One Missed Call

Though based on a book by Yasushi Akimoto, One Missed Call has clearly derived a significant amount of inspiration from the 2003 Japanese horror flick of the same name – as the movie generally feels like a watered-down carbon copy of its predecessor. It’s worth noting, however, that this version of One Missed Call is actually no worse than the original; both films suffer from lackluster kill sequences, a dearth of interesting characters, and a central mystery that couldn’t possibly be less interesting. Shannyn Sossamon stars as Beth, a plucky college student whose friends start dropping like flies after an evil spirit works its way into their cell phones (Ed Burns co-stars as the inquisitive cop who offers his help in solving the case). Director Eric Valette has infused One Missed Call with precisely the sort of slick sensibility that one generally associates with contemporary horror movies, and there’s little doubt that the film’s conspicuous lack of gore only exacerbates its various problems. The convoluted storyline has been peppered with a number of downright absurd touches, including Beth’s ridiculous and flat-out laughable fear of peepholes (this is a hold-over from the original, to be fair). Sossamon’s personable performance is just about the film’s only saving grace, although, admittedly, Ray Wise does turn in a fairly amusing cameo as a sleazy television producer. But really, this is nothing less than bottom-of-the-barrel junk; the CGI-heavy (and consequently incoherent) finale and excessively familiar atmosphere (ie this is essentially The Ring with cell phones) will undoubtedly turn the stomach of even the staunchest horror fiend.

1/2* out of ****