English (PVR Cinemas, Innovative Multiplex)

Cast: Naomi Watts, David Dorfman, Simon Baker, Kelly Stables

Director: Hideo Nakata

High schooler found dead in front of TV screen. Face disfigured beyond belief. Video tape involved. Does that ring a bell?

Hideo Nakata’s The Ring Two, a worthwhile sequel to The Ring based on Koji Suzuki’s novel, is here at last. Six months post the eerie occurrences in the first film, a mildly older Aiden Keller (Dorfman) and his “still-as-hot” mom Rachel (Watts) have settled in a quaint town, far far away from telly-poltergeist, or so they think. But the teenager’s gruesome death dispels all hopes of a normal life for the two.

Rachel even burns the killer tape that caused the catastrophe. Bad idea, as Aiden develops an abnormal case of hypothermia, his pet fish die- the fish tank sucked dry. It’s apparent that evil Samara (Stables) has returned- decayed body, split ends and all! She has even found herself a cozy home. Inside Aiden!

Samara can listen to everything that Rachel and Aiden say to each other, except when converse in their sleep. What are the odds of Rachel managing to save her child, especially when the prime accused for the bruise marks on Aiden’s body is Rachel herself!

Watch on, all is rationalised. All except how the fatal video tape, that was safely owned by Rachel, makes itself available to the general public; and why Rachel keeps deserting Aiden when he’s all alone watching the much-dreaded television, and why they still keep a TV set in their home!

The Ring Two, however, beats The Ring in its fright value and cinematic prowess. Archive footage of the sinister video in the previous film appears time and again, but the originative shots and untrodden concepts introduced in the sequel rescue it from becoming foreseeable. The stags shot has been brilliantly administered. Ditto with the bath tub scenes, though they make you wonder if the film has suddenly switched to Dark Water.

Naomi Watts is convincing as a mother desperately seeking the son she knew. David Dorfman is his natural, strong-silent self, comfortably carrying out the subtle changes in his disposition, when Samara takes over him.

The film has a surprise pre-ending that you’re glad changes for the better. All said and done, The Ring Two is worth a watch on the big screen for bigger impact.