‘Ringu’ Emerges From the Well With New 4K Ultra HD Release

‘Returning from the Depths: Ringu Resurfaces in Terrifying 4K Ultra HD’

Considered one of Japan’s most influential horror films, the original Ring, known as Ringu in the U.S., played a crucial role in revitalizing J-horror both at home and abroad. During a time when the Japanese horror scene was struggling and slasher films dominated international markets, Ringu emerged as a game-changer, reshaping the genre’s landscape. It introduced American audiences to the bone-chilling potential of Japanese cinema, sparking a wave of remakes for Western viewers. Now, the original film is making a spine-tingling return, resurfacing in its most terrifying form yet—a 4K Ultra HD release presented by Arrow Video.

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Directed by Hideo Nakata and based on Koji Suzuki’s 1991 novel, Ringu (1998) follows journalist Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima). Devastated by the mysterious deaths of her niece and friends, she embarks on a race against time to unravel the enigmas surrounding a cursed videotape they had watched a week before their demise. Blending technological fears with traditional Japanese folklore, the film crafts a modern urban legend that becomes hauntingly real for anyone who watches the tape and faces death after seven days, unless they pass it on to another victim. It also introduces Sadako, one of horror’s most iconic monsters, whose long black hair, white dress, and chilling, wrathful gaze captivated audiences from the moment she appeared.

While Ringu received a respectable remake in 2002 from director Gore Verbinsky and screenwriter Ehren Kruger, starring Naomi Watts, nothing quite matches the original impact of Nakata’s vision. Alongside Matsushima, the film boasts a stellar cast including Miki Nakatani and Hiroyuki Sanada, who may be familiar to recent moviegoers from John Wick: Chapter 4. Rie Inō portrays the vengeful Sadako in this chilling tale.

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What Can You Expect from the 4K Release of Ringu?

Arrow Video’s limited edition 4K release of Ringu offers both a standard version and an alternative slipcover adorned with original artwork, each packed with enticing extras that delve deep into the heart of this horror classic. Film critics and historians explore the film’s impact through a series of featurettes, not only delving into its role in sparking the J-horror phenomenon but also examining the evolution of the series beyond its iconic first entry. Another video feature included in this release explores the career of Hideo Nakata, who went on to direct another J-horror hit, Dark Water, as well as Ring 2 and, more recently, the Netflix miniseries The Days, centered around the Fukushima nuclear disaster. To further enhance your Ringu experience, an illustrated collector’s book and a double-sided fold-out poster are also part of the package, along with Sadako’s cursed video, should you dare to test the film’s curse for yourself. Below is a complete list of the special features:

• Brand new, exclusive 4K restoration sourced from the original camera negative by Arrow Films
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Lossless Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 soundtracks
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio commentary by film historian David Kalat
• The Ringu Legacy: A series of interviews with critics and filmmakers discussing their memories of the Ringu series and its enduring legacy
• A Vicious Circle: A video interview with author and critic Kat Ellinger exploring the career of Hideo Nakata
• Circumnavigating Ringu: A video essay by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas on the evolution of the Ringu series
• Spooks, Sighs, and Videotape: A video essay by critic Jasper Sharp on the J-horror phenomenon
• Sadako’s video
• Theatrical trailers
• Limited edition packaging featuring two artwork options
• Double-sided fold-out poster featuring two artwork options
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring essays on the film by Violet Lucca and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

Prepare to bring Ringu home on September 19 in either the standard edition or the original artwork slipcover 4K release. Pre-orders are now open. Watch the trailer below for a taste of the terror that awaits.

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More about horror film

• Ringu (1998) – IMDb
• Hideo Nakata – Wikipedia
• J-Horror – A Brief History
• Arrow Video Official Website