One Missed Call (2008)

Director:

Eric Valette

Writers (WGA):

Andrew Klavan (screenplay)
Yasushi Akimoto (novel)

Release Date:

4 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

What will it sound like when you die?

Plot:

In this remake of the Japanese horror film "Chakushin Ari" (2003), several people start receiving voice-mails from their future selves -- messages which include the date, time, and some of the details of their deaths.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Voice Mail | Remake | Cat | Funeral

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Shannyn Sossamon	...	Beth Raymond
Edward Burns	...	Det. Jack Andrews
Ana Claudia Talancón	...	Taylor Anthony
Ray Wise	...	Ted Summers
Azura Skye	...	Leann Cole
Johnny Lewis	...	Brian Sousa
Jason Beghe	...	Ray Purvis
Margaret Cho	...	Det. Mickey Lee
Meagan Good	...	Shelley Baum
Rhoda Griffis	...	Marie Layton
Dawn Dininger	...	Monster Marie
Ariel Winter	...	Ellie Layton
Sarah Jean Kubik	...	Monster Ellie (as Sarah Kubik)
Raegan Lamb	...	Laurel Layton (as Regan Lamb)
Karen Beyer	...	Mrs. Ford

Also Known As:

Don't Pick Up the Cell Phone! (Australia)
Tödlicher Anruf (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and terror, frightening images, some sexual material and thematic elements.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Japan | USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43719) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Ireland:15A | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-15 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Italy:VM14 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

191 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Alcon Entertainment

Trivia:

The 508 area code is from Brockton, Massachusetts.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Beth is in the crawl space under the hospital, she holds her flashlight sideways, casting light on the wall on her left. When they cut to show what she sees as she is crawling, the beam of light is cast in front of her. The scene cuts back and forth between the 2 views, making the mistake very visible.

Quotes:

Brian Sousa: [to Beth] You know, I can hear you analyzing me in your head. You might as well do it out loud.
Beth Raymond: Ok, I think that you're still messed up over Leann. You think that if you flirt with Taylor maybe Leann'll get jealous and come back to you
[grins]
Brian Sousa: [smiles] Go back to analyzing me in your head. I think I like that better.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ashton Kutcher/Gnarls Barkley (#33.10)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Munich

I don't care what they all say, it's got a creepy vibe to it.

It's not very good, but it isn't nearly as bad as some reviewers here are making out. Personally i found it far more entertaining than drek like Stay Alive and Cry-Wolf, whilst tagging it the worst film of the year when the likes of Untraceable are on the market, beggars belief. Remaking Japanese horror is getting stale, if it was ever really fresh that is, so with that in mind i feel the hatred and backlash for this latest American remake has a touch of "stop remaking already". One Missed Call {Japanese original Chakushin Ari} is creepy enough, from little eerie dolls and grotesque figures to a seriously unnerving ring tone, it works as the most basic of chillers when watched alone in the dark. You will find that Final Destination and The Ring will come springing to mind as you watch this one unfold, so no great prizes for originality for sure. The acting of course is sub-standard, even Ray Wise seems to be the bread part of a camp and ham sandwich, the directing is sloppy and the ending frustrates as much as it intrigues, but the picture is creepy, and for that alone it's far more entertaining than the ream of gorno slashers that dumb the screens every other week. 5/10