- published: 10 Sep 2015
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Rasen (らせん, lit. Spiral) is a sequel to the movie Ring. It is directed by Jōji Iida, and, as with the first movie, is based on the novel Spiral by Kōji Suzuki.
Ring and its sequel Rasen were released in Japan at the same time. The studio hoped this would increase revenues, because the Ring story was already a successful novel and television series. The two films shared a few cast members and had the same production team, but different directors and screenwriters; Rasen was written and directed by Jōji Iida whereas Ring was written by Hiroshi Takahashi and directed by Hideo Nakata. After their release, Ring became an enormous success while Rasen floundered, quickly becoming the "forgotten sequel."
Takahashi and Nakata were later recruited to produce another sequel, Ring 2, which replaced Rasen as the sequel to Ring, having taken a different and original storyline from Suzuki's book.
Following the events of Ring, the body of Ryūji Takayama, former husband of Reiko Asakawa and father of Yōichi Asakawa, is examined by his friend and rival, pathologist Mitsuo Andō. After he finds a cryptic note in Takayama's stomach, Reiko and Yōichi also turn up dead. Andō soon learns of a mysterious cursed videotape, haunted by the spirit of a murdered young woman. Rumor has it that anyone who watches the video will die exactly one week later. Despondent over the death of his own child, and believing that he is being guided by his rival's ghost, Andō decides to see the video for himself. After watching the tape, strange things begin to happen around him, and he soon discovers that the tape's restless spirit has different plans in store for him.
Spiral
At 2am, I sigh
Through the phone pressing up against my ear,
In these truths that fall from your lips
Words I shouldn't be hearing keep echoing...
(Words I shouldn't be hearing keep echoing...)
The words "Well always be together."
Who was it who said them that day?
That's right, they're worthless.
Although I know it,
They still don't disappear.
Don't laugh...
And now there's this confliction;
The more I love you, the more it hurts.
What I desire has cornered me
I can feel your inseperable heart...
"Wait; please don't leave."
Should I have sobbed those words?
Although, we can't return to the way we were,
And I know it.
Reality isn't
that soft anymore.
The warmth that interwined us,
And this painful scent,
These memories I can't decide to throw away,
Won't let me be in peace.
Us meeting in the first place,
Was just a mistake, don't you think?
And yet, they won't end:
These memories are
Only sketching themselves into a spiral...
Forever.