When a Stranger Calls (2006)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

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:

Director Simon West opted not to show the crime scene Detective Hines has to see at the beginning of the movie to secure a PG-13 rating.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When the alarm goes off, security calls to see if everything is alright. But when Jill comes running inside, the alarm goes off, but security does not call.

Quotes:

Jill Johnson: Tiffany, I know it's you. I can see your name on Caller ID, genius.
Voice of the Stranger: This isn't Tiffany.
Jill Johnson: Who is this?
Voice of the Stranger: [pause] Who is this?
Jill Johnson: Cody?
Voice of the Stranger: Who's Cody?
Jill Johnson: You better cut this out!
[stranger hangs up]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "30 Rock: Corporate Crush (#1.19)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Lock It

Just Hang Up...

Once in a great while I will watch a movie that completely surprises me. One that comes out of nowhere to be a bit of rousing entertainment. One that is pure fun from beginning to end. Well folks, When A Stranger Calls is NOT that movie. It is an unbelievable stupid and far fetched remake of the much better 1979 horror camp classic. Our lead heroine Jill is forced to babysit after going over her cell phone minutes and is harassed by telephone calls from a mysterious caller. Every cliché in the world is used here from the stupid cat-jumping-out-of-a-hidden-spot to the car that won't start to the killer can be anywhere at anytime. This movie is bad...not even bad in a "so bad it's good way" more in a "so bad it's boring way." Skip this godawful film and save your movie for something else. You'll thank me later, trust me on this. Grade: D-