着信アリ - Movie review.

♪~Currently listening to~♪
Artist: Magik Brite
Song: Fly

着信アリ (Chakushin Ari), also known as One Missed Call. This is the original Japanese version, not the American remake of it. I have to say that this movie met my expectations for a great horror film, and more. What's the difference between an American horror movie and a Japanese one? I'd have to say the life. I can see what people mean when they say that Japanese horror movies surpass American ones. There's just something creepier, and disturbing about Jhorror. Chakushin Ari is about a curse brought upon people who get this mysterious call from themselves. Really, it's a call from the future that when answered they can hear themselves at the time of their death. When the call is made the victim's phone rings in this unusual, and unsettling ring tone.

Chakushin Ari starts off with a couple of young men and females at a restaurant out on a singles group date. Immediately we start with the mystery and creepyness as we learn that one of our main characters, Nakamura Yumi, has a fear for peepholes because of some trauma that she suffered when she was little. As one of the guys on the table talks about why a family member (or was it friend?) of his commited suicide. Turns out that he was in the bathroom when suddenly an unusually thin, white woman's hand touched his shoulder. I do believe that he saw something quite disturbing and couldn't take it. Almost immediately the same thin, white hand touches Yumi's shoulder. The group is then joined by Murasaki Yoko. The two girls go to the bathroom and there Yoko's phone rings in that unsettling ring tone that is not hers. Since the call was not picked up they both listen to the voicemail message. Turns out it's Yoko's voice. She is talking casually and suddenly her own terrified scream sounds out. Her screaming stops suddenly and then there is silence. Both girls try to pass it off and tell it to their friends who assure them it must be a prank. The call was two days after they had received the call and it was Yoko calling after all. How could that be possible?! Well, at exactly the same date and time as the call was made Yumi was talking to Yoko over the phone when she meets her doom...

I had a great time watching this movie. I was freaked out at times, and even saddened. The characters really grew on me and I felt more of a warmth and compassion for them. Let me tell you, I was emotionally spent by the time this movie ended, and slightly confused. This movie is not without it's unexpected turns. So I give it an A+ and recommend it highly to anyone out there!