Japanese horror films are something Hollywood sure does like to remake, just look at The Ring and The Grudge. However, the American version of One Missed Call is one I love because it was darkly foreboding and kept me on my toes. When I get a chance, I will definitely watch the Japanese version and see which one I like best.
This film featured one of my favorite actresses, Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight's Tale), who plays college student Beth Raymond. She is the character that drives the plot of this film. She gave Beth an adorable vulnerability that shined onscreen. Is Beth our final girl? You'll have to watch and see.
The opening scene did a great job at saddening me, while at the same time troubling me. It begins with a young girl being rescued from a burning hospital by a firefighter. When asked if her mother is still in there, the young girl remains silent. What happened to the mother? Did she die in the fire? This scene opened up numerous possibilities for this movie.
What scared me most about this movie is that death can come calling at anytime, literally. Two of Beth's friends, Leanne and Shelly received strange voicemails before their deaths. Was that death actually calling or are other supernatural forces at play here? Beth's roommate, Taylor believes that she is next. So naturally, both women decide to take the batteries out of their cell phones in an attempt to hold back their fates. However, they are awoken by a lullaby ringtone coming from Taylor's batteryless cell phone. The phone screen displays a video message of her death, dated two days in the future. So, who will be next? Perhaps Beth?
This film has plenty of twists and turns. One of the more odd twists is that each victim has a red piece of candy fall out of their mouth. Is it a symbol of something more sinister?
I loved this film and thought it had plenty of authentic shock value. However, it received a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and only 29% of reviewers for the site liked it. It was not screened for critics and called "One of the weakest entries in the J-horror remake sweepstakes, One Missed Call is undone by bland performances and shopworn shocks." I disagree and thought the film was genuinely scary and had a great cast. But, there are always issues when doing a remake of a film.
If you enjoy horror movies with a supernatural element, then this movie might just be nfor you. Despite what the critics say, this movie is definitely worth a watch.
Lisa's Score: 7/10
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