The J-Horror trilogy One Missed Call comes to Blu-Ray loaded with special features from Arrow Video.
The
Film(s)
One Missed Call
Of the approximate 843 films that Takashi Miike has directed, One Missed Call stands as one of his most commercial ventures. Hot on the heels of Ring, One Missed Call takes the idea of haunted technology and as in all Miike films; takes it up a notch. Miike’s works so well with the given material because of the heighten places they take this haunting. The best example is the mid-film set piece set in and around a TV News Station and their exploitation of one of the upcoming victims. Miike’s sense of play and meanness work well with here which anyone who has seen the J-Horror entries about little girls with long hair will most certain see coming from a mile away. What matters most is the execution, and this film does it better than almost all but one.
One Missed Call 2
Rather
than create a sequel with the same ghost avenging the same trespasses, Once Missed Call 2, creates an entirely
new trespass. Instead of the dangers of
child abuse and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, we have racism and the abuse of
the disabled (both big topics in Japan) as the pinpoints of vengeance for our
wrathful spirit. One Missed Call 2 manages to take the best of the original and spin
it into a meaner narrative. The ending
set in a Chinese Coal Mine is perfectly bleak and dark as the subject matter it
tackles. Part of the surprise is how
both OMC and OMC2 dovetail into each’s narrative perfectly in a way that’s a
crafty bit of invention.
One Missed Call: Final
Most
third entries are the worst entries in any series. This is not the case with the One Missed Call: Final. Taking a cue from The Final Destination Series, the film targets High School kids on
a trip to South Korea, with death finding a way to take them all down one at a
time in the most ridiculously fun and mean-spirited ways possible. It does help that the filmmakers make no
qualms about how shitty these kids are and what they have done with bullying a
former fellow student. The ending is equal parts cheese-splattered maudlin as
it is blood-splatter stark. This is part of the movies charm. Equal parts hopeful and bleak.
The
Transfer(s)
One Missed Call
Though
not mentioned this transfer seems to be culled from a new 2K (or 4K
Master). The film’s darkly lit image is
beautifully rendered on this edition.
The film has been given a wider space “to breath” so to speak on a
single disc (rather than the next two which reside on one disc). The contrast
levels are perfect and the slightest hint of grain give the image an organic
feel.
One Missed Call 2
The
second film’s transfer image is brighter than the originals. Contrast levels still
remaining consistent but the image has a bit more pop to it than the original,
which appears to be by design of the director.
One Missed Call: Final
Again
much like the second film, the third film appears to be brighter and color
saturation has a bit more pop to it.
That appears to be by design by the directors. Miike’s first film has always been darker in
terms of lighting and color palette.
Here though the color palette is the same it’s not as subdued as the
first.
Disclosure:
The films were viewed on a Sony XBR76Z9D using a Sony UBP-X700 4K UHD Player
The
Special Features
They
include the following:
Audio commentary on One
Missed Call by Miike biographer Tom Mes
The Making of One Missed Call
Archival interview on One
Missed Call with director Takashi Miike
Archival footage from the One
Missed Call premiere
Live or Die TV
special
A Day with the Mizunuma Family
One Missed Call alternate
ending
The Making of One Missed Call 2
Gomu,
a short film by One Missed Call 2 director Renpei Tsukamoto
One Missed Call 2 deleted
scenes
One Missed Call 2 music
video
The Making of One Missed Call: Final
Maki and Meisa
Behind the Scenes with Keun-Suk Jang
The Love Story,
a short film tie-in for One Missed Call: Final
Candid Mimiko
Theatrical trailers and TV spots for
all three Films
DISC ONE:
The Audio Commentary
by Miike Expert Tom Mes. The commentary is a great deep dive on the prolific
director’s work but staying specifically with this film and its importance.
Topics discussed Japanese Occult Boom of the 70s, Technological Fears, the Sarin
Gas Attacks all informed J-Horror, The Haunted School (a TV Series), the
influence of Hammer Horror, Ridley Scott’s Alien, the over use of CGI,
Structural and architectural philosophy, and so much more.
The Making is One Missed Call
is a 57-minute making-of with Director Miike front and center. The doc uses a
combination of raw b-roll footage and interviews from the premiere to create a
unique making of Featurette. The best part of the making of is that it is
edited in chronological order of the production giving people a sense of how
discombobulated a film production can be.
Cast & Crew
Interviews
Kou Shibasaki – a 6-minute interview that feels more EPK which is
traditionally what the Japanese do and have done with other releases. Much of
this footage has been used in the making-of documentary. They ask the actress
standard questions about preparation for the role, what scares her, about
working with Takashi Miike.
