August 10, 2002

7:37 PM

The website for the movie Ring has gone up, and as is seemingly required these days, it's completely nonsensical. Sure, these cryptic movie websites may make some sense once you've seen the film itself, but I don't think that's the right way to go about promotiong your film. Attempting to pique my interest by skimping out on the details doesn't work for me, and frankly I'd just be content with synopses and cast bios seeing as how most of these puzzle sites are only vaguely related to the film. Guess I'll stick with the IMDB page until then. What do you all think of the trend towards more mysterious movie promotion sites?
posted by jimmy (8 comments total)

Ahem, that thread discussed the film in detail, I'm still looking forward to it though.
posted by bobo123 at 7:43 PM on August 10, 2002

Awwuooorgh, sorry, a badly researched first front page post. I hope it'll be deleted quickly enough and we can all move on thinking it never existed...
posted by jimmy at 7:48 PM on August 10, 2002

i wouldn't sweat it. i *knew* it was a double but still couldn't google up the original post.
posted by juv3nal at 7:55 PM on August 10, 2002

Well cryptic Web sites are one thing, but what about cryptic trailers? I can't see how that trailer could convince anyone except a Glass/Reggio nut to go see that movie, even with the Spielberg reference.

The Ring sounds interesting, but with no big names, it's either on its way to the absolute big-time or the $4.99 VHS bin.
posted by wackybrit at 8:18 PM on August 10, 2002

you don't see cryptic, mysterious websites for something like, say, Triple X or Master of Disguise. you see it for crpytic, mysterious movies. Presumably details of the plot beyond what you get in the trailer, which is right there on the front page, would be spoilers. And judging by the fact that the trailer doesn't offer any cast information either, they're clearly not depending on star power to draw crowds - they're depending on the fact that it's cryptic and mysterious. So I think it's probably a pretty appropriate bit of promotion.

BTW, anyone know if there's a R1 or R0 dvd release of the Japanese version out there?
posted by chrisege at 8:24 PM on August 10, 2002

chrisege, i just picked a region free version, with English subs on ebay last week.
posted by jbelshaw at 8:33 PM on August 10, 2002

i LIKE cryptic trailers and sites for cryptic movies, damnit.

the blair witch site was good, so was memento, so was A.I. it's original, it's imaginative, and a corporate web-master gets to be an artist for a moment. god bless 'em!

and so what if this movie was mentioned in another thread? christ. it wasn't the subject of a front page post, put down the damned pitchfork.
posted by jcterminal at 8:33 PM on August 10, 2002

It's much better than giving the end away in the trailer. I'd be happy with a switch to cryptic, nonsensical trailers that give you a sense of the film's imagery and genre without actually revealing plot details.
posted by Mars Saxman at 8:45 PM on August 10, 2002