6 “Original” Films You Didn’t Realise Were Actually Remakes

4. One Missed Call

Warner Bros
Warner Bros

One Missed Call is the worst of both worlds €“ a PG-13 remake of a Ringu rip-off. But at least there are a few unintentional laughs.

As in nearly all remakes of J-horror films, there€™s a female ghost plotting retribution against the living, though One Missed Call€™s ghost seeks revenge using cell phones. If you receive a voicemail from your future self, then according to this movie€™s rules, you€™ll die at the date and time of the call.

When one character receives the call, she does what anyone else in her shoes would and accepts an offer to be exorcised on a TV reality show. Picture her best friend€™s surprise when she sees the trailer: €œA cell phone rings and Death is one the line! A beautiful co-ed, a ticking clock of ghastly murder NEXT on American Miracles!€ However, that€™s nothing compared to the reaction of the fire-and-brimstone exorcist, who can€™t figure out why the exploding lights, choking starlet and sudden appearance of the Antichrist weren€™t in the script.

Contributor

Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'