Shinichi Tsutsumi – a 3-minute interview that feels more EPK which is
traditionally what the Japanese do and have done with other releases. Much of
this footage has been used in the making-of documentary. They ask the actor
about the film, interesting production stories and developing his character.
Kauze Fukiishi – a 2-minute interview that feels more EPK which is
traditionally what the Japanese do and have done with other releases. Much of
this footage has been used in the making-of documentary. They ask her one
question which was working on the production and interesting anecdote from the
set.
Takashi Miike – a 2-minute interview that feels more EPK which is
traditionally what the Japanese do and have done with other releases. Much of
this footage has been used in the making-of documentary. The director talks
about working with actress Kauze Fukiishi, actor Shinichi Tsutumi and asks him
to describe the movie in one word.
Interview with Takashi Miike
– a 20-minute interview with the director discussing the film. Question prompts
are displayed before he answers the questions. Miike a thoughtful and quiet man
when it comes to his response. Even the most routine question they ask him
comes with an eloquent answer. Also of note, Miike wears the most amazing of
shirts during the interview. One would even say it’s a legendary fit.
Screening – is 14-minutes of
b-roll footage of the stars, producers and director as they go on their press
tour beginning with the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Live or Die – is 12-minutes of
the live broadcast from the film. Arrow has cleverly put it together as a
multi-angle Featurette allowing you to choose from two angles on your remote.
The footage is the actual camera footage the production filmed.
A Day with the Mizunuma Family
– a 3-minute Featurette that shows the raw footage that was recorded from the
second act reveal of who is abusing the little girl of the story. This footage
is just as raw and disturbing as it is in the film. Amazingly, this camcorder
footage is as disturbing as it is in the film.
Much of that is thanks in large part to Miike’s use of DVcams early in
his career.
Alternate Ending – a 3-minute “unseen”
version of the finale. The featurette does warn at the beginning it is graphic.
The ending does live up to Miike’s reputation for gore. It was the right
decision to cut it and use the one they had in the film. I won’t ruin it but…
please don’t be mad at me when you find it’s not what you think.
Rounding out the
special features on the first disc for One
Missed Call are the Theatrical Trailer (81-seconds, highly effective),
Teaser Trailers (2 25-second teasers), and TV Spots (7 30-second spots that
some use a very “emotional” pop song to strangers effect, others they use the
phone call aspect as the hook very effectively, note most of them use the main
heroine’s Scream)
DISC TWO:
The Making is One Missed Call 2 – a 32-minute making-of that mirrors the first making-of
Featurette. The doc uses a combination of raw b-roll footage and interviews
from the press tour to create the making of Featurette. Rather than have the
making of be chronological they’ve opted to have it broken down by actor and
their experience. This one is much heavier on the talking heads rather than the
B-Roll footage that make that making-of on the first disc such a treat. The
footage it does have is a treat because a lot of it is footage of the makeup
effects work.
Gomu –a 4-minute short film by the director Renpei Tsukamoto . The shot on video short is a prequel of sorts. It bridges the two movies with a character. It’s short effective and actually kinda fun. It even ties to the third film with how the ghost works.
One Missed Call 2 / DeletedScenes – a 10-minute Featurette where director Renpei Tsukamoto guides us through the 3 scenes he cut and why he cut them. They are; The House of GAO Shumei, Inside the Car, Coal Mine Entrance.
One Missed Call 2 /
Music video – A Prayer for Love by Aki is a 5-minute long video. Artfully
directed with scenes from the film intercut. If one is into early 2000s J-Pop
it just great shot videos this will be something you’ll want to check out.
Rounding out the One Missed Call 2 special features are
the Theatrical Trailer (93-seconds, again effectively cut like the original),
Teaser Trailers (3 30-second teasers), and TV Spots (4 25-second spots).
The Making of One Missed Call: Final – a 52-minute making-of Featurette. The doc uses different from
its predecessors because of its slicker production values. They still use of
raw b-roll footage and interviews from to create the making of Featurette this
time there a very serious narrator joining the fun. This in fact appears to be
a television special rather than a bonus feature created for a home video
release. More gloss than content.
Maki and Meisa – a 15-minute
Featurette about actresses Maki Horkita and Meisa Kuroki. Be warned this is a
very Japanese style EPK interview. It was more than likely filmed for a Japanese
entertainment show. Definitely a curiosity for sure.
Behind the scenes with Keun-Suk Jang – a 12-minute interview with the South Korean actor and male
lead of the film. This seems similar to the Maki and Meisa featurette, recorded
for a Japanese Entertainment Show.
The Love Story – another short film
(12-minutes) this one tying to One Missed
Call: Final. Rather than a short traditional narrative films, it’s a
collage of pictures and moments. Like one a teenager would put together. It’s
schmaltzy for sure. You’ve been warned. It is definitely NOT a horror short.
