Ringu 2 (1999)

Last updated:
October 24, 2025

Ringu 2 (directed by Hideo Nakata) is the direct sequel to the original Ringu (1998), Japan’s groundbreaking horror film that introduced the world to the cursed videotape and the ghostly figure of Sadako Yamamura. Unlike typical horror sequels, Ringu 2 takes a psychological and investigative approach, exploring what happens after the curse spreads — and what truly lies behind Sadako’s wrath.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Opening: Aftermath of the First Film

The movie picks up immediately after the events of Ringu. Reiko Asakawa and her young son Yoichi have disappeared following the mysterious deaths connected to the cursed videotape. Mai Takano, a college student and assistant to Professor Ryūji Takayama (Reiko’s ex-husband from the first film), begins searching for answers after Ryūji’s sudden death.

The Curse Spreads

Mai soon encounters detectives investigating the curse and meets Masami, the traumatized survivor from the first movie. Masami is institutionalized and plagued by terrifying visions of Sadako. Meanwhile, the cursed tape continues to circulate as curious individuals seek it out — unwittingly spreading Sadako’s deadly reach even further.

Yoichi’s Strange Powers

Reiko’s son, Yoichi, starts exhibiting psychic powers similar to Sadako’s. He can sense her presence and even communicate with her spirit. Mai takes it upon herself to protect Yoichi and uncover the mystery behind Sadako’s supernatural power. The story slowly shifts from horror to tragedy as Mai learns that Sadako was once a lonely girl with psychic abilities who was tormented, misunderstood, and ultimately murdered.

Sadako’s Return

Mai and a psychic researcher named Dr. Okazaki work together to understand Sadako’s powers. They conduct an experiment involving the cursed tape and psychic energy, hoping to neutralize it. Instead, their actions amplify Sadako’s influence, causing more deaths and paranormal chaos.

The Water Connection

Throughout the film, water becomes a recurring motif — symbolizing both Sadako’s death (she was thrown into a well) and her rebirth as a vengeful spirit. The chilling atmosphere of dripping water, echoes, and the well itself dominate the movie’s tone, grounding its supernatural horror in a visceral sensory experience.

Movie Ending

In the climax, Mai and Yoichi are drawn to the site of Sadako’s well, where her spirit is strongest. Sadako’s presence grows overwhelming as Mai realizes the horrifying truth: Sadako’s curse cannot be “stopped” — it must be understood.

Sadako emerges not as a pure villain, but as a tragic figure — a psychic whose pain and loneliness became uncontrollable rage. As her spirit reaches out from the well, Yoichi’s psychic powers resonate with hers. In a haunting sequence, Mai and Yoichi confront Sadako’s ghost, not with violence, but with empathy. They symbolically “accept” her sorrow, which seems to calm her spirit momentarily.

However, the film’s final moments twist the knife: though Sadako appears to be subdued, the curse still lingers. A new victim is implied as the videotape resurfaces elsewhere, ensuring that the cycle of death continues.

The movie ends ambiguously — suggesting that Sadako’s curse is now part of human consciousness itself, an unstoppable infection of fear.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Ringu 2 does not have any post-credits scenes. The film ends on a chilling note, with a lingering sense of dread rather than a sequel hook. Fans had to wait until Ringu 0: Birthday (2000) to explore Sadako’s backstory in detail.

Type of Movie

Ringu 2 is a psychological horror film with strong elements of supernatural mystery. It’s slower and more atmospheric than its predecessor, focusing less on jump scares and more on the emotional and psychic consequences of the curse.

Cast

Miki Nakatani as Mai Takano
Hiroshi Abe as Dr. Mitsuo Andō
Kyōko Fukada as Kanae Sawaguchi
Yōichi Numata as Takashi Yamamura
Yūko Takeuchi as Reiko Asakawa (cameo appearance)
Rikiya Otaka as Yoichi Asakawa
Hitomi Satō as Masami Kurahashi

Film Music and Composer

The eerie, minimalist score was composed by Kenji Kawai, who also worked on Ghost in the Shell. His haunting use of string sections, distorted echoes, and ambient soundscapes creates an unsettling tension that amplifies the sense of otherworldly dread throughout the film.

Filming Locations

Ringu 2 was primarily filmed in Tokyo and rural Japan, using a combination of urban laboratories and desolate countryside locations to contrast the scientific with the supernatural. The well scenes were filmed on constructed sets designed to replicate the claustrophobic dampness and terror of Sadako’s entrapment — a central image in Japanese horror cinema.

Awards and Nominations

While Ringu 2 didn’t receive major international awards, it earned critical recognition in Japan for maintaining the eerie, realistic tone of the first film. It was praised for its atmosphere, sound design, and Miki Nakatani’s emotional performance.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Director Hideo Nakata initially resisted making a sequel but agreed after realizing he could explore Sadako’s humanity rather than just repeat the scares.
Miki Nakatani reportedly experienced nightmares during filming due to the movie’s intense psychological scenes.
The production team used cold water and low temperatures on set to help actors portray the physical discomfort and fear realistically.
Sadako’s iconic movement was achieved by filming the actress walking backward and then reversing the footage — a trick carried over from the first film.

Inspirations and References

Ringu 2 draws heavily from Japanese folklore about onryō (vengeful spirits) and the cultural idea that emotional trauma can manifest physically or supernaturally. It’s based on the novel series by Koji Suzuki, who combined traditional ghost lore with modern anxieties about technology and media.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Several scenes were shortened or altered for pacing. A deleted scene reportedly showed Sadako’s spirit appearing to Yoichi in his dreams, but it was cut for being too explicit and reducing the mystery of her presence. The ending was also re-edited to be more ambiguous, leaving the audience uncertain whether Sadako’s spirit was truly gone.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is loosely based on Koji Suzuki’s novel “Spiral”, though it diverges significantly. The novel leans more into science fiction, exploring the curse as a kind of virus that reproduces through DNA. Ringu 2, however, returns to the supernatural roots, focusing on Sadako’s ghost and psychic powers instead of biology or virology.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The psychiatric ward scene where Masami sees Sadako’s reflection in a television screen.
The experiment scene where Dr. Okazaki plays the cursed tape and records psychic activity.
The final confrontation at the well, where Mai and Yoichi face Sadako’s spirit.

Iconic Quotes

Mai Takano: “If we understand her pain, maybe we can end it.”
Dr. Okazaki: “Science cannot measure fear.”
Sadako (whispered): “You will not be free.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The number 7 appears repeatedly (the curse’s time limit), hidden in clock times and file numbers.
The name “Yoichi” means “light,” symbolizing hope against Sadako’s darkness.
In one scene, a TV monitor briefly shows footage from the original Ringu — an eerie self-reference.

Trivia

The film was shot back-to-back with Ringu 0: Birthday.
Sadako’s actor, Rie Ino’o, spent hours in freezing water to film the well sequences.
The Ringu films were the foundation for the later American remake The Ring (2002).

Why Watch?

If you enjoyed Ringu and want to dive deeper into the psychological side of the curse, Ringu 2 offers a slower, more reflective horror experience. It’s less about jump scares and more about dread — the creeping fear that something unseen is watching, waiting, and remembering.

Director’s Other Movies

Ringu (1998)
Dark Water (2002)
Chaos (2000)
The Complex (2013)
Stigmatized Properties (2020)

Ringu 2 (1999)