Scream Stream: The real Japanese story that helped inspire the American supernatural horror film The Ring

First, you watch it. Then you die! The Ring had created and spread horror waves among its audience upon its release in 2002. The film opened to positive reviews for its 'scary plot' and 'great premise'. The direction, special effects and screenplay were also appreciated. The film is considered to be one the of classics in the horror genre for its genuine adaptation of a Japanese novel.  

The film is based on the supernatural horror novel by the same name, written by Koji Suzuki. It was published in 1991 and is the first in a trilogy. The book which sold over a million copies is about a journalist who needs to investigate the case of four teenagers who go missing mysteriously after watching a videotape. According to an urban legend, the viewer of this tape will die within seven days. And if it is true, the journalist Rachel will now have to race against time to save her and her son.  

The film introduction pokes interest in the audience especially when it says it is based on true events. The Gore Verbinski-helmed film, which is a remake of the Japanese film Ringu, got many viewers wondering if the story of the haunted videotape is actually true. Well, adding 'based on a true story' does push up the sales, but the film is said to be inspired by horror events, dating back to the 16th century in Japan, to the times of samurai.

Japan's largest castle, Himeji Castle has it written on its walls that a great crime had taken place. Legend has it that a samurai Tessan Aoyama was attracted to a maid Okiku and wanted her as his mistress. But she did not pay any heed to it and this got him enraged. Tessan then conspired a plan to get her to reciprocate his feelings for her. Okiku was tasked with protecting 10 golden plates by the royal family. Tessan decides to steal one of them and tell her that she had lost one. He thought he could blackmail her by saving her from the death penalty but his plan backfired when Okiku decided to kill herself rather than surrender to him. She is said to have jumped into the castle's largest stone well.

Her spirit is said to have not found peace and she believed that she has indeed lost one of the plates. She began visiting Tessan at the eerie hours of early morning by crawling out of the well. She is also said to be heard counting the number of plates and smashing them against the well even to this date. A large covering has been placed around the well, fearing her haunting. There are many versions of the story which has inspired several adaptations for TV shows and films.

Samara Morgan is the antagonist in the film who is said to have a supernatural ability Nensha, which burns images into one's head. Some articles suggest she was a real girl who was killed by drowning in a well by her adopted mother when she was 10. The articles suggest that she was born in 1970 after her mother was raped in captivity. Her mother manages to escape and she is institutionalised by hospital staff when she is caught drowning her daughter at a fountain. Samara gets adopted but unintentionally puts gruesome images in her adopted parents' and their horses' minds. She was also taken to a psychiatrist for treatment and the doctor had her recording which reportedly shows her telling that she can't help but hurt people.

Fed up of the tough situations, Samara's adopted mother pushes her into a well and jumps off a cliff out of remorse and guilt. Samara dies of drowning after seven days. Things started getting better again. But it is said Samara created a videotape using her psycho-photography abilities after she died which curses anyone who watches it, leading to their death in seven days. The only way to escape is to create a copy of the video and show it to someone else before seven days. The video is said to have cursed images and clues to her past.

Watch the 2002 film The Ring on Amazon Prime Video and get spooked.