Shannyn Sossamon and Ed Burns star in this remake of the popular Japanese thriller ‘Chakushin Ari’, which follows a group of college students who begin receiving voicemails dated in the future, which reveal their final moments before they die.
The film starts well enough with a somewhat creepy opening death sequence and wastes no time in dispatching the majority of it’s main cast (there are multiple casualties before the credits even roll) in similar fashion.
As we are treated to a number of Omen style ‘accidents’ (at an alarmingly fast rate) which all seem to be connected to the aforementioned series of phone calls, you can’t help thinking that OMC is going to be a short film. Similarly, when our heroine does battle with the big bad and appears to save the day, you are left puzzled and without any answers. That is until you realise that there’s still about half an hour of the movie to go.
One Missed Call is a mixed bag. It has at it’s core a good cast, a mystery that twists and turns right up until the climax, creepy imagery, really good practical effects work (but dodgy CGI) and THAT chilling ring tone.
Where it falters is in its odd narrative structure (which really is quite off putting), bland colours and with the truly laughable subplot involving the makers of an OTT reality show attempting to break the curse by exorcising a cell phone.
Lapses in logic aside, this is an okay film but is not the best remake of an Asian horror movie I’ve seen. It does score an extra point however for not including any sequences involving creepy long black hair.
OVERALL SUMMARY
One Missed Call is an all right fright flick to watch on a rainy afternoon or as a form of scaring fifteen year olds into being quiet over spring break. Don’t expect to be terrified or thrilled, but as a slow burner with a drawn out story it’s okay.
