One Missed Call -- 2008 -- PG-13

So my triumphant second return to the game is a J-horror remake called One Missed Call. The Japanese version actually has a sequel, but I doubt the American one will get that far. It seems the Japanese have this thing about possessing technology with angry spirits and this time, the game is cell phones...or rather, voice mail. After all, there is nothing in the world more frightening than..voice mail!

The plot is simple: young people between the ages of 19 and 25 die suddenly at a specific date and time as given to them by the time they miss one specific call placed to them by someone who died only moments before the call came in. They never take the call; it's just missed and the voice mail received plays back what they say and the sounds around them a few seconds before they die. It's a clever enough premise if you don't mind the suspension of disbelief it requires.

That part of the movie was fine. It was constructed rather plausibly, and while the lead character did do something stupid, you have to give her credit: she knew she would die at a specific time, and knew nothing would happen to her before then. But then, why keep running from perceived danger? Didn't quite get that part. One person was completely safe and surrounded by people during her mysterious death, so we had established even being in a safe place won't help.

Where the big break down occurred was again in the character department, but this one didn't totally ignore character; it just did it badly. After all, an attempt was made to fill out the main character (and pretty much only the main character). But the back story and weaknesses we were given didn't really correlate to the plot that much. Yes, there was a parallel, and I got that, but she wasn't given a weakness, really, and the history didn't help her understand anything. And other than a single point at the very, very end, one recurring far didn't play into anything.

Everyone else existed for the purpose of the plot. They had no real depth to them. Only enough to barely remember their names when referenced in passing when the "did you hear about..." conversation kicked off. The twist was ok. It was a forced reveal, at the least, but it did make me at least nod, and say, alright.

In the end, the movie was a bit of a disappointment. It had a nice enough premise that did get freaky at times, but with so much stupidity, nonsensical actions, and cardboard characters, we have another J-horror remake that failed to be anymore than another techno-scare to try and make us fear another every day device. Sorry, guys, I'll still check my voice mail...but I might see who's seen the movie by getting that little ringtone. You know, just because.