.jpg)
One Missed Call (2008)
Bottom of the Barrel
Directed By: Eric Valette
Starring: Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, & Ana Claudia Talancón
MPAA Rating: “PG-13” (for intense sequences of violence and terror, frightening images, some sexual material and thematic elements)
Starring: Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, & Ana Claudia Talancón
MPAA Rating: “PG-13” (for intense sequences of violence and terror, frightening images, some sexual material and thematic elements)
Most mainstream horror films these days seem to have troubled productions with numerous rewrites, cast changes, and even director changes (look at the Nicole Kidman thriller, The Invasion, for an example). For most of these, the trouble is very apparent with ever-changing tones and focus. One Missed Call (2008), however, seems as though the production was quite easy. It went into production quickly, was filmed quickly, and was shipped out to theaters with very little trouble. The filmmakers made a polished, attractive horror film that features a sporty cast of mostly unheard-of twenty-year-olds as well as Edward Burns and Ray Wise. This sounds easy enough, right? It should have been great! So, why does it suck so badly?
A remake of Takashi Miike’s 2003 shocker (which, to be honest, I have not yet seen), One Missed Call tells the story of Beth (Sossamon), a college student whose friend, Leann (Azura Skye), is shaken over the tragic death of one of her friends, Shelley (Meagan Good, in a woefully short part that should have been reserved for some aspiring actress, rather than the too-talented-for-this Good). Supposedly, Shelley received a mysterious phone call just before her death that oddly mirrored her last moments alive. When Leann also gets a similar phone call and is subsequently killed, Beth realizes that a brutal ghost is moving through the cell phones and killing off all of her friends one-by-one. Can she, with the help of Detective Andrews (Burns), find the source of the terror and stop it before it is too late...or will this phone call be the last one she ever receives?
One Missed Call makes the rather unfortunate mistake of killing off all its characters within the first thirty minutes, except for the one or two that is supposed to carry the plot to its lackluster conclusion. It even goes so far as to kill off Meagan Good within the first four minutes without ever even giving her the slightest characterization. Why waste such a talented, young actress on a part that isn’t even worth Paris Hilton? I have no idea, but One Missed Call seems to enjoy doing this for most of its cast, including the adorable Azura Skye and the amazing Ray Wise. Shannyn Sossamon and Edward Burns are the only ones not tailor-made for ghost slaughter and, despite being very competent actors, they too are wasted on dull parts that are hollow and boring. The only thing we know about Beth is that the Netflix slip sleeve told us that she was the lead and, therefore, she is meant to survive.
I have to be very honest, though; I never hated One Missed Call. I just didn’t like it and I will never have the desire to see it again. It is a harmless film that is, at least, merciful with a very brief runtime and a nice cast. The film has very few redemptive qualities on a technical level and yet it works occasionally as a form of really guilty entertainment...but only occasionally. For example, I found the entire train sequence (with the exception of the dry conclusion) to be engaging and even a little exciting. I also really got into the scenes involving a televised exorcism, which worked primarily for its humor than anything else (though, I imagine, that the humor was unintentional). Still, One Missed Call is a terrible film that doesn’t really deserve to be seen. It may have a few moments of entertainment (whether intentional or not), but this is one phone call that you will want to miss.
A remake of Takashi Miike’s 2003 shocker (which, to be honest, I have not yet seen), One Missed Call tells the story of Beth (Sossamon), a college student whose friend, Leann (Azura Skye), is shaken over the tragic death of one of her friends, Shelley (Meagan Good, in a woefully short part that should have been reserved for some aspiring actress, rather than the too-talented-for-this Good). Supposedly, Shelley received a mysterious phone call just before her death that oddly mirrored her last moments alive. When Leann also gets a similar phone call and is subsequently killed, Beth realizes that a brutal ghost is moving through the cell phones and killing off all of her friends one-by-one. Can she, with the help of Detective Andrews (Burns), find the source of the terror and stop it before it is too late...or will this phone call be the last one she ever receives?
One Missed Call makes the rather unfortunate mistake of killing off all its characters within the first thirty minutes, except for the one or two that is supposed to carry the plot to its lackluster conclusion. It even goes so far as to kill off Meagan Good within the first four minutes without ever even giving her the slightest characterization. Why waste such a talented, young actress on a part that isn’t even worth Paris Hilton? I have no idea, but One Missed Call seems to enjoy doing this for most of its cast, including the adorable Azura Skye and the amazing Ray Wise. Shannyn Sossamon and Edward Burns are the only ones not tailor-made for ghost slaughter and, despite being very competent actors, they too are wasted on dull parts that are hollow and boring. The only thing we know about Beth is that the Netflix slip sleeve told us that she was the lead and, therefore, she is meant to survive.
I have to be very honest, though; I never hated One Missed Call. I just didn’t like it and I will never have the desire to see it again. It is a harmless film that is, at least, merciful with a very brief runtime and a nice cast. The film has very few redemptive qualities on a technical level and yet it works occasionally as a form of really guilty entertainment...but only occasionally. For example, I found the entire train sequence (with the exception of the dry conclusion) to be engaging and even a little exciting. I also really got into the scenes involving a televised exorcism, which worked primarily for its humor than anything else (though, I imagine, that the humor was unintentional). Still, One Missed Call is a terrible film that doesn’t really deserve to be seen. It may have a few moments of entertainment (whether intentional or not), but this is one phone call that you will want to miss.
0 comments:
Post a Comment