Today’s Prayer Focus
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MOVIE REVIEW

Rings

also known as “The Ring 3,” “El Aro 3,” “Krug 3,” “Körök,” “La llamada 3,” “Les cercles,” “O Chamado 3,” “Rings (Señales),” “Skambutis 3”
MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for violence/terror, thematic elements, some sexuality and brief drug material.

Reviewed by: Alexander Malsan
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Very Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Supernatural Fantasy Horror Prequel/Sequel 3D
Length: 1 hr. 42 min.
Year of Release: 2017
USA Release: February 3, 2017 (wide—3,000 theaters)
DVD: May 2, 2017
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Relevant Issues
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The eternal human soul (Genesis 2:7; Eccl. 12:7; 2 Cor. 5:1-8)

About life after death—eternal life or eternal death

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About sin/evil and Satan, the Devil

Is Satan a real person that influences our world today? Is he affecting you? Answer

DEMON POSSESSION and Influence—Can Christians be demon possessed? In what ways can Satan and his demons influence believers? Answer

demons in the Bible

darkness

curse


FEAR, Anxiety and Worry—What does the Bible say? Answer


ghosts in the Bible

death and the final judgment


“VOTING” FOR BAD MOVIES—Every time you buy a movie ticket or rent a video you are casting a vote telling Hollywood “That’s what I want.” Why does Hollywood continue to promote immoral programming? Are YOU part of the problem? Answer

Featuring Vincent D'OnofrioBurke
Johnny Galecki … Gabriel
Laura Wiggins … Faith
Aimee Teegarden … Sky
Lizzie Brocheré …
Alex Roe … Holt
Zach Roerig … Carter
Bonnie Morgan … Samara
Brandon Larracuente … Hipster Guy
Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz … Julia
Andrea Powell … Julia's Mom
Jill Jane Clements … Mrs. Styx
See all »
Director F. Javier Gutiérrez — “Before the Fall” (2008)
Producer Macari/Edelstein
Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation
See all »
Distributor
Distributor: Paramount Pictures Corporation. Trademark logo.
Paramount Pictures Corporation
, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS

Julia and Holt are madly in love. Sadly, Holt is about to head off to college, while Julia stays home in order to take care of her mother. “We’ll be together again soon,” they tell each other. They even promise to Skype (because, really, who writes letters anymore?) every day until they reunite for Columbus Day vacation.

Sure enough, six weeks goes by. As Julia is awoken from a nightmare, she receives a Skype call, thinking it is from Holt. When she answers, it’s not Holt. A strange woman, named Skye, demands to know where Holt is hiding and that if Julia sees him that “SHE is about to be released.”

Needless to say, Julia is afraid something’s happened to Holt. So what does she do? She packs her bags and races to Holt’s college campus. She even interrogates one of the science professors, Gabe, whose class Holt is scheduled to be in. Gabe tells her he doesn’t know where Holt is and roughly dismisses her concern.

Later that evening, Julia confronts Skye in person about Holt’s whereabouts. Skye agrees to help her track down Holt, as long as Julia promises to watch this clip on Skye’s computer. As Skye is loading the clip, Holt texts Julia and warns her not to watch the clip (not telling her that if you watch the clip, you will die in seven days). Skye attacks Julia, trying to make her watch the clip. Julia then locks herself in the bathroom. When she comes out, she discovers Skye has been killed.

Through a series of events, Holt and Julia reunite. Holt explains that he started working with a group, run by Gabe and Skye, to find a dimension between this world and the afterlife and to prove that there is life after death, that a person’s spirit doesn’t disappear, but rather finds another host. He goes on to explain why he didn’t want Julia to watch the clip. He says if he shares the clip, which he himself foolishly watched, he won’t die in seven days. So what does Julia do? SHE watches the clip when he’s not looking.

The clock is ticking…

About a year ago, I watched both “The Ring” and “The Ring Two.” What made the first two films memorable (probably more applicable to “The Ring”) was not the scares, so much as the intensity throughout each scene, interwoven between some elements of suspense and a somewhat complex, yet fascinating, sometimes disheartening story arc. When I heard, late last year, that they were making a sequel to “The Ring Two,” at first I was hesitant and slightly confused as to the need of a sequel. I was wondering what direction the film could possibly take that it hadn’t already taken in the first two films. Walking into the theater tonight, though skeptical, I walked in giving this film the benefit of the doubt, as cliché as it sounds.

Honestly, I have to admit that perhaps I had too much faith in “Rings.” Perhaps I’m being too firm here, but in truth, “Rings” doesn’t live up to its original, nor it’s sequel, “The Rings Two.” While some more information on Samara is provided, there is little here to be impressed with. The film tries too hard, at times, to be as sensational as the first. As a result, important categories in filmmkaing (character development, pacing, thrills) ended up suffering for it. The character development is rather thin (yes, Julia and Holt are likable, with some average performances from both of their characters), the pacing is a bit inconsistent, at times, and the scares that do occur (even though that’s not the point of “The Ring” films) are minimal. I will admit, though, that one positive element this film had was a genuine plot twist that occurs toward the end of the film. Still, it feels like “Rings” just tried too hard to be something it was not.

