

Release Date: August 23, 2005

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DVD Release Date: August 23, 2005

Stats: 426 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (426)


  • January 9, 2011
    This sequel out-does it's predecessor IMO. It injected a bit more life into it without losing the creepy atmosphere or scare-appeal. It continues on with the story of the evil Sadako very well and adds more thrills and chills.
  • September 5, 2008
    Well this time around the filmmakers got it right. 'Ringu 2' (1999) is now the true sequel to the 1998 original, forget 'Rasen' (1998). This time around we see Mai Takano and the powers that be go of to look for the answers to the cursed video and to find Reiko and Yoichi only to... read more find that Yoichi has developed Sadako's telekinetic powers and is in-fact becoming the demonic girl. This is the way they should have went in the first pace. 'Ringu 2' blows 'Rasen' out of the water and runs rings around 'Ringu'. T liked the original but found the suspense lacking and the film-making a nit bland, in this film however Hideo Nakata (who also helmed the original) gives the visuals a much needed kick and the atmosphere so much needed zing. The story is a lot more interesting and the acting gives the film a bit of a haunting feel.
  • April 19, 2008
    Ouch. It's hard to explain how wrong this movie goes. It starts off great, but spirals into a complete mess by the end, raising more questions than it answers.
  • November 25, 2006
    Always intriguing, with a few nerve jangling moments, but again I found myself waiting for a pay-off that never materialized.
  • October 5, 2008
    Disappointing, rushed sequel.
  • March 27, 2008
    Excellent sequel to the amazing Ringu. I love how Nakata never tried to remake the first film, but made a true sequel that starts off exactly where the last one left off. Nobody is safe in this one either as bit players in the first film take the lead and leads are pushed to bi... read moret players (for the most part). Also, the worst parent in the world, Reiko, makes a special appearance and this time there is no mistaking her for a hero. I also love how Nakata brings science into it, a la "The Legend of Hell House". Really good stuff.
  • January 30, 2011
    this movie is not as good as ringu, and the Japanese versions aren't as scary in my opinion as the american ones.. however it is still creepy... i have to agree with what another person put though, it is definitely unmemorable...
    it is the worst of the 4 ring movies (American an... read mored Japanese) but it's ok... just like any average horror flick.....
  • November 3, 2010
    Director HIdeo Nakata returns to the series, ignoring anything about the film Rasen (The Spiral) and simply continuing his own story.

    It's more interesting than the 'other' sequel, but still just spends its running time trying to make the story needlessly complicated, which I fo... read moreund a little frustrating personally.

    Worth a rental.
  • October 23, 2010
    You know, I can't remember if this is the best in the series, or the second best. It's that unmemorable. One aspect which I remember liking is the concept expansion - taking what was in the first film and following through the what-ifs. Do I really have to see this one again to a... read moreffirm?
  • July 18, 2010
    One of those sequels that's the same movie, basically. Rasen is actually based on the second novel, and a lot better.

Critic Reviews


Frank Swietek
April 9, 2005
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion

On The Ring 2. Full Review

David N. Butterworth
April 7, 2005
David N. Butterworth, rec.arts.movies.reviews

Less is often more but in the case of The Ring Two, the lazily-titled sequel to the popular -- and enormously successful -- The Ring, more is less, more or less. Full Review

Luke Y. Thompson
February 16, 2005
Luke Y. Thompson, LYTRules.com

All the cool stuff is at the very end, but until then...a bunch of new characters figure out all the same stuff that was already deduced in the first film. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
August 23, 2003
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Confuso, entediante e nada assustador, o filme destrói o interessante mito criado no original.

Christopher Null
March 25, 2003
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

a stillborn thriller Full Review

June 5, 2005
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
April 23, 2005
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Click to read the article Full Review

April 9, 2005
Dallas Morning News

Click to read the article Full Review

Geoff Pevere
April 2, 2005
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Travers
March 18, 2005
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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