Film Review: When a Stranger Calls (2006)

Posted under film

I wasn’t a big fan of the original 1979 version of When A Stranger Calls but I’ve always understood how it became somewhat of a cult classic. The same will never be said of this uninspired remake mainly because in this day and age this new films offers nothing new of interesting to audiences who haven’t already seen it all and done it before. The ’79 version was haunting and original (even though you can say it was really riding the coattails of ‘74s hit Black Christmas).

The ’06 version takes the most interesting part of the ’79 version (which is the first thirty minutes) and expands it to feature length mode, which means there is a lot of padding in the film. The ’06 version surpasses the ’79 version in terms of production design and art direction (courtesy of Jon Gary Steele and Gerald Sullivan, respectfully) and even in the direction by Simon West, who bounces back from the insipid Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, with this film that has more style and craft. It also has a capable star in Camilla Belle who carries the entire film even through the “padded” areas.

Jake Wade Wall’s screenplay hits all the marks and makes for a suspenseful film except for the occasional off screen killing (they are all off screen) that makes for a very pedestrian film. It would’ve been better to leave the obligatory death scenes out of the film entirely as they add nothing to the film. The same can also be said of the Stranger (Tommy Flanagan) whom we learn nothing and know nothing about. This is actually one of the better aspects of the film (a technique that should’ve been followed in the ’06 remake of Black Christmas). The film has a lot of mood and style but little in the way of originality or story.

Kevin L. Powers
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