I saw the remake a couple of times but I never saw this one, the original one. Is it better than the remake or is it not worth renting?
'I said I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just gonna bash your brains in!' - The Shining
Ordinarily I think the original is always the preferred choice, simply by virtue of being the original.
This case is an exception. The 2002 American remake is superior to the 1998 Japanese original in pretty much every way.
The original is a flimsy lightweight joke. The remake feels like a more solid horror movie that actually has some effect.
A lot of it is the victims. In the original they die with what looks like a big stupid smile on their face. In the remake, the first victim's face is one of the most horrific and terrifying things I've ever seen.
I don't even believe people who claim they've seen both and they actually think the original is better. They're only saying that because they think it's the "correct" answer.