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One Missed Call: The Movie with a Killer Ringtone

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Let’s rewind to when the Motorola Razr was the phone to have, and people painstakingly spent equal amounts of time between setting the perfect Myspace layout, arranging and re-arranging their top 8, and setting a customized ringtone (sometimes for all different contacts). A few of us even had the ever-elusive ring-back tones. What a time to be alive.

Fast forward to the present, as my oldest son’s phone rang, I heard the unmistakable ringtone from One Missed Call go off. I knew he’d never seen it and likely had never heard of it. “That’s from a horror movie!” I excitedly told him. “In the movie, they were next to die when that ringtone would go off!”

This moment caused the intense realization that the ringtone seems to have outlived the film. An entire generation is using the ringtone without ever knowing its sinister backstory. This just cannot be, dear horror fans. It’s time to revisit the scary movie that gave us the legendary ringtone.

 I’ll keep things spoiler-free so that if you haven’t seen it or have forgotten, you can enjoy it mostly untarnished.

Horror in the Early Aughts

One Missed Call (2008) came about at the tail-end of The Ring and The Ring Two’s success. Those films marked the beginning of an early 2000s trend that saw many plotlines involving technology acting as a gateway between our world and the spiritual one.

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In Shutter, the entity communicated through a haunted camera, White Noise brought the ghosts out of the film, Pulse (2006) saw spirits moving through Wi-Fi, etc.

J-horror films are famous innovators of this trend. They kickstarted the trend of entangling the spiritual and digital world, and the aughts saw a boom in Asian horror remakes. Films such as Ringu and Pulse (2001) made haunting by technology a contagion.

One Missed Call is no different as it was inspired by the J-horror film of the same name by Takashi Miike, released two years earlier.

It Starts with A Creepy Phone Call

One Missed Call centers on a group of friends who, one by one, begin receiving mysterious phone calls. When their phone rings, the sound which erupts is not their ringtone; instead, it’s a unique, ominous, chilling tune.

No matter how fast they try to answer, they are unable and are left with a missed call and a voicemail dated a few days in the future. The voicemail recording plays what will be the person’s final moments of life.

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As a quick aside, the voicemails playing the characters precisely what their deaths will sound like give them all a fighting chance to save their fate, yet disappointingly no one ever does. Nor does anyone realize they are saying the words they heard themselves say on the voicemail just days before.

It would have helped the film if someone actively resisted that from being their fate. Of course, it brings up the conversation of preordained fate and how much we can control our destinies. But back to the reason we’re here.

The One Missed Call Ringtone

To fully appreciate the ringtone from One Missed Call, it’s interesting to note the common anxieties that the simple ringtone exploits. Music boxes and other tinkling, child-like songs seem to tap into our inner child. We subconsciously relate those sounds to childhood, putting our minds into a child-like state, making it easier to frighten us.

Moreover, the song plays on our anticipation as we await the next rhythm to come (or, to put it simply, it leaves us “waiting for the beat to drop.”) But it never does. The sound is suspenseful, absent of the sinister meaning attached to it.

Additionally, there is a particular genius in using a phone call as a vehicle for demise. So many of us dread any time our phone rings, wondering why the person didn’t text instead. This movie amplifies that dread and adds unease to having a missed call.

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One Missed Call Review

The plot can get a little muddy, and all the spirit can do varies. The movie’s beginning sees the entity physically manifest to cause harm, whereas later, it operates in a Final Destination-esque “fate is against you” manner. However, the film does an excellent job of telling a captivating tale with no shortage of unsettling imagery. In the days following the phone call, the receiver is plagued by hallucinations that range from bugs under their skin to a figure with mouths for eyes.

Despite the shocking imagery and haunting story, one thing stands out most when the movie ends. The thing that has withstood the test of time by existing on tween phones nearly twenty years later. If nothing else, this film gave horror fans a killer ringtone.

Have you seen One Missed Call? Let us know in the comments!

