ONE
MISSED CALL (2003)
Starring
Ko Shibasaki, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Kazue Fukiishi. Directed by Takashi
Miike. (112 min)
ONE
MISSED CALL 2 (2005)
Starring
Mimula, Asaka Seto, Yu Yoshizawa. Directed by Renpei Tsukamoto. (105
min)
ONE
MISSED CALL: FINAL (2006)
Starring
Maki Horikita, Meisa Kuroki, Keun-suk Jang. Directed by Manabu Aso.
(109 min)
ON
BLU-RAY FROM ARROW VIDEO
Review
by Josey, the Sudden Cat😺
Death
by cell phone...an increasing sign of the times. Whether some dumbass
is texting while driving or attempting a selfie with a bear, perhaps
cell phones are God’s way of culling the human herd. Like most
technology we’re conditioned to depend on, they’re prime horror fodder
and the original One Missed Call came along at the perfect
time, just as cell phones were well on their way to becoming another appendage. One Missed Call apparently had greater impact at
home than on my side of the ocean. Hollywood was content to rip-off only the first film (badly, too). But in Japan, it quickly spawned
two sequels and a television series.
Prior
to reviewing this set, I had only seen the first one, which obviously
owes its existence to 1998’s Ringu. Still, originality is
seldom a prerequisite for good horror and this one makes the most of
its premise – people receiving cell phone messages, supposedly from
themselves, which foretell the precise moment they’re going to die.
Though he’s essentially a director-for-hire here, the audacious
Takashi Miike creates a foreboding atmosphere and is totally in his
element with the film’s stand-out moment, where one victim meets a
grisly demise on live TV.
 |
| Hangin' out with Yumi. |
The
law of diminishing returns definitely applies to One Missed Call
2. Only tenuously linked to the first film, it’s nevertheless
more-of-the-same, with new characters facing the same phone service
issues. It’s certainly watchable, but the characters aren’t as
interesting, nor is the angry spirit who’s trying to knock ‘em
off. Despite a few eerie scenes, we’ve seen it all before.
 |
| "Guess I shouldn'a licked that light socket." |
But
surprisingly, One Missed Call: Final is really good. While not
as stylish as the original, this one adds new wrinkles to the
concept. A bullied student attempts suicide, then lashes out at her
tormentors through their cell phones during a school trip to Korea.
This time, however, victims can avoid death by forwarding the message
to someone else, which turns most of these kids against each other in
the time-honored tradition of self-preservation. Faster and funnier
than the previous entries, the narrative only stumbles by
squeezing-in a needless connection to the first film. With just a few
minor tweaks in the story, this would be a solid stand-alone horror
movie in its own right.
All
three films are included in this set, making it the first time
they’ve been available on Blu-ray in the states. While the only new bonus feature is an audio commentary, plenty of archival supplemental material is
included (outlined below), the best being lengthy
behind-the-scenes documentaries for each film. Though certainly
derivative, the One Missed Call trilogy is arguably more
consistent than the franchises which inspired it and a good pick-up
for J-horror fans.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
SUPPLEMENTAL
BOOKLET – Cast, crew and restoration credits; “Haunting by
Proxy” essay by Anton Bitel.
REVERSIBLE
COVER ART
TRAILERS/TV
SPOTS FOR ALL 3 FILMS
One
Missed Call:
NEW: AUDIO COMMENTARY - by Miike biographer Tom Mes.
"THE
MAKING OF ONE MISSED CALL” - An hour-long
behind-the-scenes doc, including interviews with the cast and
director Takashi Miike.
ARCHIVAL
INTERVIEWS – Individual interviews with director Takashi
Miike, actors Ko Shibasaki, Shinichi Tsutsumi & Kazue Fukiishi.
ANOTHER
ARCHIVAL INTERVIEW – With Takashi Miike.
PREMIERE
FOOTAGE
"LIVE
OR DIE” - Promotional TV special
"A
DAY WITH THE MIZUNUMA FAMILY”
ALTERNATE
ENDING
One
Missed Call 2:
"THE
MAKING OF ONE MISSED CALL 2” - A
half-hour behind-the-scenes doc.
"GOMU”
- Promotional short by director Renpei Tsukamoto.
DELETED
SCENES
MUSIC
VIDEO
One
Missed Call: Final:
"THE
MAKING OF ONE MISSED CALL: FINAL”
- An hour-long behind-the-scenes doc.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES
FEATURETTES - “Maki and Meisa,” with actors Maki Horikita &
Meisa Kuroki; “Behind-the-Scenes with Keun-suk Jang”
"THE
LOVE STORY” - Promotional tie-in film.
"CANDID
MIMIKO” - Location tour.
KITTY CONSENSUS:
PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS.
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