We rate the new Halloween flick ''The Ring''

Stars a haunted… videotape.

Scariest moment There are a lot of them. Our two picks are a startling flash cut to the caved-in face of a dead victim, and the scene where the ghostly villain steps out of a television screen and into reality.

Grossest moment Star Naomi Watts’ coughing fit brings up a thick, nearly foot-long chunk of hair — she drags it out of her throat, inch by inch.

Sample dialogue ”You weren’t supposed to HELP her, mommy!”

Creepy children? Two. One is Watts’ ‘”Sixth Sense”-style psychic son; the other is the film’s villain, the single most evil little girl since ”The Exorcist” (not counting the Olsen twins’ early work).

Overall spook rating Nine out of 10 skulls. Unlike the movie’s evil videocassette (ghosts apparently haven’t mastered DVDs yet), watching ”The Ring” won’t kill you — but it might keep you awake for awhile.