No audience or viewer likes to pay to view the same thing twice. This idea was slightly challenged back when “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was released, but after the initial and very unavoidable, hype died out people began to realize that although certain aspects of the film are different, the story was the same.

This trend has been seen across various genres of film, most noticeably comedies with films franchises like “Ghostbusters,” “Pitch Perfect” and “The Hangover” where the sequel seems to be almost a carbon copy of the original, with slight changes made to highlight what made the first film so loved. This idea is even later poked fun at in the 2014 “22 Jump Street,” which played off the concept perfectly to give the film an original feel.

“Rings” does not do this.

Many were excited to hear the popular early 2000’s horror franchise would be getting a reboot. The trailers showed some promise and showcased how it would be brought into the age where VHS tapes seem like antiques. The film, however, manages to disappoint.

The film follows Julia, portrayed by Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz (“Summertime”). Weeks after her boyfriend Colt (Alex Roe, “The 5th Wave”) goes to college, he suddenly disappears and she begins to look for him. Her search leads her to a professor at the college, Gabriel (Johnny Galecki, “The Big Bang Theory”) and a mysterious tape that he has students watch. After watching what was on the tape herself, the three begin to work together to solve the mystery of the images shown to them and the girl whose spirit tells them they only have seven days to live.

The beginning was extremely promising. It starts with a scene on a plane and leads to the plot line with Julia and Colt. It is not until their investigation begins that the film begins to copy the original’s story. The female lead investigating the tape, as well as the girl on it, struggles as most of the information has been covered up to hide the secrets of those involved. The only lead they have to go on are the images on the tape, which they comb through thoroughly. After finding a location based on the film, they end up finding a location from the tape and an old man, in this film played by Vincent D’Onofrio (“Daredevil”).

For viewers who have seen the first film in the franchise, the twist ending in this film’s final act is the same, with added drama to heighten the situation.

Although the story is terrible, the acting in the film is decent. Lutz and Roe give good performances in their roles. Galeki, although not straying too far from his “Big Bang” role, also delivers an enjoyable performance. The three are good at bringing realism to an unrealistic situation and pushing the story where it needs to go.

In terms of fright, Samara, the girl from the tapes, does provide a few decent moments that can scare the audience. It is just not as frightening as it could be. Many of her most devastating moments, such as the opening on the plane, are not shown fully to the audience, taking away from the havoc they could wreak.

Lacking in originality and fear, “Rings” does reboot the franchise and leaves it at a place where more can be done. Viewers will have to hope that with the next attempt, there will be more.