Review of When a Stranger Calls (2006)

Introduction

"Have you checked the children?" is arguably one of the most famous lines in horror history and this remake of the 1979 horror movie of the same name takes the same premise of a babysitter stalked by a malevolent stranger and updates it to include such technological advances as cellphones, `caller ID` and the *69 function.

Jill Johnson (Camilla Belle) is being taught responsibility by her father who has cancelled her cellphone and banned her from driving. One night when he and his wife are going out, Jill is asked to forego the `bonfire` high school party and babysit for Dr. and Mrs. Mandrakis who have gone out for a meal, leaving their two children asleep in bed. The enormous and almost futuristic house seems like the perfect place to spend an evening but Jill soon starts receiving unwelcome phone calls and the night of tranquility she had in mind turns into a nightmare.

Video

The 2.40:1 anamorphic transfer is as good as you`d expect given that the film was only in cinemas a few months ago. The contrast and colour definition are superb and the low-lit scenes are clear.

Both commentaries are subtitled and the film is subtitled in English and Hindi; although I can`t vouch for the Hindi, the subtitles are clear of errors and easy to read.

Audio

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is well mixed with clear dialogue from the centre channel and the surrounds used to good effect for the loud atmosphere and `jumps`.

Features

The commentary with director Simon West and Camilla Belle is fairly busy and interesting as West informs you of the techniques and processes of filming with Belle recounting her experiences on the set and what she thinks of the film.

The second commentary with screenwriter Jake Wade Wall is a dry and dull affair as he either talks you through what`s happening on screen, or repeats what West has divulged in the other commentary.

Oddly, both Jake Wade Wall and Simon West seem to be of the opinion that Dr. and Mrs. Mandrakis have gone to see a movie, yet they have left the name and number of the restaurant they have gone to stuck on the refrigerator door! Also, these commentaries contain spoilers for the original.

The deleted scenes run for 2 minutes 38 seconds and amount to just one deleted scene and some extra footage of the `bonfire` with a rock song playing in the background.

The 18 minute `making of` has interviews with the cast and crew, none of which are particularly enlightening and, as with the commentaries, most of those involved refer to the film as a `thriller` rather than a horror film which it obviously is.

There are also trailers for `The Da Vinci Code`, `The Exorcism of Emily Rose`, `Monster House`, `Population 436` and `Ultraviolet`.

Conclusion

This is one in a long line of remakes/re-imaginings of horror films and the choice of Simon West as director, a man best known for helming the action adventure films `Con Air` and `Lara Croft: Tomb Raider` seems a strange one. Most of the recent remakes have been those of films considered to be `classics`, yet few would argue that `When a Stranger Calls` falls into that category or was even the best `babysitter` film from 1979 as `Halloween` has that honour. Given that the original only had a good first act, was it really worth remaking?

The first 15 minutes of the original provides the entire storyline for the remake which results in the material being spread very thinly - it`s not until the 49th minute that Jill is asked "Have you checked the children?" and the filmmakers were so desperate to give the audience another scare that a totally unnecessary two scenes are tacked on at the end.

I think that one of the major weaknesses of this film is that it has come after the self-referential `Scream` films brilliantly re-invented the `stranger on a phone` horror sub-genre to the point where horror films either have to be very clever or very gory to stand out from the pack - `When a Stranger Calls` is neither. It is also not helped by the over-reliance on horror cliché and the overly loud soundtrack to provide the `jumps`, rather than skilled direction or clever writing. Unfortunately, both the director and screenwriter mentioned the word `sequel` in the commentaries, so doubtless the `stranger` will soon call again.

As with many other recent remakes, the original version of the film is available on DVD so unless you`re desperate to watch every film that`s released, I`d give this a miss and watch a slice of 1970`s horror instead.