Candid Mimiko – a 15-minute guided
tour of the locations of the film by the actress that plays Mimiko in all three
films. This similar to the Maki and Meisa, and Keun-suk Jang featurette, it’s
recorded for a Japanese Entertainment Show.
Rounding out the One Missed Call: Final special features is its 2-minute long theatrical trailer.
The
Final Thought
Arrow Video’s One Missed Call Trilogy is not to be missed. The volume of the Special Features put this one over the top. Highest possible recommendations!!!
The J-Horror trilogy One Missed Call comes to Blu-Ray loaded with special features from Arrow Video.
The Film(s)
One Missed Call
Of the approximate 843 films that Takashi Miike has directed, One Missed Call stands as one of his most commercial ventures. Hot on the heels of Ring, One Missed Call takes the idea of haunted technology and as in all Miike films; takes it up a notch. Miike’s works so well with the given material because of the heighten places they take this haunting. The best example is the mid-film set piece set in and around a TV News Station and their exploitation of one of the upcoming victims. Miike’s sense of play and meanness work well with here which anyone who has seen the J-Horror entries about little girls with long hair will most certain see coming from a mile away. What matters most is the execution, and this film does it better than almost all but one.
One Missed Call 2
Rather than create a sequel with the same ghost avenging the same trespasses, Once Missed Call 2, creates an entirely new trespass. Instead of the dangers of child abuse and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, we have racism and the abuse of the disabled (both big topics in Japan) as the pinpoints of vengeance for our wrathful spirit. One Missed Call 2 manages to take the best of the original and spin it into a meaner narrative. The ending set in a Chinese Coal Mine is perfectly bleak and dark as the subject matter it tackles. Part of the surprise is how both OMC and OMC2 dovetail into each’s narrative perfectly in a way that’s a crafty bit of invention.
One Missed Call: Final
Most third entries are the worst entries in any series. This is not the case with the One Missed Call: Final. Taking a cue from The Final Destination Series, the film targets High School kids on a trip to South Korea, with death finding a way to take them all down one at a time in the most ridiculously fun and mean-spirited ways possible. It does help that the filmmakers make no qualms about how shitty these kids are and what they have done with bullying a former fellow student. The ending is equal parts cheese-splattered maudlin as it is blood-splatter stark. This is part of the movies charm. Equal parts hopeful and bleak.
The Transfer(s)
One Missed Call
Though not mentioned this transfer seems to be culled from a new 2K (or 4K Master). The film’s darkly lit image is beautifully rendered on this edition. The film has been given a wider space “to breath” so to speak on a single disc (rather than the next two which reside on one disc). The contrast levels are perfect and the slightest hint of grain give the image an organic feel.
One Missed Call 2
The second film’s transfer image is brighter than the originals. Contrast levels still remaining consistent but the image has a bit more pop to it than the original, which appears to be by design of the director.
One Missed Call: Final
Again much like the second film, the third film appears to be brighter and color saturation has a bit more pop to it. That appears to be by design by the directors. Miike’s first film has always been darker in terms of lighting and color palette. Here though the color palette is the same it’s not as subdued as the first.
Disclosure: The films were viewed on a Sony XBR76Z9D using a Sony UBP-X700 4K UHD Player
The Special Features
They include the following:
DISC ONE:
The Audio Commentary by Miike Expert Tom Mes. The commentary is a great deep dive on the prolific director’s work but staying specifically with this film and its importance. Topics discussed Japanese Occult Boom of the 70s, Technological Fears, the Sarin Gas Attacks all informed J-Horror, The Haunted School (a TV Series), the influence of Hammer Horror, Ridley Scott’s Alien, the over use of CGI, Structural and architectural philosophy, and so much more.
The Making is One Missed Call is a 57-minute making-of with Director Miike front and center. The doc uses a combination of raw b-roll footage and interviews from the premiere to create a unique making of Featurette. The best part of the making of is that it is edited in chronological order of the production giving people a sense of how discombobulated a film production can be.
Cast & Crew Interviews
Kou Shibasaki – a 6-minute interview that feels more EPK which is traditionally what the Japanese do and have done with other releases. Much of this footage has been used in the making-of documentary. They ask the actress standard questions about preparation for the role, what scares her, about working with Takashi Miike.
Shinichi Tsutsumi – a 3-minute interview that feels more EPK which is traditionally what the Japanese do and have done with other releases. Much of this footage has been used in the making-of documentary. They ask the actor about the film, interesting production stories and developing his character.
Kauze Fukiishi – a 2-minute interview that feels more EPK which is traditionally what the Japanese do and have done with other releases. Much of this footage has been used in the making-of documentary. They ask her one question which was working on the production and interesting anecdote from the set.
