Horror movie fans might be excited by the arrival of the call 4 in cinemas in Brazil on April 28. After all, it’s been five years since the debut of the call 3 (2017), long enough to make viewers become nostalgic. However, one caveat: the release isn’t exactly a continuation of the trilogy. On the contrary, it goes far beyond it.
Indeed, the film that was nominated in Brazil the call 4 has the original title Sadako DX, a Japanese feature film released in 2022. In turn, this Japanese production is a horror comedy that follows a teenager who tries to get away from Sadako, a spirit of revenge that spreads through social networks. Sound familiar?
This Sadako that appears in the call 4 is the antagonist of the Japanese horror franchise the ringwhich was adapted by Hollywood into the film series The call. In the North American version, Sadako was called Samara.
so this the call 4 not even a continuation of the saga the ring, but a sort of comic retelling with the original Japanese version of Samara. Therefore, it has no direct relation to the films of the trilogy either. The call.
The decision to baptize Sadako DX in Brazil like the call 4 it is an attempt to create an association between the recent Japanese film and the successful series of American feature films.
The ring: the real The call
Not everyone knows that the saga The call is an American adaptation of the franchise the ring. The Japanese original has not only movies, but also TV series, books, manga and even video games.
The first Japanese feature film, ring (OR Ringu) came out in 1998. The premise is the same as presented in The call. Several people mysteriously die after watching a VHS tape with scary images of a girl with hair covering her face. Then, those who watched the video get a call announcing her death in seven days.
The bizarre figure appearing in the videos is Sadako Yamamura, the spirit of a murdered young girl. In the North American remakes of the series, the character was named Samara Morgan.
The Call: The North American Version
even if the series the ring has many fans, the most popular version of the story in the West was included in the North American remakes. the first movie, The call, released in 2002, starring Naomi Watts and directed by Gore Verbinski. It is a very faithful remake of the 1998 Japanese film. Incidentally, the first The call is available on HBO Max, while ring it’s in the Looke catalog.
the call 2 (2005), a direct continuation of the previous one, brings back Naomi Watts as the protagonist and is directed by Hideo Nakata, the director responsible for ring and some of its sequels. Despite bringing the Japanese director at the helm, this film is not a remake of any of the original films. It is also available on HBO Max.
The third movie, the call 3 (2017) is something of a reboot of the North American franchise. It doesn’t necessarily rule out what came before, but it ignores some plot points from the second feature and gives more prominence to Samara’s origins. Directed by F. Javier Gutiérrez, it can also be seen on HBO Max.
The post The Call 4: Understand why the film is not a continuation of the trilogy that first appeared on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
