When a Stranger Calls

Name: When a Stranger Calls
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: February 3, 2006
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 27
Cast: Camilla Belle

2006

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 132 Ratings

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5.3

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5.3	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 132 Ratings

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When A Stranger Calls

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Movie Details & Credits

Screen Gems | Release Date: February 3, 2006 | PG-13

Starring: Camilla Belle

Summary: A hundred miles away from the scene of a grizzly murder in small town American, Jill Johnson (Belle) settles in for a routine night of babysitting. With the children sound asleep and a beautiful home to explore, she locks the door and sets the alarm. But when a series of eerie phone calls from a stranger insists that she "check theA hundred miles away from the scene of a grizzly murder in small town American, Jill Johnson (Belle) settles in for a routine night of babysitting. With the children sound asleep and a beautiful home to explore, she locks the door and sets the alarm. But when a series of eerie phone calls from a stranger insists that she "check the children," Jill panics. Fear escalates to terror when she has the calls traced. And what the police find turns the perfect babysitting job into a 16-year-old's worst nightmare. (Screen Gems)

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Director: Simon West

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

Frank Scheck

Designed to capitalize on the title and premise of the original but offers little to those who fondly remember it. Read full review

Anita Gates

Jake Wade Wall's screenplay does deserve a word of praise. It has managed to incorporate the advent of cellphones, the *69 command and caller ID, which could have easily made the entire story impossible. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

After an hour of red herrings, in which Jill investigates creepy corridors or opens rattling closet doors with no results, the only real danger is that we'll become bored to death. For real thrills, rent the original, turn down the lights and scare yourself silly. Read full review

J.R. Jones

This remake takes an alternate tack from the original feature, expanding the story of "The Sitter" to a full 83 minutes, but the result is dull and painfully generic. Read full review

Tim Grierson

Amounts to an assault of jarring music cues and peek-a-boo scares that starts off mechanical and ends up utterly desperate. Read full review

Peter Hartlaub

Even the element of surprise isn't enough to save this film, which has too many slow parts and features an ending that's extremely tepid by 21st century horror movie standards. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Long distance information? Get me Hollywood, USA: I’ve got a rusty ice pick to bury in the gullet of whoever greenlighted this pointless exercise in masturbatory tedium. Read full review

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User Reviews

ChieuN.

Dec 3, 2006

The terror is really great. It has a weird mystery about the stranger. Jill Johnson from the movie was very brave. The make-up and the hair-style are great too.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

MattC.

Mar 18, 2006

Call me crazy, but I loved this movie. It's the best of 2006 so far, in my opinion. It was suspenseful and terrifying and just an awesome movie. The only bad thing was it wasn't even 90 minutes, but hopefully they'll be an extended version like most films have nowadays. This Call me crazy, but I loved this movie. It's the best of 2006 so far, in my opinion. It was suspenseful and terrifying and just an awesome movie. The only bad thing was it wasn't even 90 minutes, but hopefully they'll be an extended version like most films have nowadays. This film definetely gets a 10/10 from me.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MrTacoBob

Jul 14, 2017

Okay I can agree the middle part was just filler but when the real stuff came in OH MAN! That was scary! When the person said, "The calls are coming inside the house!" I got so scared! Well it was predictable but the way he said it oh my god. Its a really scary movie but has a lot of filler.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RyanB.

Feb 4, 2006

This movie is the worse movie that I had ever seen but the reason why im giving it a five is because it is so bad that it is funny.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

GrantN.

Feb 4, 2006

When a Stranger Calls is a rehash of the best 30 minutes of the original movie of the same name. If it had been able to keep that suspense throughout the entire movie then maybe it would be able to succeed. But alas it gives out the largest plot twist in the trailer. Also Brittney S. When a Stranger Calls is a rehash of the best 30 minutes of the original movie of the same name. If it had been able to keep that suspense throughout the entire movie then maybe it would be able to succeed. But alas it gives out the largest plot twist in the trailer. Also Brittney S. clearly does not have a good grasp on the English language judging by her comment "While being PREDICTABLE it keeps you GUESSING." Which makes no sense.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

jack

Jul 15, 2006

Wow. I can't believe I attempted to watch this. Thank goodness for fast forward; I reviewed this dreck in less than 20 minutes. There is no a single gripping moment, semblance of brilliance, plot relevance, nor character empathy.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

RyanS.

Feb 3, 2006

This movie was so pointless. No suspense at all. Everything that happens in the movie, happened in the preview. So just go watch the trailer online. Don't spend money on this cliche piece of crap. Maybe if its a huge bomb they'll quit making horrible remakes like this.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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