[FANTASIA 2019] ‘SADAKO’ Review

I saw Hideo Nakata’s Ringu on VHS back in 1998, and like so many others it terrified me. When Sadako meanders toward the stagnant camera on the black and white cassette and then crawls out of the TV, it was jaw dropping. Having seen it only once since then, and knowing I was going to be able to review this new entry for Fantasia 2019, a whopping 20 years later (Nakata’s first entry into the long running series since Ringu 2 in 1999), I decided to watch my newly purchased Arrow U.K. blu-ray. Not having the sheer unknown shock of Sadako as a character anymore, the movie still holds up rather well given some well developed characters and a solid mystery at the center. While it’s not exactly what I’d call “scary” anymore, it’s still loaded with atmosphere and dread, and that climactic moment was still pretty chilling. It also manages to have one of the most bold choices of an ending for a horror film. 2019’s Sadako manages to somehow contain none of the above.

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(C)2019 “Sadako” Film Partners

The curse of the ghastly Sadako has returned through a young girl (Himeka Himejima) who resembles her when she was young. She survives a catastrophic apartment fire which kills her mother, and wakes up with no knowledge of the incident. Case worker Maya (Elaiza Ikeda) cares for the young girl and attempts to recover her memory and the reasons behind the incident. Meanwhile, conveniently, Mayu’s brother Kazuma (Hiroya Shimizu) is a popular YouTube star with grand aspirations, and decides to visit the site of the fire live streaming. It’s here that he picks up the titular, malevolent spirit and captures a brief image on camera. He then disappears. Mayu has to work quickly to try to find and lift the curse placed on her brother before it’s too late.

(C)2019 “Sadako” Film Partners

If this sounds familiar, it should. There’s not much to do with this character that hasn’t already been accomplished. While there’s a slightly creepy sequence about midway through, there isn’t a surprise in sight. None of the characters are interesting, nor are their motivations worth anything because you don’t care about them. The obnoxious Kazuma disappearing is a gift, frankly. In all honesty, I haven’t seen anything from Nakata since 2005’s American The Ring sequel, but if this movie is any indication of what he’s been doing in the meantime I can safely continue to pass. Uninspired is the main word that comes to mind for the entire film on every level. The one positive accolade I can think of outside of that mildly effective sequence mentioned earlier, is a decent score that comes across like some cross between Carpenter and Goblin with a rip from The Exorcist, It wasn’t original, but I dug it. You can keep the rest.

(C)2019 “Sadako” Film Partners

Unfortunately, in addition to playing at Fantasia 2019, Kadokawa International holds the rights to the film and there’s no word yet on a stateside release.