When a Stranger Calls (2006)

During a babysitting gig, a high-school student is harassed by an increasingly threatening prank caller.

Director:

Simon West

Writers:

Jake Wade Wall (screenplay), Steve Feke

Stars:

Camilla Belle, Tommy Flanagan, Katie Cassidy

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
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

Storyline

Jill Johnson is being forced to babysit at a BIG house all by herself for exceeding her telephone minutes. Then all of a sudden a stranger calls making these weird remarks. Jill decides to call the police to trace the call. Jill is freaked out when she finds out that the call is coming from inside the house! Jill runs in a hurry trying to get the children and leave. Will Jill make it in the house in time? Will she live? Well you just have to watch the movie to find out!

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Plot Keywords:

cell phone | high school | babysitting | teenager | nightmare | 

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Taglines:

Whatever You Do, Don't Answer The Phone.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense terror, violence and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Gaumont Columbia Tristar [France] Official site [Australia]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Unbekannter Anrufer

Filming Locations:

Franklin Canyon Park, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$21,607,203 (USA) (3 February 2006)

Gross:

$47,860,214 (USA) (17 March 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Gems, Davis Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Simon West liked Camilla Belle for her "darker look."

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Goofs

When Jill arrives at the house and Mrs. Mandrakis shows her the phone list on the refrigerator Rosa Ramirez is misspelled, it has extra letters about 10 minutes later Jill dials Rosa's number and then the correct spelling is shown.

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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?

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Connections

Remake of When a Stranger Calls (1979)

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Soundtracks

Lock It
Written by Joe Faraci
Performed by Faraci
Courtesy of Kid Gloves Music

User Reviews

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!