One Missed Call 3: Final
The timid, young Asuka is bullied by her classmates. When they embark on a class field trip to Korea, Asuka plans revenge by sending them a cursed phone message they can either pass on or die.
The film earned $6.7M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
One Missed Call 3: Final (2006) exhibits carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Manabu Asô's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Asuka Matsuda is introduced as a high school student in her ordinary life, attending school and interacting with friends, establishing normalcy before the supernatural terror begins.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Asuka's friend receives the cursed phone call with the distinctive ringtone, predicting their death. The supernatural threat directly enters Asuka's world, making the legend terrifyingly real.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to After witnessing her friend's death exactly as predicted by the phone call, Asuka actively chooses to investigate the curse's origins and stop it, committing herself to entering the supernatural world., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Asuka discovers the truth about Mimiko's origin and believes she's found the key to breaking the curse, but this apparent victory is false—the curse is more deeply rooted than imagined, and more friends die despite her efforts., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Asuka's closest friend or ally dies from the curse despite all efforts to save them, or Asuka herself receives the cursed call. The "whiff of death" is literal—hope appears extinguished and the curse seems invincible., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Asuka confronts the supernatural source directly, facing Mimiko's vengeful spirit. The final battle combines everything she's learned about the curse. She attempts to break the cycle through understanding, sacrifice, or spiritual confrontation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
One Missed Call 3: Final's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping One Missed Call 3: Final against these established plot points, we can identify how Manabu Asô utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish One Missed Call 3: Final within the horror genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Asuka Matsuda is introduced as a high school student in her ordinary life, attending school and interacting with friends, establishing normalcy before the supernatural terror begins.
Theme
A friend mentions that "the past always catches up with you" and discusses the urban legend of the cursed phone calls, foreshadowing the film's exploration of inherited trauma and unbreakable cycles.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of Asuka's school life, her friendships, the haunted Mimiko legend, and the mysterious deaths connected to cursed phone calls. The supernatural rules are established: victims receive calls from their own future selves.
Disruption
Asuka's friend receives the cursed phone call with the distinctive ringtone, predicting their death. The supernatural threat directly enters Asuka's world, making the legend terrifyingly real.
Resistance
Asuka debates whether to believe in the curse and struggles with how to save her friend. She researches the origins of the curse, learns about Mimiko, and reluctantly accepts she must confront this supernatural force.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After witnessing her friend's death exactly as predicted by the phone call, Asuka actively chooses to investigate the curse's origins and stop it, committing herself to entering the supernatural world.
Mirror World
Asuka meets a journalist or investigator who has also been tracking the curse, creating a partnership. This relationship represents hope and the possibility that the curse can be understood and broken.
Premise
Asuka and her ally investigate the curse, uncovering Mimiko's tragic backstory, exploring haunted locations, and experiencing supernatural phenomena. The horror premise delivers scares and reveals the curse's mechanisms.
Midpoint
Asuka discovers the truth about Mimiko's origin and believes she's found the key to breaking the curse, but this apparent victory is false—the curse is more deeply rooted than imagined, and more friends die despite her efforts.
Opposition
The curse intensifies and spreads to more victims. Asuka's attempts to stop it fail repeatedly. The supernatural forces grow stronger, and she realizes the curse may be unbreakable. Isolation and paranoia increase.
Collapse
Asuka's closest friend or ally dies from the curse despite all efforts to save them, or Asuka herself receives the cursed call. The "whiff of death" is literal—hope appears extinguished and the curse seems invincible.
Crisis
Asuka confronts her darkest moment, processing the loss and her apparent helplessness against the supernatural. She questions whether survival is even possible or if the cycle of death is truly eternal.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Asuka confronts the supernatural source directly, facing Mimiko's vengeful spirit. The final battle combines everything she's learned about the curse. She attempts to break the cycle through understanding, sacrifice, or spiritual confrontation.
Transformation
The ending reveals whether Asuka has truly escaped or if the curse continues. Likely ambiguous or tragic, showing that some supernatural forces cannot be defeated, only survived—or that the cycle perpetuates.