The call - Final

At the time of this review there are whole bunch of 2 and 3 star ratings, a whole bunch of 9 and 10 star ratings, and not much in between. This movie is neither as good or as bad as people say it is. It's mediocre; which is to say it's entertaining enough, and does do a couple of interesting things different from the first two in the series. Among these, OMC3 taps into the beginning of cell phone and smartphone culture/obsession with its fairly hilarious satire on device users' constant checking of their cell phones and (in this case, literal) clamoring to always have our cell phones with us.

The very ending of the flick is muddled and lacks internal logic with respect to the rules the movie sets up earlier on. Also, the lead-up to the ending is cumbersome, feel-good silliness (although now that I think of it maybe this too is part of the satirical aspect... Hmm...) Nonetheless, OMC3 it's still better than some other J-horror movies, and worth a look for the J-horror completist.

After going on a school trip, Japanese students arrive in South Korea find themselves subjected to a curse similar to an urban legend back home involving deathly phone calls emanating from a former student they bullied relentlessly and must find a way to stop it from spreading to others on the trip with them.

Overall, this one does a solid job of ending the franchise on a high note. As has been the case previously, this one gets a lot to like from the ghostly exploits and interactions which drive the film along. The initial discovery of the cursed photos on their phone showing them looking over photos taken of themselves hung up provides a great starting part to the creepiness that follows their trip. As the students start slowly disappearing during their trip, there's some fun to be had with the discovery of their bodies being found in similar situations to the calls they received earlier, making the prophecy self-fulfilling in creepy manners. From the lavish deaths that arise from being out in public that look like accidents to the more over-the-top encounters with the ghost providing more brutal deaths, this one gets a lot to like before featuring plenty of stellar chasing and frightening encounters at the end where everything comes together in a fine, satisfying conclusion. As well, this one manages to do a lot of great work tying the franchise together. The story gets a lot of enjoyable elements involving the curse carryover from Japan to Korea with the discovery of the origin of the original curse, featuring the investigation into the original incident that started the curse and how it managed to spread. Learning about the connection the bullied girl had with the group and how they treated her provides a fine jumping off point that later informs the rest of the investigation into the source of the curse plaguing the students. Realizing that the way they treated and bullied her while she was a student with them that provides the launching point to putting the curse on the students while she watches over everything from her computer. The phone calls to her setting the basis for why it's happening that fill in that aspect of the storyline complete the picture nicely and give the storyline a rather enjoyable sense of closure and finality with the way they lead into each other. Realizing that the source of it all has ties to their relationship and how they need to reforge their bond to stop the threat of the ghost gives this some tender moments as well. Overall, these elements make for an enjoyable enough time. While this one has a lot to like, there are a few flaws here. The main issue with the film is the usual problem associated with the series as far too much time in the middle section is taken up with investigations into the mystery. The slowly-dwindling class realizing they're part of the curse and looking around at the source of who's calling them tends to drop all of the suspense and tension being featured here. Attempts to enhance the pacing with infighting and arguing over who's a true friend that would help them out comes at the expense of the ghostly action which drags the film out longer than it needs to be. As well, there are some issues to be had with the lack of attention the ghost really has as this one features the threat of her calling on the phone as the primary source of their fear instead which is somewhat odd when the threat should come from the ghost about to kill them. Still, these issues really aren't that detrimental overall.

Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.

The plot is ok and I could've enjoyed it, it had potential, but the horrendous acting killed it! Especially from the main actors, the ones we have to look at in close-ups: the dead-fish stare with the eyes bugging out, the hyperventilating laborious wheezing breathing, the screaming.....OH MY GOSH, the screaming, you can see it coming a mile away, and you just get ready for it....the same garbage that's presented in pretty much every D-rated j-horror films just like this one. This film has no substance, over 2 hrs long, that's just too much of the wheezy screaming and bugged-out eyes for me. Just another lousy attempt to make those pop idols into actors, so someone can make a paycheck. Pass on this one, or check Wikipedia to get the run down on the story, if you really must know. In my opinion, the first one is still the best, the second-a complete mess, and this one is just unbearable. I've seen ratings 10 out of 10, really??!? Well, it takes all kinds...they must the idols' fans.

Being the third part of a trilogy, I am not too surprised by the amount of people who don't like this movie. As concluding entries go, it is quite typical. The feeling of the movie is completely different than the first two. The story seems to have very little to do with the previous movies and the parts that do seem to be taped onto the rest of the story.

Despite all of this, I actually found myself enjoying this movie more than the previous ones. Unlike many Japanese horror movies, this one had a quick pace and comically bad effects.

For me, it was enjoyable seeing the students freaking out over getting the text messages and doing all they could to prevent their fellow students from forwarding the messages to themselves. The story involving the antagonist was slightly flimsy, but this is to be expected in horror movies.

I won't say much more about it. But I was thoroughly entertained. If you watch this movie assuming it is the typical closing chapter of a horror movie trilogy, you can enjoy it for those reasons. I, for one, loved it.

One Missed Call Final started off really strong and then three hours passed and I was thinking "damn they dragged this out" - only to look down and see that only fifteen minutes had passed and then, for some reason, it turned into The Grudge. Then the ending, one of the better parts, just sped by. I don't know what it is about this film that has the middle hour just drag out, but it's a damn shame, it really could have closed the series up better; this series probably should have been left as a duo.