Violence: The evil entity, Samara, crawls out of the television and sucks the life out of several characters, the results of which leave horribly disfigured faces. In one scene, Samara causes a plane full of passengers to crash (we don’t see the actual crash). Whenever Samara is about to appear, characters receive nosebleeds, and pools of blood will flood out of the television. In another scene, a character is seen, hung upside down in his car after an accident. We see blood on his face as he tries to communicate, and an electric pole comes crashing onto to the car and electrocuting him. Two characters are seen being strangled. It is stated that one character was kidnapped and held captive for 30 years beneath a building (we later find out that this person was raped by the kidnapper). One character, in a vision, is seen being dragged toward a well by Samara. We also witness, in the clip, someone committing suicide as well as Samara being pushed into a well. One person falls down a flight of stairs.

Profanity: In two instances, the Lord’s name is taken in vain (Jesus and God), plus h*ll (1), a** (1), a**–hole (1), the s-word (1), and b*tch (1).

Sex/Nudity: There are a few scenes in which we see Julia and Holt waking up in bed together (Holt is half naked, and Julia wears a revealing shirt and underwear in one scene). In one of Julia’s visions, Holt is about to have sex with Julia, and we watch as he kisses her neck and down her body. Julia and Holt share several kisses. In a video chat, she begins a striptease which is cut short due to an interruption.

Other: In the clip, we see multiple disturbing images and creatures (centipedes, cockroaches, spiders), as well as the charred body of an infant. Some characters are seen smoking marijuana and drinking.

Spiritual Issues

As mentioned before, Gabe, Skye and Holt, are trying to prove that there is life after death through means of one’s spirit (soul) finding another host (a variation of the Satanic fraud of reincarnation, with its transmigration of souls, but portrayed more as a demonic possession by a ghost). Further, Christianity is once again portrayed as wicked. ***SPOILER*** A Christian priest (probably Episcopalian) is revealed to be a terrible hypocrite and evil villain—a sexual abuser who held a choir member captive and raped her, and is willing to murder to cover up his evil. ***END SPOILER***

People in the film believe that the girl Samara must be destroyed because she was born evil and is the very essence of evil in its true form. While the Bible is clear that we are born into this world as sinners (see fall of man), it also indicates that no one is beyond saving or irredeemable. Rather, God wishes for all those who live in sin, to turn from their wickedness and find fellowship with the Lord. 1st John 1:7-9 states:

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

In the same way God forgives us of our sin, so are we to show mercy and forgiveness to those who still live in sin.

“So watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” —Luke 17:3-4

There is nothing redeeming or good about this film. Like the main protagonist, “Rings” is a film surrounded by darkness, demonic possession, topped off with heavy amounts of violence, sexual content, some profanity, and an attack on Christianity. Much like the video that the characters in the film are told not to watch, “Rings” is a movie that one does not need to watch. It’s best if you ignore this film, period.

Violence: Heavy / Profanity/Vulgarity: Mild / Sex/Nudity: Moderate to heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Negative
Negative—This movie was mind-boggling—in that it was so awful. Are there really people making millions of dollars off cr*p like this?

But what really makes me mad is that the antagonist in the movie was trying to kill a girl and was doing it “in Jesus name.” He mentioned the Holy Spirit. This antagonist was a priest that kept a girl locked in his basement.

As the review states, definitely an attack on Christianity. I can’t even believe that Hollywood is allowed to do stuff like this. It gets me how the scene with samara coming out of the TV was obviously complete CGI. That was probably the only part of the movie I don’t completely regret seeing, because it was kinda funny. They couldn’t even use a real girl to be the ghost.

I felt very convicted and weighed down after seeing this movie. It was such a waste of time. I just want to forget it. Please don’t watch this…
My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: ½
Ash, age 26 (Canada)

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

Movie Critics
…comes up with a fair mystery and an admirably loopy finale featuring swarming cicadas… [3/5]
Mike McCahill, The Guardian (UK)
…slow-moving story…
Chris Jancelewicz, Global News [Canada]
…it isn’t very good… much of the final shooting script isn’t really scary, and needs juicing up…
Luke Y. Thompson, Forbes
…it lards in ridiculous elements and characters that send the story in all directions, none of them involving brain cells or any real sense of dread. …[1½/4]
Peter Howell, Toronto Star Newspapers
…Often, “Rings” doesn't even seem to be trying to scare us, apart from a few feebly obligatory fake-outs. Until the predictable conclusion, Samara hardly matters… [1/4]
Chuck Bowen, Slant
…an unscary time-killer hoping to pave the way for more creative sequels to come… doesn’t get to the point until its final 90 seconds or so…
John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter
…First you watch it. Then you shake your head. …[D+]
Brian Formo, Collider
…this mess isn’t likely to reboot or revive the American franchise… [2/5]
Kim Newman, Empire [UK]
…has no organic reason to exist… as unscary as it is out of date… it does make you wish that you could rewind those two hours, or maybe just erase them.
Owen Gleiberman, Variety
…a dull horror rehash… inexcusably bad… you won’t die after watching “Rings,” but you might feel as if your time has been severely wasted. …[1/5]
Edward Douglas, New York Daily News
…more wearying than frightening, “Rings” is a total non-starter… [1/5]
Peter Sobczynski, RogerEbert.com