'One Missed Call (2003)' is, essentially, an amalgamation of 'Ring (1998)', 'Dark Water (2002)', 'Pulse (2001)' and 'Ju-On: The Curse (2000)'. It takes all the classic tropes of J-horror and distils them into a single, somewhat derivative experience. However, it isn't just an attempt to cash in on the popularity of its genre; it's an accomplished and entertaining horror film in its own right. The flick follows a young woman whose friends begin receiving missed calls, seemingly from their future selves, which accurately foretell their deaths. She teams up with the brother of a recent victim and the pair attempt to stop the curse before it's too late. If it sounds familiar, that's because it is (as I mentioned earlier). What really sets it apart from its peers, though, is its execution. The picture has several genuinely arresting set-pieces and is generally rather creepy throughout. Its finale, set inside an abandoned hospital, is nothing short of fantastic. It's exciting and scary in equal measure. Unfortunately, the movie is one or two scenes too long. Its climax sort of trips over itself, ultimately ending on a sort of frustratingly ambiguous and perhaps tonally inconsistent note. The middle act is also rather slow. Still, the picture is a solid entry in its genre despite these issues. It's really effective overall. It may seem like a bit of a copycat, but it has value of its own and it's certainly worth watching. 7/10.
Review of One Missed Call
