One Missed Call on DVD (2008)

hunkydomste from Liverpool [Highly rated reviewer] , 30/09/2008

It is a bit of a shame that what started off as the occasional more or less good remake of a Japanese Horror film (The Ring and The Grudge I thought were great) led to this year's flood of so-so retreads.

One Missed Call hit the big screens right next to the likes of The Eye and Shutter and you would be forgiven for thinking it did not really stick out much amongst the rest. Watching it on its own and isolated for the first time now, I think it's neither as good nor as bad as it might have been, but it provides standard horror/slasher/ghosty entertainment- pretty much by the rule book.

The victims in this Ring-meets-Final Destination style slasher all receive a call (or voicemail even, since they- you guessed it- miss the call) from themselves in the nearby future, screaming and apparently heading for the off. As they get closer to the point in time from which the original call was sent, they start seeing creepy faces, weird things and finally what was heard on the voice message gets a live play.

Needless to say, someone goes and investigates where all this started. In this case it's Shannyn Sossamon and Ed Burns, both likeable and talented enough, although I have a slight inkling that given their past passionate and excellent performances their direction was mostly 'Don't act too well now!'. But it works here ok.

One Missed Call is very formulaic, but has a few novelties, little twists, some ascerbic mickey take out of the media and a creepy ring tone that will stick in your head.

All in all not for those who want fresh and new material, but those who like a good old rule book slasher with some interesting ingredients will find this to be staple diet.

SEE THIS IF YOU LIKED

* THE RING

* FINAL DESTINATION

* FRAGILE

  21 out of 21 people found this review helpful

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PaulaWestwood from Ashton-Under-Lyne [Highly rated reviewer] , 29/04/2008

Though not particularly frightening or thrilling this does have a certain amount of 'chill factor' that makes it just about worthwhile viewing. Based around calls received on mobile phones by the actual owner of the phone during their deaths, the atmosphere (predictably as it is taken from a Japanese film/story) is very much like the Grudge, which I didnt particularly find that entertaining, but this at least on the surface this does appear to have a bit more to it in the way of story and general interest. Its not perfect, and definately not the best film you will ever get to see, it might just be worth adding to the bottom of a rental list but dont hold your breath for it.

  10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

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A customer from 1 , 07/08/2008

As a comedy, I would give this film five stars. But as a horror film...you have to be joking. The plot is not only completely unrealistic, even for a supernatural film, but the acting is also well below par. Unless you want to waste your time, avoid at all costs.

  10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Edgware , 13/09/2008

Well, do you like the latest Japanese scare? This is for you then, I like it and it scared me, particularly toward the end, don't mind the plot, don't mind lots of things really..., but when i am watching a scary movie that's mostly what i want, the acting is not great? it's got subtitle for crying out loud! how well can we judge the acting in a Japanese scary movie with subtitle? it sound silly just saying it!, a bit more gory than the 'Grudge' and with some big question mark in the plot but hey, it scared me! that's what i wanted!!

Ciao Rosie

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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hunkydomste from Liverpool [Highly rated reviewer] , 30/09/2008

It is a bit of a shame that what started off as the occasional more or less good remake of a Japanese Horror film (The Ring and The Grudge I thought were great) led to this year's flood of so-so retreads.

One Missed Call hit the big screens right next to the likes of The Eye and Shutter and you would be forgiven for thinking it did not really stick out much amongst the rest. Watching it on its own and isolated for the first time now, I think it's neither as good nor as bad as it might have been, but it provides standard horror/slasher/ghosty entertainment- pretty much by the rule book.

The victims in this Ring-meets-Final Destination style slasher all receive a call (or voicemail even, since they- you guessed it- miss the call) from themselves in the nearby future, screaming and apparently heading for the off. As they get closer to the point in time from which the original call was sent, they start seeing creepy faces, weird things and finally what was heard on the voice message gets a live play.

Needless to say, someone goes and investigates where all this started. In this case it's Shannyn Sossamon and Ed Burns, both likeable and talented enough, although I have a slight inkling that given their past passionate and excellent performances their direction was mostly 'Don't act too well now!'. But it works here ok.

One Missed Call is very formulaic, but has a few novelties, little twists, some ascerbic mickey take out of the media and a creepy ring tone that will stick in your head.

All in all not for those who want fresh and new material, but those who like a good old rule book slasher with some interesting ingredients will find this to be staple diet.

SEE THIS IF YOU LIKED

* THE RING

* FINAL DESTINATION

* FRAGILE

  21 out of 21 people found this review helpful

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langer from Bournemouth , 20/10/2008

so, your phone rings. it's you on the line, a day or so later. you die. the end.

based yet again on another Japanese horror film (will it ever end?), One Missed Call is awful from the get go. i've already expained the plot, and seriously, there is no need to go into anymore detail than that.

supposed to be scary? i've seen scarier Pixar films. Shannyn Sossamon does her best with the meagre material available to her, but really, even Daniel Day-Lewis couldn't save this. And Ed Burns? How did somebody this charisma-free be behind The Brothers McMullen?? shocking performance from the man. just terrible.

having never seen the original Japanese movie, i really wanted to like this film. even my wife wasn't scared. in fact, 'twas mainly laughter coming out of her mouth. and i couldn't blame her. i felt sorry for my wife. she relies on me for some semblance of filmic knowledge, and i let her down.

all because this film was utterly reprehensible.

wasn't as bad as Nic Cage's The Wicker Man, though.

do yourself a favour. don't rent this. if you have a partner, make love to them for a couple of hours instead.

and if you're single, well, you know what to do...

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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