Note: The theme this month at Horror Press was Haunting Melodies. Would you like the opportunity to help choose the next one? Or even the movies that we cover? Consider checking out the Horror Press Patreon, where you can become a Lead Acolyte and play a role in our content, amongst other fun benefits.

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A writer by both passion and profession: Tiffany Taylor is a mother of three with a lifelong interest in all things strange or mysterious. Her love for the written word blossomed from her love of horror at a young age because scary stories played an integral role in her childhood. Today, when she isn’t reading, writing, or watching scary movies, Tiffany enjoys cooking, stargazing, and listening to music.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in November 2025

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Halloween season is over, and many streamers have forgotten about us horror kids. While they take their 11-month hiatus from the genre, we can be grateful that we still have an app that cares. We are so lucky that Shudder remains that girl year-round. Whether you’re finishing their new original show Guts & Glory, catching up on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans, or running at some of their deep cuts like I am, Shudder has your best interests at heart. As usual, she has quite a few titles fighting for our attention. Which is why I am here with five titles I think should be at the top of all of our watch lists this November. So, cancel your holiday plans and pick up your remote because we have got horrifying things to watch.

The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month

Habit (1995)

An alcoholic unwittingly enters into a relationship with a succubus in New York City. If you ever wondered what Larry Fessenden was getting up to in his youth, you need to see this ’90s gem. I lucked out and caught it at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival last year, and I lived my best life. While watching it on the small screen will not be the same, I plan to hit play anyway. Mostly because I love to see 1990s succubi leaving their mark on men…and also the horror genre. Shudder is also adding The Last Winter and Depraved, so we can spend a whole day with Uncle Larry’s work.

Sew Torn (2024)

A seamstress happens upon a failed drug deal and steals a briefcase. She soon finds herself caught in a deadly situation where all roads lead to death. I caught Sew Torn at SXSW last year and have been wondering what happened to it. So, I am very happy this odd little bird has found her way to Shudder. I cannot wait to make my friends who are looking for something cute and deadly watch. I knew nothing when I hit play on this, and I encourage you to know as little as possible, too. I fear I have already written too much in this blurb to be completely honest. 

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You can watch Sew Torn on November 1st.

The Retreat (2021)

A couple goes on a pre-wedding retreat and unwittingly becomes targets of a group of serial killers. We have seen too many movies about retreats, and I thought this one would be more of the same. This title does not completely reinvent the wheel, but it does set itself apart within this oversaturated subgenre. The Retreat is a surprisingly fun and tense little thriller that feels made for the winter watches. Come for the lesbian characters leading the film, and stay for the violence. I also encourage you to check it out while it is on Shudder, because it is usually on apps with ads.

You can watch The Retreat on November 1st.

The Creep Tapes (Season 2)

Peachfuzz returns with more tapes, chaos, kills, and WTF moments. Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice have reentered the TV arena and are making things weird again. If award shows were real, this duo would be leading the Emmys charge. I saw the first three episodes, and Josef/Peachfuzz is still the serial killer after our own hearts. Our Wolfie is still cutting up (literally and figuratively) in the most amazing ways. Guest stars in danger this season include David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil), Katie Aselton (The League), and Robert Longstreet (The Haunting of Hill House). 

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You can watch The Creep Tapes (Season 2) on November 14th.

Krampus (2015)

A kid accidentally summons demons during the holidays in this horror comedy. Krampus remains one of the top-tier Christmas horror titles for me. It is also my favorite Michael Dougherty film. Not only because it has the star power of Adam Scott and Toni Collette, either. This movie is wicked, and even the kids are in danger. I do not have many holiday horror movies I revisit every year, but Krampus is one of the very few. It still holds up, and I cannot wait to rewatch it with a festively boozy beverage. 

You can watch Krampus on November 15th.

Those are a few reasons I am grateful for Shudder this holiday season. While the rest of you are fighting with your family and friends, I will be parked in front of my TV. You can have your turkey because I would rather gorge myself on episodes of The Creep Tapes anyway.

