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:

Murder | Prank Call | Death | Guesthouse | High School

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Camilla Belle	...	Jill Johnson
Katie Cassidy	...	Tiffany Madison
Tommy Flanagan	...	Stranger
Tessa Thompson	...	Scarlet
Brian Geraghty	...	Bobby
Clark Gregg	...	Ben Johnson
Derek de Lint	...	Dr. Mandrakis
Kate Jennings Grant	...	Kelly Mandrakis
David Denman	...	Officer Burroughs
Arthur Young	...	Will Mandrakis
Madeline Carroll	...	Allison Mandrakis
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:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Hungary:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | Norway:15 | Germany:16 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | South Korea:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Sweden:11 | Brazil:14 | Malaysia:U | Australia:M | Netherlands:16 | Ireland:15A | Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | UK:15 | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Screen Gems

Trivia:

In preparation for her role as Jill, Camilla Belle had to do two months of weight training and learning how to run.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Jill calls 911 the second time, she is not redirected from the central to the local police station as she was the first time she called.

Quotes:

Jill Johnson: [phone rings] Hello?
[no answer]
Jill Johnson: [sighs] Mandrakis Residence.
Voice of the Stranger: Have you checked the children?
Jill Johnson: What
[stranger hangs up. Jill runs and checks on the children. Comes Back downstairs]
Jill Johnson: [phone rings] Hello?
Voice of the Stranger: [pauses] How were the children?

Movie Connections:

References The Wicker Man (1973)

Soundtrack:

Lock It

Just as good as the original

Having seen the original when I was 13 (and, yes, I was stupid enough to watch it while babysitting!), I was excited to see this remake.

Camilla Bell did a great job as Jill Johnson. And the fact that a teen horror flick could be made in the year 2006 without tremendous vulgarity and gore, made it even that much stronger of a film. I had a great time trying not to chew my fingernails off!

This film won't win anyone an Oscar, but it is entertaining and worth the matinée price ticket I bought to see it. I think girls around the world should watch the original and the remake...and then determine to never babysit again.

All I can say is, I'm glad I'm too old to babysit! There's just something about being in a dark creepy house with sleeping kids that makes this movie classic. No blood, no gore...just good psychological fun! WINNER!