MovieChat Forums > Ringu 0: Bâsudei (2000) Discussion > SPOILERS!!!***My Interpretation of Ringu...

SPOILERS!!!***My Interpretation of Ringu 0******SPOILERS!!!


I have been a horror fan since I was a small child, and I was only introduced to the Ringu series through the american remake. I had no idea what it was, but once i saw it, it became possibly my favorite horror movie.

I then began finding more about the series, and the asian horror genre and checking out other movies. Now i wouldnt consider myself an expert by any means, but I have seen many of the more popular movies such as Ringu, Ju-On, Kairo, Shutter etc.

I enjoy the fact that these are generally thinking mans movies, while at the same time they present the most frightening visuals and jolts you could possibly expect.

Anyway, I watched Ringu 0 for the first time yesterday. Afterwards I thought alot about what happened in the movie, then I read some of the theories on this movie, and thought I would present my own, as just a viewer, and not as someone who has studied the film through repeated viewings or who has read and seen the variations of the Ringu series.

Basically, Here is my theory on how i think we got from the living sadako to the evil, relentless sadako comming out of the TV.

1. The father of Sadako is and evil spirit from the sea. Her mother is human.
2. Sadako was born with telepathic powers, that can either heal or harm people, and a split Jekyl and Hyde type personality which determined how she chose to use her gift. Its like yin and yang, the dark and the light sides of sadako. Neither side is 100% human or inhuman.

3. I believe that Sadako drastic personality shifts, along with her telepathic powers drove her mother mad, knowing the unusual circumstances under which she was impregnated.

4. Either The doctor's attempt at providing therapy for Sadako and getting rid of the "dark" side, or the light sadako and the dark sadako's internal struggle to control her body caused the split into 2 sadako's at 8 years old.

5. The teacher probably initially taught the pre-split sadako. Who of course, was strange and almost frightening due to her powers and behavior. But visited her home after the split and seeing the second dark sadako. The dark sadako at that time had been isolated. It was still an impish child trying to get attention. Not wholely evil or murderous, but mischevious. Because she was familiar with this side of Sadako before seeing the second one, she didnt know "which sadako would show up for class".

6. The doctor and mother seeing an intensifying of the dark sadako's ability to cause problems with maturity tried to keep her from maturing and locked away, while allowing the light sadako to get out and try to lead a normal life.

7. The dark sadako was still child-like mentally, and obedient to adults who she thought cared for her. But like any child she was starved for attention. I think the older's sadako's memories of childhood were still with the dark sadako, because the dark sadako remained frozen in childhood.

8. Due to her link to the light sadako, she was able to still project herself outside where her other self is. She could even project her spirit back into the light sadako and control her for limited periods of time as before..when she projected herself into light sadoko or her surroundings, she would cause havoc because of either a) she was trying to protect or defend her other self or b) she was jealous of her other self for being out, growing up, getting attention and being social.

9. After being beaten to what we thought was "death" and being brought back to the house, closer to the dark sadako. Either she healed herself, or the dark sadako projected to her and healed her.

10. Dark Sadako then basically had a tantrum of unreasonable rage. She just wanted to hurt the people who hurt had hurt the other her. She merged back into the same body and took control.

11. She killed Tôyama partially because of her childish rage, She did not love Toyama, even though the light Sadako might have. This was a different side of Sadako that had been detached from anyone else but her mother and the Doctor who she knew as her father. She was angry, and had the powers to harm anyone in her way. So she used them. Another theory is that she was aware of Toyama, but she was jealous of him, and that the Good Sadako shouldnt scold and abandon her for love.

12. The bone-crunching "jerky" walk probably had no significance, other than it was a element of "unnaturalness" to project fear in the viewer of sadako after all of this sympathy we have grown for her. Its an element of horror to make the scene more frightening and make sadako seem less human again. If Sadako had simply walked calmly towards the women, it would have not been effective.

13. Once the killing was done, and all of the tormentors were gone. Dark sadako rested and let light sadako take back control of the body. Dark sadako did not kill the doctor becuase she loved him as her father. She trusted Him.

14. When the doctor drugged sadako to kill her. It probably had more of an effect on the less matured/developed dark side of sadako. Who had been contained, sedated, and prevented from development by drugs. That is why the Dark side was unable to re-emerge to take control and protect Sadako again. Also possibly she is so used to being drugged by the doctor, she did not recognize the threat. It was her "father", and once again, she trusted him and was not angered by him drugging her.

15. After being dumped into the well. And sealed in, its 30 years later when the spirit of sadako emerges again. I assume that the light side of sadako has grown a complete hatred and distrust for all man, while the dark spirit of sadako has matured and become even darker and more powerful, and has found a way to once again project herself out into the world.

16. The significance of the old TV in the attic i believe is that it was Dark Sadako's only real connection to the outside world. She remembered this and found a way to use recorded video images as her medium to project her spirit back into the outside world.. and become the cursed video tape sadako we all know and love.


Thats it. Just my opinions. Interested in hearing any variances on what you think happened?

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Wow! Now i finally understand this film! :D

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I like how they split her into "Light" and "Dark" Sadako. It left me with the impression that although Light Sadako still suffered the same fate as Dark Sadako, she probably chose to go on to a better place after she died - therefore, the vengeful rage that is the trademark of this franchise belongs entirely to Dark Sadako. I thought it was rather comforting.

Elphaba lives!

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Wow, I like your summaries! About the 'jerky unusual' walk she had. I was thinking maybe it had something to do with the Dark Sadako being a child body and Light Sadako being an adult body and when put together it doesn't quite match up which = the jerky unusual walk.

I don't know.. maybe.

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thats a good theory. I never thought about that.

Glad to see this board is still being read. Still love this movie. I need to rewatch it.

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I alwyas thought her jerkiness was unbreaking her bones

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How do you know if you're happy or sad without a mask, or angry...or ready for dessert

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Well done on actually getting that and putting it in writing, but the story is simply convoluted, there is no definite answers and to get your conclusions you must project a lot of stuff that isn't there. There is an important difference between convoluted and complicated, this is the former.

Libby: It's All Gushy!

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