Warner Bros., Kadokawa Pictures, Alcon Entertainment and an Intermedia Films Production present a remake of the Japanese horror film, Chakushin Ari. Directed by Eric Valette, this film is rated PG-13 at 87 minutes long and stars Shannyn Sossamon (Beth Raymond), Edward Burns (Jack Andrews), Ana Claudia Talancon (Taylor Anthony), Ray Wise (Ted Summers), Azura Skye (Leann Cole), Johnny Lewis (Brian Sousa), Jason Beghe (Ray Purvis), Margaret Cho (Mickey Lee), Meagan Good (Shelley Baum), Rhoda Griffis (Marie Layton), Ariel Winter (Ellie Layton), Raegan Lamb (Laurel Layton) and Karen Beyer (Mrs. Ford).
The film opens to a major fire at St. Lukes which kills nurse Marie Layton and one of her daughters, Ellie. Not soon after young college students start to die after receiving mysterious cel phone calls that contain their deaths marking the time and date which is within two days of their future.
Detective Jack Andrews loses his sister who's body is found a week later. Leann loses her friend Shelley along with her cat to a tragic death. From this moment on the link to the number of deaths to follow all revolve around the fact that they all knew each other somehow. Each time their cel phones rang a mysterious tone with or without batteries, the soon to be victim starts to have visions of dead people which eventually leads to the reality that their own death is sure to follow. Each time a body is found, embedded within their mouth is a hard red candy and their death reflects the message which was received on their phones. The film contains some bizarre writing and scenes but definitely keeps the movie audience on the edge of their seats at least until death comes knocking, at which point the scene ends like the death that occurred to the character next in line.
The movie reflects moments from other films like "Final Destination" "Nightmare on Elm Street", "Dark Water" and more, leaving the sense of originality dead like that of one of the stories victims. There are some clues laced throughout this well directed but not so well acted film, with the exception of Edward Burns who does justice to his role, that helps to reveal the true killer behind the murders. Inhalers, hard red candy, centipedes, flashbacks to Beth's childhood and a nanny cam bear all help to shed light on the reasons for the killings. But, it is surely the weak ending that ties up the knots and leaves yet another opportunity to miss another call.
What would you do if death came calling with the exact date and time of your upcoming encounter with the grim reaper? Don't look for clues from the characters in this story line since they truly don't add any comfort to the fact of fighting for your life! Ok, with the exception of Beth, even though her acting skills can use a bit of polishing she still fought a pretty good fight for survival in this role and hopefully as an actress in Hollywood. In her final words in the final moments of the film, she asks, "Why"? Question is, was she referring to the murders or the fact that they remade this movie from a Japanese version that maybe should have stayed in the archives as a horror, thriller, mystery foreign film. Don't get me wrong it has its intense moments that help to reel you in but at the last moment the line breaks causing yet another potential good horror film to get away.
I can't imagine the film company will get a call proclaiming its death in two days but it will probably not remain alive too long on the big screen but will surely resurrect on video. Maybe next time the casting director should not shove Margaret Cho in a thriller for the hell of it and as for the writers hopefully they'll learn a lesson and be kinder to the cat!
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.