Phone review

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First there was The Ring, then The Grudge and now there's Phone. Are Asian frighteners chasing themselves in circles in search of the next remake-friendly horror hit? Judging by this hand-me-down blend of supernatural curses and cutting-edge techno panic, it certainly looks that way. Ringu with a ringtone, this Korean chiller is a little too familiar for its own good.

When investigative reporter Ji-won (Ha Ji-won) is harassed by a stalker, she switches phone numbers. Unfortunately, she ends up with a cursed mobile that turns six-year-old Young-ju (Eun Seo-woo) into a foul-mouthed, sexed-up little beast. It may sound silly but this cellular horror tops up its risible premise with some truly sphincter-tightening scares involving ghostly voices on the other end of the line.

A number worth dialling, then, although we'll probably have to wait for Takashi Miike's You've Got A Call before we can experience a truly terrifying pulse of telecom horror.

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine. 

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