The Ring: Full Circle



A couple weeks back Dreamworks re-released their 2002 horror film The Ring on DVD. It’s the exact same DVD they released initially, but it includes a bonus disc titled “The Ring: Full Circle.”  Rather than just being behind the scenes or promotional in nature, the main feature on this disc is “Rings,” a new 15-minute short film.


"Do Samara's memories have a DTS track?"

“Rings” follows Jake, a high school student who has been inducted into the world of cursed video tapes. It appears that Samara’s video tape has escaped into the general population of the United States, and now “rings” of people, mostly college students, are watching the tape and recording the visions they get. Before the seven days are up someone new is inducted into the ring by watching the cursed person’s video. Websites have sprung up to help people try to figure out what they are experiencing.

After seeing the tape Jake begins seeing the usual inexplicable things: ladders in unexpected places, flies that can be pulled off of TV screens, water acting in unexpected ways. As the images get more intense Jake tries to show his tape to his "tail," but it turns out the college students who showed him the tape have decided to take the opportunity to see what happens if someone goes past day seven without passing the curse on...


"Next time I'm getting the extended warranty!"

"Rings" is an okay little side story to The Ring. The credits at the end indicate that it may be based on a deleted subplot from one of Ehren Kruger's script to the sequel that is coming out in theaters this week. "Rings" may not add anything new to the mythology of Samara, but it does illustrate some of the interesting social situations that might result from an actual cursed video tape.

The other extras on the "The Ring: Full Circle" include trailers to the two American Ring films and the first Japanese one, as well as the cursed video tapes seen in all three films. There are also two promotional puff pieces interview the cast and crew of The Ring, but because these were done before the movie came out they are very shallow. What may make the set worth buying is that a free ticket to see The Ring Two in included, which can practically defray the cost of the DVD, depending on your moviegoing habits.

Posted: Wed - March 16, 2005 at      

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