When a Stranger Calls (2006)

Director:

Simon West

Writers:

Jake Wade Wall (screenplay)
Steve Feke (1979 screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 February 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Evil Hits Home

Plot:

During an otherwise routine babysitting gig, a high-school student is harassed by an increasingly threatening prank caller.

Plot Keywords:

Children | Police | Babysitting | High School | Babysitter

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Camilla Belle	...	Jill Johnson
Tommy Flanagan	...	Stranger
Katie Cassidy	...	Tiffany
Tessa Thompson	...	Scarlet
Brian Geraghty	...	Bobby
Clark Gregg	...	Ben Johnson
Derek de Lint	...	Dr. Mandrakis (as Derek Lint)
Kate Jennings Grant	...	Kelly Mandrakis
David Denman	...	Officer Burroughs
Arthur Young	...	Will Mandrakis
Madeline Carroll	...	Allison Mandrakis (as Madeleine Carroll)
Steve Eastin	...	Detective Hines
John Bobek	...	Officer Lewis
Brad Surosky	...	Boom Boom
Karina Logue	...	Track Coach

Also Known As:

Bell Ringer (Philippines: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense terror, violence and some language.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Australia:M | UK:15 | Singapore:PG | Ireland:15A | Norway:15 | Brazil:14 | Malaysia:U | Sweden:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Hungary:16 | Argentina:13 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:12 | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Screen Gems

Trivia:

Even though the stranger is played by Scottish-born actor Tommy Flanagan, the voice in the phone-calls is actually Lance Henriksen's. Henriksen fit the voice, whereas Flanagan fit the build of the stranger.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jill discovers her friend's body on the bathroom floor, the friend's left arm is draped over her torso. The camera cuts to Jill reacting, then cuts to an aerial shot of the bathroom as Jill runs out, showing the friend's body on the floor, with her left arm resting alongside her body.

Quotes:

Jill Johnson: Where is he?
Officer Burroughs: We got him. He's in that police car right over there. In ankle cuffs, handcuffs. Enought sedatives to kill a horse. We're gonna take him to the hospital. We'll have four cops guarding him around the clock.
Jill Johnson: That's not enough.

Movie Connections:

References The Wicker Man (1973)

Soundtrack:

Lock It

Beautiful girl, nice house but that's about it really

When A Stranger Calls is a remake of a 1979 film of the same name, a movie that i have not yet seen. The plot is quite simple. A high school chick has racked up a large phone bill and to pay it off has to do some babysitting. She babysits in a real nice house packed full of gadgets in a remote location.

Camilla Belle is alone for the most part, she's a good-looking girl and acts pretty well. This isn't really a horror film, it's just about making you scared and it does that well for much of the time but at times it can be frustrating. It's constantly building up tension but to be honest, will little action and that's where it can get slightly boring.

I have a few issues with this movie, but that's not to say I'm slagging it off because it wasn't a bad movie, with suspense and manages to entertain somewhat. But why the did the Mandrakis' need a babysitter in the first place? They had a maid. Why didn't she just look out for the kids? Secondly, if she was there, then why not any conversation between the two. They could have at least said a few words and not just the maid saying hello.

Thirdly, why did Tiffany come along only for a few minutes?. What was the point? and drove all the way up to that remote location. That must have really meant at least 30 minutes or even more she wouldn't be spending at the bonfire party.

And, why didn't Jill go check the kids more?. OK, she did after the stranger's call. But she's the frigging babysitter. Surely, she would have had the decency to check the children are fine more often.

Plus, there was a lot of noise. Phone ringing quite a few times. Jill making noise from being scared, answering the phone, turning on the TV, music, Tiffany talking and stuff like that. Might have woken the kids.

And finally, seems that Jill will be spending more time babysitting after another phone bill she seems to have racked up in the process.

But anyway, who cares, half-decent entertainment, nice looking girl and house.