Takashi Miike – a 2-minute interview that feels more EPK which is traditionally what the Japanese do and have done with other releases. Much of this footage has been used in the making-of documentary. The director talks about working with actress Kauze Fukiishi, actor Shinichi Tsutumi and asks him to describe the movie in one word.
Interview with Takashi Miike – a 20-minute interview with the director discussing the film. Question prompts are displayed before he answers the questions. Miike a thoughtful and quiet man when it comes to his response. Even the most routine question they ask him comes with an eloquent answer. Also of note, Miike wears the most amazing of shirts during the interview. One would even say it’s a legendary fit.
Screening – is 14-minutes of b-roll footage of the stars, producers and director as they go on their press tour beginning with the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Live or Die – is 12-minutes of the live broadcast from the film. Arrow has cleverly put it together as a multi-angle Featurette allowing you to choose from two angles on your remote. The footage is the actual camera footage the production filmed.
A Day with the Mizunuma Family – a 3-minute Featurette that shows the raw footage that was recorded from the second act reveal of who is abusing the little girl of the story. This footage is just as raw and disturbing as it is in the film. Amazingly, this camcorder footage is as disturbing as it is in the film. Much of that is thanks in large part to Miike’s use of DVcams early in his career.
Alternate Ending – a 3-minute “unseen” version of the finale. The featurette does warn at the beginning it is graphic. The ending does live up to Miike’s reputation for gore. It was the right decision to cut it and use the one they had in the film. I won’t ruin it but… please don’t be mad at me when you find it’s not what you think.
Rounding out the special features on the first disc for One Missed Call are the Theatrical Trailer (81-seconds, highly effective), Teaser Trailers (2 25-second teasers), and TV Spots (7 30-second spots that some use a very “emotional” pop song to strangers effect, others they use the phone call aspect as the hook very effectively, note most of them use the main heroine’s Scream)
DISC TWO:
The Making is One Missed Call 2 – a 32-minute making-of that mirrors the first making-of Featurette. The doc uses a combination of raw b-roll footage and interviews from the press tour to create the making of Featurette. Rather than have the making of be chronological they’ve opted to have it broken down by actor and their experience. This one is much heavier on the talking heads rather than the B-Roll footage that make that making-of on the first disc such a treat. The footage it does have is a treat because a lot of it is footage of the makeup effects work.
Gomu –a 4-minute short film by the director Renpei Tsukamoto . The shot on video short is a prequel of sorts. It bridges the two movies with a character. It’s short effective and actually kinda fun. It even ties to the third film with how the ghost works.
One Missed Call 2 / Deleted Scenes – a 10-minute Featurette where director Renpei Tsukamoto guides us through the 3 scenes he cut and why he cut them. They are; The House of GAO Shumei, Inside the Car, Coal Mine Entrance.
One Missed Call 2 / Music video – A Prayer for Love by Aki is a 5-minute long video. Artfully directed with scenes from the film intercut. If one is into early 2000s J-Pop it just great shot videos this will be something you’ll want to check out.
Rounding out the One Missed Call 2 special features are the Theatrical Trailer (93-seconds, again effectively cut like the original), Teaser Trailers (3 30-second teasers), and TV Spots (4 25-second spots).
The Making of One Missed Call: Final – a 52-minute making-of Featurette. The doc uses different from its predecessors because of its slicker production values. They still use of raw b-roll footage and interviews from to create the making of Featurette this time there a very serious narrator joining the fun. This in fact appears to be a television special rather than a bonus feature created for a home video release. More gloss than content.
Maki and Meisa – a 15-minute Featurette about actresses Maki Horkita and Meisa Kuroki. Be warned this is a very Japanese style EPK interview. It was more than likely filmed for a Japanese entertainment show. Definitely a curiosity for sure.
Behind the scenes with Keun-Suk Jang – a 12-minute interview with the South Korean actor and male lead of the film. This seems similar to the Maki and Meisa featurette, recorded for a Japanese Entertainment Show.
The Love Story – another short film (12-minutes) this one tying to One Missed Call: Final. Rather than a short traditional narrative films, it’s a collage of pictures and moments. Like one a teenager would put together. It’s schmaltzy for sure. You’ve been warned. It is definitely NOT a horror short.
Candid Mimiko – a 15-minute guided tour of the locations of the film by the actress that plays Mimiko in all three films. This similar to the Maki and Meisa, and Keun-suk Jang featurette, it’s recorded for a Japanese Entertainment Show.
Rounding out the One Missed Call: Final special features is its 2-minute long theatrical trailer.
The Final Thought
Arrow Video’s One Missed Call Trilogy is not to be missed. The volume of the Special Features put this one over the top. Highest possible recommendations!!!
Arrow Video’s One Missed Call Trilogy Blu-Ray is out February 25th
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