First you watch it. Then you die. Especially if that crazy witch is climbing out of a television set that's right in front of you. How did Paramount Pictures pull off this prank on behalf of Rings without anyone having a heart attack? Especially the people who are touched by the Samara as they stand around, unsuspectingly. Watch this, and prepare to laugh/howl/scream:
That's a home run prank. As you can tell, a bank of television sets are set up, with an actress made up to look like well-dweller Samara waits on the bother side of a fake set. When strangers brought in for a "demonstration" aren't looking, Samara climbs out and scares the shit out of them.
I ask again, how is it possible no one had a heart attack? Or that someone pulled their own pistol and fired away at the poor, innocent girl playing Samara in the prank? Thank God no one was hurt badly, because this means we can simply appreciate the beauty of the terrifying stunt for what it is -- a perfect piece of horror-movie marketing.
The stunt promotes Rings, F. Javier Gutierrez's upcoming horror thriller that revives the legend of the Ringu video tape. You know the drill. Anyone who watches the footage receives a phone all from beyond the grave, being told that within a few days, they are going to die. What was on the original tape? Footage of Samara, a young girl who was drowned in the bottom of a well. Hence, that wet hair look she has going on.
It has been nearly 15 years to the day that Naomi Watts helped launched the phenomenon that is The Ring, which built on a pre-existing Japanese horror hit (and ushered in a wave of American remakes of chilling Japanese horror efforts, many of which lost their edge when they traveled across the sea). Time away might be exactly what audiences needed before heading into Rings, which looks, to continue the fascination with the haunting spirit of Samara, and the victims she stalks.
The new Rings stars Vincent D'Onofrio, Johnny Galecki, Laura Wiggins and Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz. It opens in theaters in February 3. Hope to the next page, if you dare, and watch the terrifying trailer.
