Director: Koji Shiraishi
Writer: Takashi Shimizu, Koji Suzaki (Characters)
Starring: Mizuki Yamamoto, Tina Tamashiro, Aimi Satsukawa, Misato Tanaka, Masahiro Komoto, Masanobu Ando
Plot: The vengeful spirits of the Ring and Grudge series face off.
Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Failed Cash-In
Story: Sadako vs. Kayako starts as two students Yuri (Yamamoto) and Natsumi (Satsukawa) that are studying urban legends receive an old video player only to discover an old video cassette that shows them horror leading them to believe they are now dealing with the cursed video cassette legend. Elsewhere Suzuka (Tamashiro) moves to the city living next door to the death house which gives her horrific nightmares of what once happened in that house.
As the two curses start to attack their victims it becomes a race against time to escape the curse and the death that will follow it.
Thoughts on Sadako vs. Kayako
Characters – Yuri is one of the students studying urban legends and how they have shaped the culture, with her best friend she is helping transferring a cassette to DVD, where she gets a video player which only opens the door for the cassette legend to be released again, along with her friend she must look to save themselves before it is too late. Natsumi is the best friend that watches the tape believing she has become cursed, it is a race to save her life more than Yuri’s. Suzuka is the young lady that moves with her family next door to the death house, she starts feeling the nightmares around the events of the house as she learns from the locals about the horror involved with the house.
Performances – The performances from that stars are nearly all on a par, we never feel like they are scared by the events of the film. most of the time it is looking with a mild amount of fear in dark locations which doesn’t make us believe too much of what is going on.
Story – The story tries to bring together two of the biggest icons in Asian horror history, the Rings Sadako and The Grudge’s Kayako, the problem is we have both on show here without having a connection between the two main young women we are following, until way to late in the movie. We go through the idea that the Ring curse would have become outdated with the evolution of the video showing, trying to turn things into an urban legend works for the Grudge side of things because it could any era, while the Ring feels like it could never be one. this does feel like one too many sequels in this franchise which both should be getting ands ticking to their stand alone movies which will be the ones striking fear into people anyway.
Horror – The horror in the film should come from bringing together two of the biggest icons in horror, the problems are neither feel scary in this outing after being watered down too much.
Settings – The film does use the iconic settings the film is famous for, which is the only good thing about them, we don’t spend enough time in the death house or around the Ring hauntings.
Special Effects – The special effects in the film are basic, the ghost look freaky while the final shot might be one of the worst shots I have ever seen.
Scene of the Movie – Go into the house kid.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – There is barely any time between the horror icons.
Final Thoughts – This is a disappointing out for two horror icons, we don’t get a story that connects the two enough and by the end it just feels like a cash in.
Overall: Poor throughout.
Rating
