Brian Geraghty, Camilla Belle, Katie Cassidy

While babysitting, a high school student is terrorized by a stranger who calls her, asking "have you checked the children lately?" The police eventually notify her, the calls are coming from inside th...( read more  read more... )e house.

Flixster Users

55% liked it

164,726 ratings

Critics

9% liked it

86 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 23 min.

Directed by: Simon West

Release Date: February 3, 2006

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DVD Release Date: May 16, 2006

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Stats: 30,956 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (30,956)


  • June 12, 2009
    This will be a very short review that is incredibly easy to write. When a Stranger calls is very boring. There is no tension to be found in the entire film. The set-up is boring. The execution is boring. The killer is boring. Camilla Belle's character is both stupid and boring. T...( read more)his movie didn't need to be made.
  • December 17, 2008
    A babysitter is left alone with the kids in a house in a remote location. A stranger calls. Chilling thriller.
  • October 6, 2008
    Jill Johnson: [phone rings]

    [answers]

    Jill Johnson: Stop calling me you sick...

    Officer Burroughs: Jill, Jill. We traced the call! It's coming from inside the house! Do you hear me? It's coming from inside the house! You need to get out! Jill?

    [power goes out]


    In a r...( read more)emote hilltop house, high school student Jill Johnson (Camilla 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 insist that she "check the children," Jill begins to panic. Fear escalates to terror when she has the calls traced and learns that they are coming from inside the house. Jill must summon all of her inner strength if she is going to fight back and make it out of the house alive.

    Wow, that was crappy. I'm glad I didn't buy it, it just so happened it was being shown on cable TV so with nothing better to do, I watched it from start to finish. Take note, I painstakingly watched it from start to finish. If the makers of the movie wanted to make this an eerie, creepy movie thrill ride, well, obviously they failed miserably. The movie is overridden with stereotypical Hollywood horror clichés, a script so bad its like blunt force trauma straight to your noggin and the acting so bad, it'll make you laugh.

    This is a suspense movie without the suspense. They should have just left the original 1979 version alone.

    1.5/5
  • September 12, 2008
    This wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it was close to it. Choosing to watch this movie is like being in a crappy slasher and deciding to do something like explore the dark hallway you suspect the killer is in. I can't be bothered with a full appraisal of this movie, wh...( read more)ich wouldn't even tingle the teenagers it targets. You're gonna see this on Hulu, and watch it only if you have that urge to go down the wrong ill-lit path and face the killer.
  • August 9, 2008
    O the pain of shitty and unwanted remkes.
  • November 8, 2009
    So Awfully Bad dont watch this!
  • November 7, 2009
    hey.,.you all who says it was ugly film??
  • November 3, 2009
    it was pretty good, but i thought it would be better than it was. kinda weird, kinda a complete waste of time...
  • November 1, 2009
    I first heard this story at a sleepover in elementary school. I didn't sleep for weeks afterwords, so this movie kind of took me back. It can get a little boring and they really had to stretch to pull out 83 minutes. Otherwise it wasn't too bad. I originally watched it just for K...( read more)atie Cassidy, too bad she was only in it for like 3 minutes. Camilla Belle was looking good though.
  • October 31, 2009
    A pretty intense movie.

Critic Reviews


February 3, 2006
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Elongates its source material's memorable opening segment to the 83-minute breaking point. full review

View more When a Stranger Calls reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • fategirl80
    March 12, 2009
    I liked When A Stranger Calls with Camilla Belle. I have When A Stranger Calls on DVD with Camilla Belle. In When A Stranger Calls I liked Jill, The Children and The Stranger.
  • JJsalt
    January 1, 2009
    This is one of my favorite movie to see. Good show!!! I thought it was really awesome when Jill Johnson faught back to save the kids. Awesome!!! Love it!!! Well it could been a little more awesome.
  • DesireeNipper
    August 5, 2008
    This movie is one of my Favorites but, it could have been Scarier!!! :~)
  • Aritosgold
    November 24, 2007
    I rate this movie a dont go to sleep while watching it and dont answer the phone.....
  • melodyalyssalana189
    September 15, 2007
    i love this movie and that hair getting pulled out was creepy ouch and when he was in the celling i total jumped and im not one to jump
  • moviessavelives
    July 16, 2007
    This movie is in my top 10 movies of all time, I love it. However, to experience the true greatness of this movie, you would need to watch it at the movies, like I did. It just adds to the tension. One thing I have noticed after watching it a second time, is that there is too much talking on the phone and walking around the house. It's not that annoying, but it makes the movie seem like it goes on forever, but it still gets 10/10.
  • Princess1307
    July 5, 2007
    This was a very good movie and i really liked it.
  • mgrantham1
    July 3, 2007
    I was totally building up anticipation for this movie, and was highly dissapointed when I finally got to see it. If I wanted to see someone on the phone for the majority of the movie, I would've just watched Phonebooth. At least that's a decent movie.
  • blueberrypie123
    July 2, 2007
    this was a very good move and i loved it!!!!!!!
  • rachalbratz20
    June 13, 2007
    i sware i never took my eye off the t.v. when i watched this this is the thrille of the hill

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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When a Stranger Calls Trivia


  • In what movie does a strange man call a baby sitter over and over?  Answer »
  • In what movie is this said " What are you wearing" " Combat boots and a Parka you jerk"  Answer »
  • In which movie did Camilla Belle alomost get killed?  Answer »
  • Which movie had a teenager getting strange phone calls while babysitting?  Answer »

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