The Chilling Explanation Behind the Absence of Shadows in ‘The Ring’

Gore Verbinski’s first into the horror genre would have been regarded as one of the greatest even if ‘The Ring’ hadn’t triggered a wave of Japanese horror remakes in the early 2000s. In addition to making a straightforward VHS tape terrifying, the movie also introduced Naomi Watts to the eerie Samara, the spectral girl who emerges from a well to stalk her. The movie’s blue-and-grey colour scheme adds to its spooky mood, but the lack of shadows is one of its most frightening features. Although it’s easy to overlook, this element gives the movie an additional level of unease.

Naomi Watts portrays Rachel in ‘The Ring’, a reporter who looks into a bizarre videotape that kills viewers within seven days. The repercussions of viewing the recording get more horrifying as the film goes on, with characters experiencing nosebleeds, aggressive animal reactions, and unsettling physical ailments. But there doesn’t seem to be a clear connection between the plot and the absence of shadows. Rather, it quietly intensifies the eerie mood of the movie.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

Verbinski and cinematographer Bojan Bazelli purposefully avoided shadows in the picture by designing the lighting to cast as few shadows as possible. According to Bazelli, the purpose of this technique was to subtly change the viewer’s perception and heighten their sense of discomfort. 

This strategy contributes to the film’s weird, off-kilter tone, especially when combined with the sombre, rainy weather of Washington, where it was filmed. Inspired by Andrew Wyeth’s paintings, the film’s subdued colour scheme produces a spooky appearance that goes well with the unsettling ambience. The Ring is a modern horror classic in large part because of the subtle lack of shadows.

–Farheen Ali 

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