Samara is back, and she wants a new life.

Naomi Watts and David Dorfman return to the big screen in the sequel to 2002’s “The Ring”, where audiences met for the first time busy mom Rachel (Watts), her serious young son Aidan (Dorfman), and evil Samara.

Rachel and Aidan have relocated to Astoria, Oregon and are trying to start a new life. They leave behind, in Seattle, Aidan’s dead father, a victim of Samara’s deadly videotape, and Samara herself. Or so they think.

Filmed on location in Oregon, director Hideo Nakata and cinematographer Gabriel Beristain take advantage of the gloomy skies and forested setting to help establish the mood. Hans Zimmer’s theme music matches the location with eeriness and adds to audience discomfort as the tension rises.

While some people may complain about the lack of surprising moments in the film, the director cultivates a feeling of dread that permeates the movie. The visual effects alone are enough to keep viewers interested.

For instance, Rachel and Aidan encounter hostile deer in one of many bizarre scenes.
Since this film is a continuation of the story of Rachel, Aidan and Samara, the elements that so shocked and terrified audiences in the first film (mostly, the moment the viewer realized Samara is climbing out of the television) don’t have quite the same effect on viewers as in The Ring Two. However, the film is very well produced and the special effects surpass those in its predecessor.