It takes a lot to scare me. After all, I've witnessed Julie Reinger doing the weather in a tangerine trouser suit, so frankly I've become hardened to the effects of audio visual horror. But keen to join in with the spirit of Halloween, I spent last night with the lights out, partly to deter the legalised mugging that is trick or treating, but mainly so I could sit in the dark and watch the original Japanese version of 'Ring'. The climax of the movie came 6th in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Scary Moments, beating the likes of 'Halloween' and 'Nightmare on Elm Street'. But I wasn't worried. It was consistently creepy and unsettling, but there were no cats jumping out from behind sofas at tense moments, or people being hacked to death with meat cleavers, so I knew I had nothing to worry about.

And then came the final scene.

I think I need counselling. How can something which involves no violence, and not a drop of blood, be so damn chilling? And more to the point, why haven't I learned from this experience? I plan to watch 'Ring 2' on video tonight.