Sadako 3D 2

I recently watched Sadako 3D 2 (2013) on Tubi. The storyline continues the Ringu series as it follows a graduate student who babysits her niece and finds her behavior peculiar. Meanwhile, a series of killings surrounding a mysterious tape come to light. Could the killings and the niece's behavior be connected?

This film is directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa (Real Girl) and stars Ryôsei Tayama (Rain Fall), Yûsuke Yamamoto (Return), Satomi Ishihara (Shin Godzilla), and Miori Takimoto (The Wind Rises).

This is a very uneven movie, much like the first film. The writing and storyline didn't really work for me. It's too bad, because the film boasts good lighting, makeup, and camera angles, and even the corpse effects are solid. Some of the horror scenes reminded me of The Evil Dead in their over-the-top presentation. The twist ending was also a miss, further evidence of poor writing.

In conclusion, Sadako 3D 2 is another weak sequel in the Ringu series that isn't worth your time. I'd score it a 3.5/10 and recommend skipping it.

The opening of Sadako 2 is certainly memorable. Silence fills the scene, before an explosion of noise shocks the viewer, the proceeding ambiance being as splendid as it is morbid, the scene concluding with an unexpected deliverance of terror during a moment that is often affiliated with beauty. Although many of the visuals, including a beach side setting, a peculiar basement facility, a spiral staircase and a stadium are exceptionally beautiful, and the effects are just as lavish in their execution, it is the sound that is especially powerful. The themes by Kenji Kawai offers a sense of ancientness and modernity, mystery and suspense, while the sounds of the environment, and those from the ghostly and monstrous aspirations, really accentuate the terror into life, and is of beneficial assistance during the well directed jump scares.

Despite their articulation, the scares infrequently appear traditional for a Ringu film, and despite their uniqueness in this particular franchise, viewers would have previously witnessed similar instances in other films, Case 31 and Boogeyman 3 being very obvious comparisons.

Despite the original Sadako being rumored to be the last in the Ringu franchise, clearly, much like with other series', producers, writers and directors alike don't enjoy bringing an end to something that still contains some semblance of life. For those of us who have seen Ringu 0 and Ringu 2, we know Sadako is a character who is equally deserving of our sympathy, as well as our fear, though, much like its predecessor, Sadako 2 paints our favorite long haired specter as an antagonist only, refusing to provide new audiences with the opportunity to see Sadako in her entirety. This leads to my next point - Sadako herself. Although characters occasionally talk about her, the screen time that Sadako is provided could be measured in seconds, rather than minutes, the primary focus of the feature being the child that she is believed to have brought into our world.

Miori Takimoto portrays Fuko (I wouldn't be surprised if, when translated, Fuko means gorgeous in Japanese, because Ms. Takimoto is a dreamboat on the ocean of purest beauty), a young woman whose charge is her niece, Nagi (Kokoro Hirasawa), a four year old girl who appears as cute as she is creepy. The daughter of Akane (Satomi Ishihara - whose role is unfortunately miniscule) and Fuko's brother, Takanori (Koji Seto), both of whom were the protagonists of the last feature, Akane's bizarre disappearance after Nagi's birth, and Takanori's absence, which is guaranteed not to win him any awards at the father of the year ceremony, leave Fuko alone in a situation that gradually becomes more dangerous.

Wherever Nagi goes, strange and violent deaths occur, an obvious question being, is Nagi responsible, or is she just a conduit for another character's rage? Although some of the deaths could be attributed to vengeance, others appear to be randomly selected, and without any obvious incentive or motivational cause, the unjustifiable slaughter seems to make little sense. Investigating these obscure deaths is metropolitan police detective Kakiuchi (Takeshi Onishi), who appears to be sheltering ulterior motives, while characters from the previous Sadako, including former detective Koiso (Ryosei Tayama) and the psychopathic Kiyoshi (Yusuke Yamamoto) provide support to some of the new cast members.

Although Fuko's heart is in the right place, on several occasions her character appears ignorant, in that she is provided instructional advice, yet does the opposite of what she is told, which can lead to predictable consequences. Towards the end, the film becomes alarmingly quick - it seems we are only in the middle of the story when the climax is thrust upon us without warning or explanation. Moreover, as the feature continues, some of the scenes defy rational explanation, this, coupled with the unanswered questions at the film's conclusion, will inevitably force audiences to, on more than one occasion, suspend their disbelief. Besides this, the contradictory storyline, which could be perceived as being deliberately orchestrated to provide audiences with multiple twists and turns, is neither well developed or intellectually surprising, viewers often being led to believe one thing, then another, then another, to the point it appears even the film's developers were uncertain of the directionality they wanted the plot to take, this continuing all the way to the film's anti-climatic finish.

