Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
The first lady of J-horror is returning to the big screen, this time with a new digital twist in keeping with the age of social media.
That’s right, the most recognizable figure in Japanese horror has a new movie coming out later this year, and the first trailer has now been released, along with a poster image. The new movie is titled simply "Sadako."
The poster (above) offers a chilling look at the now familiar imagery of the well and Sadako’s trademark long hair.
Sadako is no newcomer to the horror scene, with the original "Ring" novel in which she first appeared having been published in 1991, followed by a successful film adaptation starring Nanako Matsushima and Hiroyuki Sanada in 1998 (if you thought the 1998 Japanese movie was scary, you should try reading the novel by Koji Suzuki — true nightmare fodder).
Even a powerful grudge-bearing spirit needs to keep with the times, though, and in the franchise’s newest film installation, Sadako has apparently found a new medium through which to claim more victims — YouTube!
Back when the novel "Ring" was first published, it was a matter of course that Sadako used a VCR tape as the tool to disperse her deadly curse, but now that video tapes have all but disappeared, it seems Sadako has decided to update her act.
▼ Yup, ghosts need to keep up with the digital age, too. Did you know Sadako actually has a Twitter account where you can see her doing lots of cool things like striking a Japanese taiko drum?
Here’s the recently released trailer for "Sadako," which focuses on creepy footage recorded by a YouTuber desperate for social media attention.
Actress Eliza Ikeda plays the protagonist Mayu, who works at a hospital as a mental health counselor and is the sister of the YouTuber whose recorded footage sets off the series of events relating to Sadako’s curse.
The new movie is being directed by Hideo Nakata, who also directed the original Japanese 1998 "Ring" movie and its sequel "Ring 2," as well as the second film in the American remade "The Ring" series, so hopefully we can look forward to more of the chills and thrills that made Sadako a Japanese horror icon.
Fans of the original Japanese film may have also recognized the eerily catchy song “Feels like ‘HEAVEN'” (the one with the disturbing “She’s coming, yes she’s definitely coming!” refrain) being used in the trailer, albeit with a new performer and musical arrangement. To add to the buzz, the identity of the new performer is being kept a secret for now.
We for one are certainly glad that between activities like collaborating with Hello Kitty, throwing the opening pitch at a baseball game and helping to keep people’s skin looking younger, Sadako has had time to star in a new movie in addition to mastering a whole new way to spread her curse. And we’re happy for now that it looks like the movie offers plenty of classic Sadako antics, at least based on what we’ve seen in the trailer. But wait, this is Sadako we’re talking about. Should we be afraid that we’ve watched the trailer?
We’ll just have to hope Sadako goes easy on her fans with her curse, because we definitely don’t want to miss the full movie when "Sadako" opens in theaters across Japan on May 24.
Source: Sadako official movie site, Twitter/ @sadako3d via Otakomu
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- What happens when you combine two of the scariest movies ever? You get Sadako vs Kayako!
-- Sadako & Kayako want your vote for the ghost with the most
-- Cosplay and rejuvenate your skin at the same time with new Sadako vs Kayako face masks
© SoraNews24
4 Comments
Login to comment
JJ Jetplane
While there are still many great horror films being made, I sometimes feel as if horror films have had the hardest time to gain traction during this new age. Many horror films of the past were amazing and fit perfectly into the generation that they were created but could also cross generational borders. Today, it is as if the act of horror story telling is hard to come by.
Aly Rustom
Well of course! If Sadako is going to stick to vid tapes she's gonna be SOL real soon..
shinhiyata
A little too much Blair Witch imo. I wish TOHO would remake some of their own classic horror films like Matango, the H-Man, Secret of the Telegian, and the Human Vapor.
Ah_so
A movie franchise that has sadly been going downhill ever since the first. I hope this one recaptures some of the thrills of the original.