“Rasen” (also known as “Spiral”) was the first sequel to the Japanese horror sensation “Ringu”. In a strange marketing decision, both films were actually released simultaneously in Japan. While “Ringu” went on to inspire many more sequels, an American remake and even a crossover film with the “Ju-On” franchise, “Rasen” faded into almost total obscurity.

“Rasen” takes place shortly after the events of “Ringu”. Mitsuo Andô (Kōichi Satō “The Gate Of Youth”) is a pathologist tasked with performing an autopsy on his friend, Ryûji Takayama (Hiroyuki Sanada “Sunshine”). He slowly learns the details of the cursed videotape as well as the biological threat that the ghostly Sadako may pose.

The characters are actually very interesting. The film quickly establishes that the main character is suicidal yet cannot bring himself to cut his flesh. This is despite the fact that he cuts the flesh of others for a living. It’s a very chilling concept. I’m glad they didn’t just recycle the stuff with the ghostly girl coming out of the tv. Some of the effects on Hiroyuki Sanada’s character near the beginning are wonderfully unsettling and still look fantastic to this day. There are arguably too many characters in this movie and I cannot help but feel the movie would have been better without some of them.

“Rasen” is a truly intriguing film. It is in many ways, a companion piece to “Ringu” yet it has its own style. Part of me wishes it was just a separate film because I think really does rely on you having seen the original film. In my opinion, parts of “Rasen” are actually creepier than anything in “Ringu”. Overall, I think “Ringu” is a better film though because this one just cannot stand on its own like the first one. I do recommend it but only if you have seen “Ringu”.