When a Stranger Calls (2006) February 28, 2007
Posted by dansdvds in Film Reviews.trackback
The DVD rental place near me is great. 99p for a movie, meant that I was entertained for another rainy afternoon at uni. I started off watching ‘When a Stranger Calls’ half doing some work at the same time. But after 20 minutes I was hooked, quite bizarrely, as watching a girl be terrorised by a prank caller turn killer isn’t really what I would call fun but hey its only a movie.
The story centres on a teenage girl babaysitting at a rich family’s place before being scared silly by a threatening series of calls and actions. All she can do is phone the police who just tell her to lock the doors and set the alarm so nobody can get to her. One problem…the killer’s already in the house. Oops.
When you talk about how music builds suspense in a movie, this would be a great one to cite as an example. Even when the girl, Jill, is doing the most mundane tasks such as entering a alarm keycode or opening a cupboard the music turns it into a frightful edge of your seat experience, but it works! It’s worth saying this is a remake of a 1979 version which I’ve not seen so I don’t know how it holds up but it kept me entertained.
One thing it seemed to lack to me was a final showdown, and we didn’t get to know the killer at all. Only at the end we see that he’ some kind of serial stalker who’s killed many more victims in the same way before. Another point worth raising, this is one of the few movies where the police actually do their job for once. usually they get shot out the way if they aren’t central characters. But hey it made a nice change.
Here’s the trailer for the movie…so you can decide for yourself whether it’s worth watching or not 
My expectations weren’t that high so I was pleasantly surprised i give it 3/5
What do you think of the movie? Agree with me? leave a comment
They’re making When a Stranger Calls 2 I believe, I’ll have the trailer to that up soon!
Will have to agree with you, The Suspence and music in the film really did turn it into an edge of your seat and biting nails experience it was just so gripping, was hooked after a few minutes as well…
I think the directors had a really good idea going on in this film, after all whats the biggest fear a young girl babysitting could have…. something happening to the children!!!!! However i do agree the final showdown was disappointing, it seemed rushed and didnt explain much. There was no link to who the killer was and why he wanted to kill babysitters and children… was there a reason or was he just some insane Psychotic man?
I think if they make a second one they should explain more and show more links between the characters. Despite this i am looking forward to seeing the second one
I hope any experiences you had as a babysitter weren’t nearly as bad as that!