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Let me know what Shudder shenanigans you have got your little eye on. I am nosy and want to make sure I am not missing anything on my favorite streamer.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Netflix in November 2025

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The year is winding down, and I don’t know about you, but I am trying to pack in as many 2025 horror movies as I can. Is this because I love making end-of-the-year lists? Yes. Is it because I am an unhealed overachiever? Also, yes. So, I am assuming some of you are also cruising the streamers to see what you may have missed. While Netflix has had my favorite new slasher Heart Eyes for a bit, and I have mentioned that in previous streaming guides, they also have other new horror titles to show you.

I do not talk about them as much because I did not have a good time with them. However, that does not mean you won’t enjoy some of these titles. That’s why I am taking the high road and finding something to be grateful for about each of them. That way, you will know there is a silver lining if you do watch them. Allow me to help you figure out what to prioritize this month and what to skip. Check out this chaotic Netflix hitlist below! 

The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month

28 Years Later (2025)

A group of survivors on a small island has built a fortress to protect them from the rage virus. However, a young boy discovers what is really outside the walls of their community and sets off to find a cure for his sick mother. We all loved 28 Days Later, and some of us liked 28 Weeks Later. So, 28 Years Later was never going to live up to the hype with almost thirty years of anticipation. While I didn’t love it, I did enjoy seeing Danny Boyle helm another zombie installment. What he does in the subgenre is top-tier, and we are welcome (even if the script left me wanting more). That might have gotten buried in all the talk about the dicks seen in the movie, though.

Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025)

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A group of girls competing for prom queen starts disappearing, leaving the underdog to figure out what is happening to her competition. I had a lot of thoughts about this lackluster installment in Netflix’s Fear Street adaptations. As someone who grew up reading Fear Street books and wanting to adapt them myself, I do not understand how this movie came out so badly. Which made it hard to find something nice to say about this title. However, the soundtrack slaps, and it is not the soundtrack’s fault that it was wasted on a low-energy bottom-tier slasher. So, if you hit play on this, you can at least look forward to hearing some retro bangers selected by music supervisor Nora Felder. If you are familiar with her work on Yellowjackets and Stranger Things, you know Felder does not miss.

Maa (2025)

To battle a demon’s curse, a mother transforms into the legendary goddess Kali. As usual, Netflix did not advertise an international horror movie that seemed to have some potential. If they had told us Maa was an Indian Hindi-language mythological horror movie, most people who yell for intersectionality and originality would have run at it. Instead, we had to find out about it months later while looking for something we hadn’t already seen on the app. This movie is too long, and I cannot say it is good by any stretch of the imagination. However, it also made me realize how little I know about the goddess of destruction. If you are a nerd like me, this might lead you down a cool rabbit hole. You can also say you gave a view to a horror movie starring Brown people. Who knows, maybe you could be one of the few who enjoy this chaotic film.

Until Dawn (2025)

A group of friends find themselves trapped in a time loop where they keep getting killed in gruesome ways. I love the video game and was so bummed this adaptation was so bad. However, the practical effects are very cool and should be celebrated more. I think the stuff that the SFX team pulled off might be the only reason to watch the movie personally. I’m happy the actors whose work I enjoy got paid, and that’s another positive thing I can say. However, if we want to see young people in deadly time loops, we have so many movies that do it better. Excuse me as I look right at Happy Death Day and all of the movies that have tried to copy her.

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Ziam (2025)

A Muay Thai fighter battles through a zombie apocalypse to save the woman he loves. Netflix fumbled the advertising for this one too, because who doesn’t want to see a Thai zombie film? So, I was excited to watch it, but then sad I did not like it. However, I think this one is on me. It is an action-horror with a lot of heartfelt moments, and that’s not my bag. I wanted more violence and zombie action because I am a broken and heartless ghoul. So, Ziam might be the only movie on this list that does not deserve my bombastic side eye. I am waiting for other people to watch it and let me know if they have a better time with it, though. 

While I was not the audience for these movies, I am assuming some of you will dig them. Worst-case scenario, you cross off a few more 2025 horror movies and have something to talk about at Friendsgiving. Happy Horrordays! I will see myself out now…

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