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Hideo Nakata

Hideo Nakata has emerged as one of the world's most influential horror film directors since directing the original Ringu in his native Japan. Based on a trilogy of novels by Japanese fright-master Suzuki Koji, the film went on to become the most successful horror movie in the history of Japanese cinema. The film also inspired a trend in what is commonly referred to as J-Horror films, emphasizing mystery and dread over such common contemporary horror mainstays as gore and special effects. Nakata followed up in 1999 with the second film in the series, Ringu 2. Three years later, Ringu spawned DreamWorks' successful American remake, The Ring.

Born in Okayama, Japan in 1961, Nakata studied both applied physics and journalism at the University of Tokyo. Upon graduating, he landed a job as an assistant director at Nikkatsu Studios where he worked for seven years under the mentorship of director Masaru Konuma. Moving to the UK in 1993, he began making an independent documentary film entitled Joseph Losey: The Man With Four Names. After a year and a half, he returned to his native Japan. In 1996, he directed his first feature film, Joyu-rei (aka Ghost Actress), which incorporated many of the trademark supernatural elements for which he would become best known.

In 1999, the same year he directed Ringu 2, Nakata switched gears to direct the crime-drama Kaosu (aka Chaos). Returning to his roots in 2002, he directed Honogurai mizu no soko kara (aka Dark Water), based on a novel by Ringu's Suzuki Koji. American versions of both Chaos and Dark Water are currently being produced. In 2000, between feature films, Nakata directed a documentary film on his mentor Masaru Konuma entitled Sadistic and Masochistic.

The Ring Two marks Nakata's American film directing debut. He is currently in development on several upcoming features, including a crime thriller entitled Out, and a remake of the paranormal horror film The Entity.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2005.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Hideo Nakata Facts

OccupationDirector
BirthdayJuly 19, 1961 (62)
SignCancer
BirthplaceOkayama, Japan

Selected Filmography

The Ring Two
Dark Water
The Complex
Ch@troom
The Eye
Kaidan
Ringu
Chatroom
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