
When a Stranger Calls
2006, Horror/Mystery and thriller, 1h 27m
92 Reviews 250,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
When a Stranger Calls ranks among the more misguided remakes in horror history, offering little more than a rote, largely fright-free update to the original. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Jill Johnson
The Stranger
Scarlet
Bobby
Dr. Mandrakis
Mrs. Mandrakis
News & Interviews for When a Stranger Calls
Critic Reviews for When a Stranger Calls
All Critics (92) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (84)
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February 18, 2012 | Rating: C | Full Review… -
If you've seen either Black Christmas or Halloween, there's nothing new here: the hyped-up score keeps telling us we ought to be scared, but the suspense feels mechanical and fake.
June 24, 2006 | Full Review… -
You know a horror movie's in trouble when the fake scares outweigh the real ones.
May 16, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review… -
I can't help feeling that this updating could have been a little more imaginative -- the only wrinkle on the basic plot is that it uses mobile phones.
May 13, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review… -
Loud, noisy, flashy but too rarely chilling.
May 12, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review… -
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.
March 4, 2006 | Rating: 0/5 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for When a Stranger Calls
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Aug 02, 2014If I discovered anything from "When A Stranger Calls", it is that inside me lives a vast hatred for the sound of a ringing phone. Amidst a chorus of those rings is an attempt at a home invasion thriller that sees a babysitter answering the phone to heavy breathing, casual threats, and fellow classmates playing jokes. Camilla Belle plays the role of innocent babysitter just fine, but remains a blank canvas that is never quite painted in. With poor decision after poor decision, I found myself cheering for Tommy Flanagan to finish her off, or to at least finish me off, so that I would not have to watch any more of this sordid cat and mouse thriller. One thing that never fails to amaze me is how ill-prepared these serial killers are for a female that will fight back, regardless of how small and weak they are.Christopher H Super Reviewer
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Aug 14, 2012No plot, no scares. You might as well just fast-forward to the last ten minutes; everything before is utterly pointless. Not saying that the ending is anything special. None of the tension in this film is real. It's just fake scare after fake scare, and it gets old real fast.Eric S Super Reviewer
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Nov 23, 2011It's predictable and frightless, can't believe I actually spend 5 bucks renting it. And what the hell is with that ending, so cliche.Sylvester K Super Reviewer
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Sep 19, 2011When a Stranger Calls is one of the worst remakes that I have seen. The film has some very bad acting, a bad story and bad directing. As a horror film, When a Stranger Calls fails to deliver effective jolts. The scares are cheap and expected. I thought that this film was awful and I felt like it was a waste of time. This film is pure crap, and as far as remakes are concerned, them being dull and inspired compared to the first, well this one fits the description perfectly. I love horror films, horror films are my passion, my addiction and I was very disappointed in this film. I thought it was purely a waste of time, and celluloid. Remakes are much hit and miss, and this remake misses the mark entirely. The cast and story awful, and you just know how this film will end. The element of surprise, which makes horror films worth seeing, is absent, and thus, this film is very predictable and awful. This film scraps the bottom of the barrel and it's not fun, scary or entertaining. This is yet another unfortunate remake of a classic film that never should have been made in the first place. Hollywood is running out of ideas, and trash like this shows that they're willing to green light anything to make a quick buck. Some remakes are good, effective at delivering scares. However this one fails to deliver, and belongs along with the rest of the horrible sequels in the dollar bin at Wal-Mart. A terrible film, which you're not missing out on. Avoid.Alex r Super Reviewer
When a Stranger Calls Quotes
Jill Johnson: | What do you want me for? Why are you doing this? |
Voice of the Stranger: | I want your blood all over me. |
Jill Johnson: | Stop calling me you sick...... |
Jill Johnson: | Stop calling me you sick... |
Officer Burroughs: | Jill, we've traced the call it's coming from inside the house! Get out of the house, get out of the house!!!! |
Officer Burroughs: | Jill, we've traced the call it's coming from inside the house! Get out of the house, get out of the house! |
Detective Hines: | Keep him on the phone for at least 60 seconds and we'll be able to trace where he is. And when we do it'll take us 20 minutes to get down there. You think you can manage? |
Jill Johnson: | Yeah. I guess.... But he never stays on the phone longer than a few seconds |
Jill Johnson: | Yeah. I guess.... But he never stays on the phone longer than a few seconds. |
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