Sequels are a difficult subject. It's hard not to want to see more from favorite characters, especially when the first film does such a good job, whether the script is hilarious or dramatic. With horror movies, a sequel is an equally tough concept, particularly when the original is such a massive hit. The Ring was released in 2002 and people were drawn into the story of a videotape that could kill people after they saw it.
The Ring Two didn't reach the same popularity with critics not loving it at all. In the second movie, Rachel (Naomi Watts) and her son Aidan (David Dorfman) are still dealing with Samara's influence on their life, and this time, there's a big threat to their lives as people wonder if Rachel is hurting Aidan.
While the original movie is always going to be the best and most memorable, there are some things that horror fans can appreciate about The Ring Two.
The Ring Two Goes Deeper Into The Mystery Of Samara
Samara is a unique horror character and also a horror movie villain who can't be killed. While Rachel does defeat her at the end of The Ring Two, Samara takes over Julia's (Matilda Lutz) body at the end of Rings, the third movie in the franchise. The third film is meant to happen right after the first one, so there's a different timeline to consider. The movies manage to make Samara feel evil and impossible to beat while also making her a somewhat easy character to sympathize with since she was treated so horribly. The sequel doesn't just repeat how creepy Samara is in the first film with her long black hair that goes over her eyes and her super slow movements, but the sequel adds to the creep factor, so it feels well-earned.
In The Ring Two, Samara plays a big role in the story in two ways: because she takes over Aidan and because Rachel looks into her past more. Aidan is asleep and Samara possesses him, which is definitely scary to watch. Rachel continues to investigate and learns more about Samara's sad and horrible family. Rachel goes to the Moesko Island ranch owned by the Morgans and when she goes to the basement of the house, she sees some things that belonged to Samara. Most interesting of all is a flower-print suitcase that tells Rachel more about the woman who was Samara's biological mom.
Aidan Plays a Larger Role
While Rachel's son Aidan is a big part of The Ring, and in some ways he's a scary horror movie kid as he has a creepy vibe at times, Aidan is an even larger part of the sequel. This is a good thing as it really makes the movie scary. If Samara is just going after Rachel, it still feels terrifying, but it's even worse if she is trying to get to an innocent child. There's a sense that Samara will always influence Aidan, no matter what happens at the end of the film.
There is a great scene at a fair when Aidan sees Samara in the mirror. Since there are so many children in horror movies that give off a strange and creepy tone, without really bringing anything else to the table, there's a lot resting on Aidan's character. Thankfully, he's fun to watch as he seems to have a real understanding of the evil that Samara can bring to his life, which shows that he's very wise. While some horror sequels are goofy, Aidan is definitely in real danger and that helps raise the stakes of this movie.
Rachel Is A Strong, Determined Character
If The Ring Two fails, it would be that experts think that Rachel is abusing Aidan, and the idea of a parent seeming "crazy" or being accused of hurting their child is an overused trope that shouldn't be used in any film. There are smart horror movies using tropes but this isn't a good one. It's clear that something supernatural is taking over Aidan and it's frustrating seeing everyone treat Rachel this way.
Besides this misstep, Rachel is a strong character in The Ring Two and she is more interesting this time around as she has the added burden of protecting her child and trying once and for all to win against Samara. In the most terrifying moment of the movie, Rachel is stuck in the well with Samara stalking her, and when Rachel escapes, there's a lot of hope that Rachel and Aidan will be okay now. Even if The Ring has the most scares and it's captivating watching the actual videotape and seeing how it moves around from person to person, The Ring Two does feature a journey that is fun to watch.