US Remake of ONE MISSED CALL Coming from Warner Bros

: 05 September 2008

Author: Keith Aiken Official website: One Missed Call Movie

What will it sound like when you die? In ONE MISSED CALL a chain of people receive terrifying cell phone messages of their own final fatal moments. Though the messages can be deleted, their number is up. Beth Raymond (Shannyn Sossamon) is traumatized when she witnesses the gruesome deaths of two friends just days apart. Even more disturbing, she knows that both of them had received chilling cell phone messages—actual recordings of their own horrifying last moments. Impossibly, the calls were received days before they died, but each death occurred precisely when and how the messages foretold. The police think Beth is delusional—except for Detective Jack Andrews (Edward Burns) whose own sister was killed in a freak accident that bears a strange similarity to the deaths of Beth’s friends. Together, Jack and Beth work feverishly to unravel the mystery behind the ominous calls. But even as they get closer to the truth, Beth’s cell phone begins to ring with an eerie tune, and the readout says One Missed Call… —Official synopsis for ONE MISSED CALL Warner Bros has launched their official website and trailer for ONE MISSED CALL, the American remake of the J-horror hit. The latest film continues a trend that has included THE RING (2002), THE GRUDGE (2004), DARK WATER (2005), PULSE (2006), and various sequels. The original ONE MISSED CALL (Chakushin Ari, 2004) was directed by Takashi Miike, the popular and controversial filmmaker responsible for AUDITION (Odishon, 1999), ICHI THE KILLER (Koroshiya 1, 2001), GOZU (Gokudo Kyofu Dai Gekijo: Gozu, 2003), ZEBRAMAN (Zeburaman, 2004), and THE GREAT YOKAI WAR (Yokai Daisenso, 2005). The film starred actress Kou Shibasaki, who was recently seen in the box office hits SINKING OF JAPAN (Nihon Chinbotsu, 2006) and DORORO (2007). The success of the first movie led to a pair of sequels; ONE MISSED CALL 2 (Chakushin Ari 2, 2005) and ONE MISSED CALL: FINAL (Chakushin Ari Saishusho, 2006). The first two films are available on DVD in the US from Media Blasters, both separately and in a ONE MISSED CALL Collection.

Shortly after ONE MISSED CALL 2 opened in theaters across Japan, Kadokawa Pictures announced that they were partnering with Warner Bros on an American remake of the first film. The new ONE MISSED CALL was produced by Alcon Entertainment, a production company whose films are financed and distributed by Warners. In recent years, Warner Bros has released Alcon’s American version of INSOMNIA (2002), the zebra comedy RACING STRIPES, SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS (2005), and the remake of THE WICKER MAN (2006). French director Eric Valette, who received positive reviews for his last horror film MALEFIQUE (2002), helmed the new version. Screenwriter and novelist Andrew Klavan (Don’t Say a Word) based the story on the original Japanese screenplay by Miwako Daira as well as the novel Chakushin Ari by Yasushi Akimoto.

Headlining the cast are Ed Burns and Shannyn Sossamo. Burns wrote, directed, and starred in THE BROTHERS McMULLEN (1995) and SHE’S THE ONE (1996), and co-starred with Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg’s SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998). His more recent credits include the awful Ray Bradbury adaptation A SOUND OF THUNDER (2005) and the romantic comedy THE HOLIDAY (2006). After some guest roles on the cult favorite HBO series MR SHOW (1997), Shannyn Sossamo made her big screen debut as the female lead in A KNIGHT’S TALE (2001). Her other credits include KISS KISS BANG BANG (2005) and THE HOLIDAY. Also appearing in ONE MISSED CALL are Azura Skye (CSI: MIAMI), Ana Claudia Talancon (FAST FOOD NATION), Ray Wise (TWIN PEAKS), Johnny Lewis (ALIENS VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM), and comedian Margaret Cho. ONE MISSED CALL was originally scheduled for release on August 24, 2007, but will now open on January 4, 2008.