Release Date Jan. 4, 2008
DVD Release Date April 22, 2008
Running Time 87 minutes
MPAA Rating PG-13 - for intense sequences of violence and terror, frightening images, some sexual material and thematic elements
Director(s) Andrew Klavan
Writer(s) Eric Valette
Who's in It: Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, Ray Wise, Azura Skye, Margaret Cho, Meagan Good
Domestic:$26,883,246
Foreign: $2,783,158
Worldwide: $29,666,404
Rating:
(one and a half luchador masks out of five)Beth Raymond (Shannyn Sossamon) witnesses the death of two of her best friends just days apart. Coincidentally, both people also received terrifying messages on their cell phones that sounded like moments recorded at their deaths. Detective Jack Andrews (Edward Burns), who lost his younger sister in a similar way attempts to help her figure out who's been leaving the demonic voice mails. To make matters worse Beth has received one of the calls and now is in a race to not only solve the mystery but to save her own life.
The main problem with the movie is it travels the same ole PG-13 horror-movie road where it dead-ends, hitting the brick wall typical of the type of movie. You know the wall that is made not with bricks but with a lot of young people freaking out over ominous voice mails. I don't blame the writer, the actors, or the director--I blame the marketing people who seem to control the movies today--opting for the safer sell of a PG-13 rating over that of Rated-R. The acting as is the case with most college aged slasher flicks--and yes essentially that's what this is--left a lot to be desired. It does however star Edward Burns which I’m not sure if it makes the movie more or less scary (Bud-um-bump!)
*Authors note: I stole that joke from my lovely wife
What did the movie have? Well it had some nice imagery-the cat in the opening was simply striking. It had the generic twitchy choppy moving Japanese style baddies most horror movies seem to have nowadays (especially when a remake of a Japanese flick like this one is). I will say that no matter how common or generic they are they still look pretty flipping cool. The fx were cool but leaned a bit too the cheesy. How? Just wait for the ghost baby in the crib with the cell phone, and you'll be like oh I see now! As for scares it had it's share of them--some nicely made ones at that. I think on the wifey screech scale it hit 4. The movie attempts to have a few twists--two to be exact--but any regular horror movie viewer can spot them from a far. You can guess the end and of course it leaves open the chance for a sequel.
A few possible names for the sequel:
Another missed call.
Why so many missed calls?
One missed call again!
Death calls again.
2 Missed calls.
One missed call: 2nd calling
or We probably shouldn't have made another movie about hearing your own death on your voicemail.
It may not be best written movie ever--okay take the "may" out of there--it simply isn't--and I sure didn't sell it much with the one an half luchador masks rating but it is at the very least entertaining. That's all you can ask for right? If you have a bad movie date night (and I suggest that you should!) this one can fit the bill. You will get bonus points if you can resist making some variation of the joke "oh no I have a missed call" as soon a the movie ends.
