Happy 59th Birthday, Hideo Nakata! Born today in 1961, this Japanese writer, producer and director (also known as Nakata Hideo) ignited a trend of what many now refer to as "J-horror".
Nakata made his initial breakthrough into film by conceiving the story and directing the 1996 Japanese fantasy/horror film 'Joyû-rei' ('Ghost Actress' or 'Don't Look Up').
Although failing to attain any large-scale success, the film was responsible for Nakata in exploring themes similar to those of his next film project two years later.
Approached by Japanese author and writer Koji Suzuki about adapting one of his novels -- he being the so-called Stephen King of Japan.
Suzuki had been impressed by Nakata's directorial work on 'Ghost Actress'. He later transformed the story into a landmark film that would later change the face of Japanese horror cinema.
This was the film of which Nakata is best known for directing, being the 1998 Japanese horror mystery/thriller film 'Ringu' ('Ring').
When her niece is found dead along with three friends after viewing a supposedly cursed videotape, reporter Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima) sets out to investigate.
Along with her ex-husband, Ryuji (Hiroyuki Sanada), Reiko finds the tape, watches it -- and promptly receives a phone call informing her that she'll die in a week.
Determined to get to the bottom of the curse, Reiko and Ryuji discover the video's origin and attempt to solve an old murder that could break the spell.
'Ringu' had been adapted from Suzuki's eponymous 1991 mystery horror novel (and the first book of the Ring series).
he most phenomenally successful Japanese horror film ever produced, Nakata's 'Ringu' spawned no less than a television series, two sequels and an American remake during the four short years following its original release.
On January 7 of the following year, the 1999 Japanese mystery television series Ring ~Saishūshō (Ring: The Final Chapter) aired. The program takes place after the 1998 Japanese film. There are a total of twelve forty-five-minute episodes but only aired for one season.
On January 23, Nakata's sequel to 'Ringu' was released. This was the 1999 Japanese horror/supernatural film 'Ringu 2' ('The Ring Two').
The second installment in the Ring trilogy, 'Ring 2' takes place a couple of weeks after the first film, directly continuing the story and featuring most of the cast from 'Ringu' reprising their roles.
Earning ¥2.1 billion on its theatrical release, Variety referred to 'Ring 2' as a "very different beast" than the Ring, with "less atmosphere and more genre shocks".
The review stated that the film "notably fails to build on the first movie's wonderfully nasty final scene" and is "progressively more conventional with no special visual style or under-the-skins frissons."
In March of that same year, Nakata won the Japan Academy Prize for Popularity Award - Most Popular Film for 'Ringu' at the 22nd Japan Academy Awards.
The film was also nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Nanako Matsushima)
Later that same year, the Japanese drama mystery horror sequel television series Rasen (lit. Spiral) was made, consisting of thirteen forty-five-minute episodes. Like its predecessor, it only aired for one season.
Based off of Suzuki's 1995 Japanese novel Spiral, (and the second book in the Ring series), the program did not adapt much of the original source material. It ran from July 1 – September 23.
In the early 2000s, Nakata directed another film of which he is known. This was the 2002 Japanese horror/drama film 'Honogurai Mizu no soko kara' (lit. 'From the Depths of Dark Water' or 'Dark Water').
Later that same year, American film director, screenwriter, producer and musician Gore Verbinski had his hand in directing the 2002 American supernatural horror thriller/mystery film 'The Ring'. It starred Naomi Watts and also co-starred Brian Cox and Pauley Perrette.
With a budget of $48 million, the film grossed $249.3 million at the box office. However, Roger Ebert gave the film "Thumbs Down" and felt it was boring and "borderline ridiculous". He also disliked the extended, detailed ending.
In the mid-2000s. an American=produced remake of 'Dark Water' was released, directed by Brazilian filmmaker and film producer of international prominence Walter Salles. It starred Jennifer Connelly and Tim Roth.
Represented by United Talent Agency, Nakata stands at the forefront of modern horror by emphasizing an overwhelming sense of dread and distrust of technology.
This is while avoiding the familiar horror pratfalls of gore, overuse of computer-generated graphics and hokey self-references.
His reputation as master of the macabre is well established, leaving terrified audiences nervously pondering his next move.
Nakata has been active from 1992–present.
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