Common Sense Media Review
Violent, sloppy Japanese horror remake.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
One Missed Call
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 32 kid reviews
Kids say that this movie has a mix of intense jump scares and disturbing imagery, making it unsuitable for younger viewers and sensitive children. While some appreciate the thrills and consider it a decent horror flick, others find it predictable, poorly executed, or inferior to the original Japanese version, leading to mixed opinions overall.
- intense jump scares
- unsuitable for children
- mixed reviews
- predictable plot
- inferior remake
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In this remake of a Japanese horror film, psychology major Beth (Shannyn Sossamon) is puzzled when her friends start turning up dead. Beth not only studies child abuse but is also a survivor, which helps her understand the motives of the killer – an evil entity. Beth tries to decipher the murder mystery and eventually gets some help from detective named Jack (Ed Burns). When Jack's sister is killed, her cell phone sends out a message -- a call from the receiver's future self, screaming in terror at the moment of his or her death -- to someone Beth knows. Meanwhile, a smarmy TV producer (Ray Wise) solicits one victim-to-be for his show, American Miracles. But once a girl suffers a very nasty death on set, the show's resident exorcist reveals that he's not "real" at all. As Beth's friends grow frustrated, get phone messages, and die, she pursues answers. Jack helps when he can, but Beth must figure out the original trauma and so put the ghost to rest.
Is It Any Good?
ONE MISSED CALL suffers from predictable characters, over-used conventions of the horror genre, and a plot that never really makes sense. For example, Beth goes through the usual scary movie motions: exploring dark hallways, conducting Internet research, and finally, coming to terms with her emotional baggage. Also, it's a shame that the reality show sequence is cut short, because the satire shows promise (and Wise is always fun to watch).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the many U.S. remakes of Japanese (and other Asian) horror movies. How do these moody, strange films translate for American audiences? Why do you think their focus on spirits and hauntings is so popular? How do you think the remakes are similar to and different from the originals? And why do you think many of them revolve around media (videos, cell phones, etc.)?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 4, 2008
- On DVD or streaming : April 21, 2008
- Cast : Edward Burns , Ray Wise , Shannyn Sossamon
- Director : Eric Valette
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 87 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of violence and terror, frightening images, some sexual material and thematic elements.
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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