Despite this, the themes, which include family, suicide and abandonment are well conceived, while the acting is professionally delivered, one scene in particular being emotionally beautiful. Although Sadako 2 is far creepier than its predecessor, some of the film's disturbing moments being sure to impact the audience, the storyline and imagery, that occasionally appears illogical, while adjunctively resembling certain fairy tales, may cause audiences to wonder what hallucinogenic substance Sadako has been smoking in that well of hers.

This film starts with a young woman named "Fuko Ando" (Miori Takimoto) caring for her 5-year-old niece, "Nagi" (Kokoro Hirasawa), since her sister-in-law, "Akane Ayukawa" (Satomi Ishihara), died giving birth. Meanwhile, Nagi's father, "Takanori Ando" (Koji Seto), works as a hospital janitor and stays out of their lives. Nagi struggles to fit in at kindergarten, as some kids mock her for not having a mother. However, Nagi has an uncanny ability to predict deaths around her, further fueled by a computer virus that causes exposed people to commit suicide. As more people die nearby, Fuko begins to believe Nagi is somehow responsible, and she becomes increasingly terrified of the young girl she's raising. I will not say more, but this film shares the same overall theme as its predecessor, with the evil spirit known as "Sadako" (Mizuki Endo) trying to enter the world to spread malevolence throughout mankind. I should also note that, like its predecessor, this movie was initially produced in 3D, which I hope added more thrills and excitement to the regular 2D version, which lacked those elements. Think of the film "Damien-Omen II" in 3D, but without the suspense. At least, that's how it seemed to me. Nonetheless, while I don't think this is a bad film necessarily, since the 3D effects weren't available in the version I watched, I can't say that I was terribly impressed with this movie, and I have rated it accordingly.

While still nowhere close to the original "Ringu" trilogy, at least "Sadako 3D 2" was a step up from its abysmal predecessor "Sadako 3D" - not much, but still noticeably improved.

What made "Sadako 3D 2" better than the previous was a more solid and thought through storyline as there was a red line throughout the movie, whereas the previous movie was messy, confusing and seemed mostly like random clips put together.

But still for a Japanese horror movie of this genre "Sadako 3D 2" wasn't particularly scary. Sure, there were some nice scenes here and there throughout the movie, but as a whole there just wasn't enough scares in the movie to match other similar movies.

One thing that impressed me was the acting performance put on by child actress Kokoro Hirasawa (playing Nagi). She, and she alone, was carrying this movie without a doubt, and she was genuinely capable of portraying some rather disturbing and spooky scenes with her body language and facial expression. Thumbs up for that! The effects in "Sadako 3D 2" also had a very noticeable improvement from the previous movies and it was more of an enjoyable experience to sit through this movie than it was with part one.

Still, the plot had strayed quite far from the original trilogy. And whether or not you like that or not is, of course, a personal preference. Of course it is good with new ideas and new blood, but if why change something that isn't broken? These two additions to the "Ringu" legacy seems to have set out to accomplish a little bit too much or going for a grander and more epic scale, but failed to fully grasp it and deliver where it would impress.

It was a good thing that director Tsutomu Hanabusa didn't include those laughable creatures that make their appearance in the first "Sadako 3D" movie. They were just ridiculous.

While not fully there yet, "Sadako 3D 2" is a mediocre addition to the "Ringu" legacy, and your overall experience would not be any less if you miss out on this movie (or the previous one).

Let's say that it has nothing to do with "S". There are some scary parts, but the plot is one big plothole...

And a ripoff too... Ju-On The Grudge 2 (Japanese original), Uzumaki (not Naruto, but a certain movie based on Junji Ito's manga), The Ring (American remake from 2002 - you probably remember Aidan's chicken's scratches)...

Logic went through the window. A person in coma needs not only monitoring ECG, but also intravenous infusion (to nourish), bladder catheter (to expel urine), physiotherapy (for preserving muscles and avoiding bedsores), and, foremost, intubation (to prevent suffocating with one's own tongue)... NOT make-up, mascara or nail polisher!

And what they did to the cursed video itself? It's a bad joke or what?

I gave it 3/10, only because of those creepy parts.