What it’s not is Ringu, the original Japanese film on which the Americanized remake (starring Naomi Watts) was based, or Ringu 2 (aka Ring 2), its (Japanese) sequel, or even Ring 2: Spiral, a separate sequel to Ringu (same cast, different writer/director).

What it’s also not is particularly good (translation: it’s not particularly good), although that’s a bit harsh given the film’s rarely ambitious modus operandi.

The first ’Ring was a macabre tale centering on a mysterious videotape that caused anyone dumb enough to watch it to die within a week. Said VHS puts in a brief appearance at the beginning of ’Ring Two but quickly disappears from sight and script with the film focusing instead on Rachel Keller from the original film (again played by Ms. Watts) and her son Aidan (ditto David Dorfman).

As things get going, Rachel and David have relocated to the picturesque Pacific Northwestern town of Astoria in the hopes of escaping their terrible past. But faster than you can say "Samara!" the whole terrible business starts up again, with the dead girl from the well’s spirit entering the Keller’s physical world with intent to do them considerable harm.

Watts has made a name for herself in such serious dramas as 21 Grams and We Don’t Live Here Anymore as well as some less serious fare like Le Divorce and I Heart Huckabees. But she’s clearly no art house snob and it’s encouraging to see her appearing in this non-taxing flick, not afraid to return to her roots or perpetuate this recent string of PG-13 rated horror flicks that started with its predecessor and continue to this day with the likes of Darkness Falls, The Grudge (another remake of a Japanese original), and The Forgotten.

Watts is the best thing about The Ring Two but you can’t help but feel that her talents might have been better spent elsewhere.

Director Hideo Nakata, who helmed Ringu and Ringu 2, imbues the film with an effectively eerie atmosphere and cranks out some calculated set pieces, the best of which involves a herd of CGI-rendered reindeer. Otherwise it’s a lot of running (water) and screaming with Watts shouldering most of the acting responsibilities since her co-stars don’t seem all that interested.

If the going trend is to reduce the amount of graphic gore and concentrate instead on the truly scary stuff–creepy situations ripe with palpable malevolence–then I’m all for that. The Ring Two, however, is only partially successful because it doesn’t take any real chances and as a result instills ambivalence, especially as far as another sequel is concerned (the set up for which, surprisingly, is not pushed down our throats in the closing reel).