When a Stranger Calls

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2:14

When a Stranger Calls

PG-13

Released Feb 3, 2006

1h 27m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

8%

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91 Reviews

43%

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250,000+ Ratings

Far away from the site of a gruesome murder, a teenager named Jill Johnson (Camilla Belle) arrives at a luxurious home for a baby-sitting job. With the children fast asleep, she settles in for what she expects to be an ordinary evening. Soon, the ringing of a phone and the frightening words of a sadistic caller turn Jill's routine experience into a night of terror.

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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.

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Nigel Floyd

Time Out

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.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Matthew Leyland

BBC.com

You know a horror movie's in trouble when the fake scares outweigh the real ones.

Rated: 2/5

May 16, 2006

Full Review

Robert Hanks

Independent (UK)

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.

Rated: 2/5

May 13, 2006

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

There's something nostalgic and comforting about a teen-oriented 2000s studio horror movie, but I wouldn't say that "good" is an adjective to toss in there to describe this.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 9, 2025

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Middling suspense tale.

Rated: C+

Aug 11, 2021

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

It's a safe dumb film for safe dumb audiences.

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

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Audience Member

i mean, i turned it off 55 mins in. me letting it go past 30 mins was me having grace. i’ve never seen a ‘horror’ film as horrible as this one. all that breathing she could’ve blown up a cluster lf balloons for a child’s birthday party. i mean really, why would she call the guest house ? he doesnt answer yet the light is on, its clearly the man bothering you; so you tell him you’ve called the police ??????? Un release this movie asap

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/04/25

Full Review

Tom M

This had promise. I thought the direction in some places and cinematography were alright. The house in the woods had a great design. The idea of an anonymous killer outside and inside the house introduces the tension. But...it wasn't very scary. Not good for a horror-thriller, to be honest. Don't call us!

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

Full Review

Federico D

No es una obra de arte ni pretende serlo pero, ¿8% por parte de los críticos? Definitivamente no es, ni de cerca, tan mala como la ponen. Repetitiva, derivativa y cero creativa, sí; pero la atmósfera, el tono y la nostalgia la salvan un poco, para mí.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

Full Review

Diego O

El que escribio esta película de seguro no sabe nada de psicópatas o asesinos. Es tan mediocre que no puedes dejar de cuestionarte las incuerencias dentro de la narrativa de la película.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/06/24

Full Review

Michael W

This horror movie was alright. Camilla Belle, Tommy Flanagan, Clark Gregg, Katie Cassidy, Tessa ThompsonBrian Geraghty, and the rest of the cast did a decent job in this movie. The plot of the movie was a little scary, but not terrifying. It's about a psycho playing a game of cat and mouse with young women. If you haven't seen this movie yet, don't waste your time. It's not worth it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/19/24

Full Review

Richard H

Made by people who don’t understand the horror genre. I found watching the making of dvd extra more frustrating. Because the lead actress has no respect for horror and clearly neither did the director and it showed. Constantly referring to the movie as a thriller like “horror” was a dirty word. If it was supposed to be a thriller. It failed. And as a horror it was tame. So what was this supposed to be exactly?

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/20/24

Full Review

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Simon West

Director

Camilla Belle

Jill Johnson

Tommy Flanagan

The Stranger

Tessa Thompson

Scarlet

Brian Geraghty

Bobby

Derek de Lint

Dr. Mandrakis

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - Death in the Shadows

2:08

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - Trapped in the Greenhouse

2:27

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - Driven to Madness

2:24

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - Have You Checked the Children?

2:39

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - The Guest House

2:17

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - Nowhere to Run

2:47

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - Fighting the Stranger

1:52

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - What Do You Want?

2:26

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - Missing Maid

2:21

When a Stranger Calls: Official Clip - Car Won't Start

2:43

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When a Stranger Calls: Trailer 1

2:14

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Synopsis

Far away from the site of a gruesome murder, a teenager named Jill Johnson (Camilla Belle) arrives at a luxurious home for a baby-sitting job. With the children fast asleep, she settles in for what she expects to be an ordinary evening. Soon, the ringing of a phone and the frightening words of a sadistic caller turn Jill's routine experience into a night of terror.

Director: Simon West
Producer: John Davis, Ken Lemberger, Wyck Godfrey
Screenwriter: Jake Wade Wall
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Screen Gems, Davis Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language|Intense Terror|Violence)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 3, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $47.9M
Runtime: 1h 27m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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