Rated PG-13
0 Stars Out of 4
If One Missed Call is trying to set the bar for future films of 2008, audiences are in for a very disappointing year. Yet again, Hollywood has stolen the work of an Asian horror master and sucked it dry of any semblance of its former self.
It seems the new millennium spurned a massive Hollywood collection of all things Asian as horror remakes such as The Ring, The Eye, The Grudge and all of their subsequent sequels have been raking in millions of dollars. So, speaking in a purely Hollywood mentality, it would make sense that they would just keep going until the audience runs dry. Hopefully it has finally come to that point.
One Missed Call stars Shannyn Sossamon as Beth Raymond, a somewhat tormented psychology student investigating the mysterious deaths of three of her roommates. After the first death, rumors begin to spread across a circle of friends detailing the manner in which the first victim was murdered. A gentle, yet eerie voicemail alert chimes on the victim’s phone with a postdate of anywhere from one to three days into the future. The voice on the other end of the phone is the few fleeting seconds of the victim’s life, as he/she dies a horrific death.
As more and more of Beth’s friends are picked off, she knows it’s only a matter of time before her phone rings, and when it does she scrambles to uncover the truth of a twisted and painful incident that started this whole fiasco. It is only when the truth is found out that this otherworldly demon can be put to rest… or is it?
Sossamon and Edward Burns must have either been really bored or they should get new agents who won’t sign them to crap like this movie. Don’t be impressed to see Margaret Cho’s name in the credits either as she adds nothing more than a mannequin like ignorance to the story.
With a RottenTomatoes.com rating of 0% and reviews on IMDB.com with titles such as “Terrible,” and “Why was this TRASH MADE!” it would seem that this movie acts as nothing more than a Boost Mobile add with undertones of a social warning against living your life through modes of electronic communication.
Hopefully one day Hollywood will be able to steal Asian horror but keep the poetic creepiness intact. What makes the originals far scarier than their American counterparts is the build up effect of the suspense. It is insulting not only to the filmmakers of Asia, but also to the audiences that have to sit through monstrosities such as this. I mean come on, even the previews were lame…
Sound Off
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Jeff Brandt says:
Well I don't agree with justifying an opinion with some reviews on IMDB. There are all kinds of idiots on that website. But yeah, rottentomatoes.com is a little more reputable and believable. I find it hard that any movie could get an absolute 0, but I guess I haven't seen this movie yet. Seems like the kind of awful film my friends and I would rent for a laugh in a year or so.
Matthew says:
Mos def got a zero on rottentomatoes.
And when writing a review of the film at hand I believe it's always necessary to get a feel for what the masses think about the film, and while ANYONE can post on IMDB, I still find it useful in drawing some general conclusions about any film... especially when EVERY SINGLE THING WRITTEN ABOUT THE FILM IS NEGATIVE.
A job at a swanky newspaper or industry magazine doesn't necessarily create valid opinions, either... it's best to look at as many points of view as possible... especially when they aren't on a payroll...
durban says:
Is the new "The Eye," supposed to be any good? Do you think it will be better at keeping the "poetic creepiness" from its Japanese counterpart than "One Missed Call?"
sarah.brown.aka.sloppy says:
This was def the worst movie I've seen in theaters since I saw Gone Fishin' in 1997 at the McHenry Outdoor Theater...that was 9 and half years ago!
I'd just like to add that as in every horror movie there are "jumpy parts" as I like to call them. This film had maybe 7, and according to Matt's "number of times Sarah jumped" tally, I only jumped at 4 of them.
So maybe that means I don't scare easily...no, that's it. Maybe there was something else on my mind...nope, that's not it either. I was desperately trying to get into the story, the characters, and the experience of seeing a horror movie on the big screen.
The simple fact is that this movie sucked. It failed on every level. I mean I didn't even jump at the jumpy parts, and I jump at ALL the jumpy parts!