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Reviews: Rings (2017) Movie Review / Ending Explained / FAQs

Rings (2017) Poster
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Romance
Subgenres: Supernatural, Survival, College, Cursed Images, Internet, Killer Kids

Horror fans will enjoy our review of Rings (2017), where we cover its story, scares, and how it ranks among modern horror classics.

Rings (2017) – A Stylized Step into the Franchise That Fails to Spellbind

Plot, Themes, and Character Development

Rings (2017) returns viewers to the cursed videotape mythology, centering on Julia—a university student intrigued by strange footage linking her boyfriend Holt to a chilling viral clip. Convinced that exposure to the tape triggered a deadly chain, she watches it and finds herself racing against time to survive. As Julia seeks answers, she uncovers a hidden cult and unconventional ritual methods promising a chance at escape.

The film grapples with themes of technology-induced fear, obsession with infinite loops, and ritual as salvation. However, unlike earlier entries that built dread on mystery, Rings focuses on explanatory dialogue and stylized visuals, leaving Julia’s journey more reactive than driven. Holt’s arc is mostly stagnant—he’s haunted but distant. Julia begins strong—curiosity and intelligence fuel her but she turns mute as the story leans on external threats.

Acting, Cinematography, and Direction

Matilda Lutz plays Julia with composed intelligence but her character lacks emotional peaks. Alex Roe’s Holt offers brooding tension but remains a passive puzzle piece. The wider cast—professors, cultists—exist to move plot rather than deepen scares.

Visually, director F. Javier Gutiérrez employs moody blue hues and lens flares to signal the supernatural. Urban decay and ritual settings occasionally create unsettling backdrops. Cinematographer Óscar Faura captures VHS grain and stylized jump cuts, evoking the franchise’s analog origins. But the glossy visuals often distance instead of drawing viewers deeper into dread.

Gutiérrez commits to surrealism—mirror scenes, circular staircases, distorted angles—but these flourishes feel more decorative than meaningful. Scares rely on sudden loud cues and blood splatter rather than escalating dread. The film recycles familiar jump‑scare tactics, reducing impact.

Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Gutiérrez leans into mood and mystery, but without fully earned tension. He delivers visuals over visceral fear, and exposition over emotional resonance.

Final Verdict & Score (1–10)

Score: 5
With an IMDb‐weighted score of 4.5/10, Rings lands at a 5/10—an average sequel that visually updates familiar territory, but lacks new emotional stakes or narrative purpose. It’s not outright disappointing, but it doesn’t bring legacy magic or haunting depth.

Who Will Enjoy It

Who Might Be Disappointed

Most Searched FAQs About Rings (2017)

  1. Is Rings a sequel or remake?
    It continues the original trilogy mythology while introducing new characters and ritual mechanics tied into the cursed tape legend.

  2. What new elements does the film add?
    Introduces a secret cult aiming to neutralize the curse through ritual sacrifice, and deeper exploration of the tape’s lore.

  3. Who is Julia and why does she matter?
    A college student who discovers her boyfriend’s connection to the VHS curse. Her investigation propels the plot.

  4. Is the videotape still terrifying in high definition?
    The film plays with VHS aesthetics and visual distortion, but the sci‑fi polish dampens raw horror for some viewers.

  5. Does it wrap up the ring curse or leave it open?
    The publicized ending reflects a narrow ritual ease, but leaves overall curse ambiguous, suggesting survival isn’t permanent.

  6. Are there jump‑scares or slow‑burn tension?
    Contains both—early suspense gives way to classic jump‑scares and ritual illumination, but the build‑up is light.

  7. Who directed it and does it feel different tonally?
    Directed by F. Javier Gutiérrez. Tone is more atmospheric mystery and visual flourish, less haunting dread compared to the originals.

  8. Does it feel like the third entry in the series?
    It mimics familiar beats—eight‑day countdown, cult link—but lacks the emotional stakes that defined earlier films.

Rings (2017) Ending Explained

In the climactic ritual, Julia and Holt enter the cult’s subterranean space. Guided by esoteric chanting, Holt sacrifices himself—destroying a conjured VHS figure. However, Julia confronts the tape’s curse using voice invocation on a mirror, causing a symbolic spiritual severing. She escapes, claiming she has skimmed the loop.

But the final shot returns to Julia’s dorm mirror: her reflection flickers, and static creeps across the glass—suggesting the curse isn’t broken, only delayed. The ring‑world cycle continues, and terror endures.

Key takeaways:

Final Summary

Rings (2017) updates the ring‑franchise visuals and mythos, exploring cult lore and ritual magic. While beautifully shot and occasionally suspenseful, it falls short on emotional connection and escalating dread. If you want fresh cult mechanics and mood‑driven scares, it delivers moderately. But if you’re coming for deep horror or heritage chills, prepare for a visual but empty revisit.

Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.

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