Ring (Japanese: リング Ringu) is a 1998 Japanese horror mystery film by Hideo Nakata.

Ringu (Japanese: リング- 1998) A Japanese horror/mystery film by Hideo Nakata. The screenplay was adapted from a novel of the same name by Koji Suzuki, which itself draws on the Japanese folk tale Banchō Sarayashiki. The film stars Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Rikiya Otaka as members of a divorced family, each cursed by a videotape. The film was later remade in the United States as The Ring (2002).

The film is the highest grossing horror film in Japan at 12 billion yen ($137.7 million) and is considered the most frightening Japanese horror film to date.

General synopsis: Okay, its this simple. There is a videotape circulating that causes the viewer to die horribly seven days after being watched. The tape itself is made up of a multitude of increasingly disturbing images. A reporter catches onto this myth/story and investigates, watching the film in the process. After viewing, she inherits the curse and receives a call telling her she will die in seven days. Over the course of her investigation and attempt to bypass the curse, she makes a copy of the tape and her ex husband and young son watch it. They too become part of the curse. Eventually, after much mucking about, it is determined that the ghost/curse is the spirit of a young psychic girl who was killed and thrown in a well. After her body is discovered, it still does not alleviate the curse. The tape must continually be watched and copied, then passed along in order to prevent death.

Okay, that synopsis does this film no justice, as it is one of the most, if not the most, frightening film I have ever seen. The American remake is good but this film is freaking disturbing, from the video tape to the girl and the tv entrance, this is one big creep fest. And it twists and turns more than a snake on a pole dancer. I have said it before and I'll say it again, the Asians, the Japanese in particular, have a genuine grasp of horror; of what chills the soul. This film, even after viewing several times, and thus knowing what is to come, scares the heck out of you. I cannot recommend it highly enough. And for the record, the American remake is damn good too. Not as good as the original, mind you. But damn good nonetheless.
Overall, I give this film a 5 out of 5, and only because I was foolish and did not make the film go to 1 zillion. WATCH THIS ONE!