ONE MISSED CALL
US, 2007, 87minutes, Colour.
Shannyn Sossoman, Edward Burns, Ana Torrent, Claudia Talancon, Ray Wise, Asure Eskie, Johnny Lewis, Jason Beghe, Megan Good.
Directed by Eric Valette.
A PG 13 (US) horror film which is a welcome change from so many of the grisly and gory films (often with disposable young people) that continually pervade our screens.
It is a remake of a Japanese film – from a culture which has a strong belief in ghosts and their interventions, often vengeful. There have been a lot of Japanese films and American remakes of films on these themes, like The Ring films and The Grudge films.
This one has more interest in its characters and their fears when they receive a phone call which anticipates the way in which they are to die. The focus of the film is Beth (Shannyn Sossoman) who is a strong-minded woman who has had some bad experiences in her past. As her friends die, as predicted on their one missed call on their mobiles, she begins to fear that her turn will come. In the meantime, she is helped by a sympathetic detective (Edward Burns) whose sister was the first victim. More time than usual is spent on their searching for information about a little girl who was saved from a hospital fire at the opening of the film and whose mother seems to have been abusive. Perhaps it is her spirit that is wreaking vengeance. Just when you think it is all over, there is a good twist which sets up a final call and a dramatic ending.
Horror fans complained that it was too mild a terror film which means that it might be enjoyed by ordinary audiences who are after an acceptably scary movie.
1. A terror and suspense film? A story more credible?
2. The Japanese origins, the original film? Japanese beliefs in ghosts? As transferred to the US?
3. The Atlanta settings, the city, the …… authentic, the musical score?
4. The special effects, ghosts, images, deaths.
5. The opening with the hospital, Laurel and her being saved from the fire, the connection, the nursery, her mother, suspicions about her mother, the hospital story, Ellie, Ellie’s death, Marie as the suspicious ghost, yet saving Beth? Watching the DVD? Ellie and her cruelty, the candy given to her sister, her arriving, threatening Beth, her mother saving Beth?
6. The plausibility, ghosts, the phones and the calls, the anticipation of deaths, the recording? The title? The tune and its being played?
7. Shelly, cat, the study, drowning – a funeral, Lianne and the call, her fears, Bryan and his reactions?
8. The background of psychological studies, the abuse of children, the lecturer and her latest scepticism, Lianne, upset, seeing ghosts, going to the library, ringing Beth, going to the overpass, her death?
9. Taylor, her talking at the funeral, Bryan and his upset, his being the next one, talking with Beth, the scaffolding, his dying?
10. Taylor, her fears, going home, at her parents, the TV executive and his approach for her to go on TV, her decision to go, dying in the studio?
11. Jack, his work, policemen, his sister’s death, identifying her body, being the candy? Hearing Beth and her complaint to the policewoman? The scepticism of the policewoman? Following her, discovering what had happened, helping Beth, the hospital, the information, watching the DVD, rescue, his own death?
12. Beth as the focus, audience identifying with her, her being the host at the party, friend to all those who had died, reassuring them, her own fears of going to the keyhole of the door, the flashbacks, her mother taunting her, her mother sending the letters and her tearing them up, her father killing himself? Her studies, friendship with Shelley, Lianne, Bryan, Taylor? Jack and his help? Watching the TV, Taylor’s death? Research, finding out about the hospital, going to the nursery, going to see Laurel, not getting any answers out of her, the help of the nurse at the nursery? The library, going to the hospital, searching for Marie’s body?
13. The eerie atmosphere, the melody, the hospital, the fight, the being saved by Marie, going home, not hearing Jack’s phone call, going to the door, Jack’s death? Ellie coming? Marie saving her? The final phone call?
14. The effect of this kind of ghost story – improbable but plausible?
