 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
One Missed Call
- Review Date: April 21, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Horror
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Violent, sloppy Japanese horror remake.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this Japanese horror remake features frequent tense scenes and some grisly deaths, with mutilated bodies and screaming victims. The movie's thematic focus on child abuse is vague and incoherent, but it might still provoke questions from attentive younger viewers. Violence includes choking, burning, stabbing, a rod going through a chest, and a girl getting hit by a train. Several girls show cleavage, and there's a very brief shot of a college girl in her bra. Language includes "s--t" and "damn," and there's some drinking and smoking.
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).
Explore, discuss, enjoy
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.)?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Teen, 14 years old
May 31, 2009
AGE
the box
The scariest part of this movie is the cover of the box. Not a scary film
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
April 17, 2010
AGE
scary - but for horror fans watch the japan version
ok i saw this at my friends house
not that scary but its a ok-good movie
the japanese version is so scary it scared the sugar out of me!!!
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 14 years old
September 12, 2010
AGE
the movie was a little scary and i do not think it would be appropriate for children because there are some scary images and dead bodys moving and demons specificly shown
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 13 years old
August 16, 2010
AGE
It was Ok
This was an okay movie, but it was not as scary as I was hoping it would be. It's a good scary movie for older tweens +
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
July 17, 2009
AGE
NOT SCARY IN ANY WAY!!
I absolutly loved this movie, it had a good plot around it. It had very good acting, some bad graphics. I loved it 13 and up could see this. Not scary!!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 13 years old
October 22, 2009
AGE
Awesome movie
i luv this movie it's sooooo great i mean it's not very scary at all but just enough and it's perfect to watch with friends my mom is even watching it right now
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 13 years old
May 28, 2011
AGE
My Opinion
I think this movie can be bad in someways as in the beginning it shows kids partying. but if you are going to watch this movie you already know you are watching a HORROR film and that violence is supposed to be tolerated and that movie makers nowadays try to think of the best ways or the ugliest ways for people to die. I thought that the girl in the movie tries to save her friends and herself and everyone else which is the best think in the movie.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
August 29, 2010
AGE
This was an okay movie. It was the worst remake for a japanese horror film I've seen in my life. It was really jumpy but not scary. Some of the deaths can be (a little) frightening. There was one scene were two college students are seen making out for 3 seconds. I have not seen the original but I'm sure it's better. Probably for 10+
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 13 years old
July 23, 2010
AGE
Good, but not as scary as expected
Just got done watching this movie, and it for sure was NOT what I was expecting. it was actually not that scary, and it's only the second scary/creepy movie I've ever seen, and the first horror movie. I mean, yeah there were parts where it was pretty gross, but it wasn't that scary. it had a pretty wicked plot, though, and it was really gory in some parts.
*****SPOILERS*****
Gore: Lots of dead and burnt bodies. A bloodied hand comes out of a pond and grabs a girl and her cat. A girl is hit by a train. A man is stabbed through the chest with a metal pole. An extremely disturbing, burnt corpse crawls onto the main character (but turns out to have good intentions)
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Eric Valette |
| Cast: | Edward Burns, Ray Wise, Shannyn Sossamon |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 87 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 4, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | April 21, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense sequences of violence and terror, frightening images, some sexual material and thematic elements. |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
