When a Stranger Calls (PG-13)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing When a Stranger Calls
. This movie is about a young girl who is getting odd prank calls while babysitting out in the middle of nowhere.
What did you think Mike? And be nice!
Mike: I think they should rename it "When a Stranger Bores You to Death".
Scott: Or better yet, "When not to Answer the Phone".
Mike: It is a full hour before anything happens and the movie is only 90 minutes long.
How about you?
Scott: hmmm... I guess I waited and waited for something to happen and then was pretty disappointed when it did. The only good thing about it was they didn't go too cliché after you finally meet the stranger.
Mike: No, the action wasn't too bad, but it took forever for anything to happen. The movie also gets a 6 or 7 on the cheap scare-o-meter.
How many false scares did we count?
Scott: We counted during the movie and came up with 6 jump-worthy events, in other words, 6 places where the audience jumped.
Mike: And they used the most clichéd scare of all....the cat that jumps out of nowhere.
Scott: Twice! And what color was the cat, Mike?
Mike: Um I forget. No I don't it was BLACK.
This film boasts a no star cast. So at least they won't be losing a lot on salaries when this movie tanks.
Scott: This movie was made for next to nothing. Teenagers will see it. Probably enough of them will go for it to make money. It only takes a dime to double a nickel.
Mike: Let me mention the director, Simon West. If I had seen his name before I went, I might not have gone. He is responsible for the abomination that is Con Air.
But you may like him, because he directed a few episodes of your new favorite show Keen Eddie.
Scott: Really? I caught Con Air on cable today, starring Nicholas Cage with his most believable accent ever.
Mike: I think it is the only Jerry Bruckheimer produced movie that I just cannot stand in any way.
Scott: Keen Eddie is good, and a must watch I should say. Of course, it only lasted one season, but that was just because no one knew it was on. The show also starred Sienna Miller, if nothing else, it's a must see for her.
West's directing did not wear off on this movie though. Of course, he didn't have anything to work with. Shoot there was hardly any dialog through most of the movie.
Mike: "Hello, is there anyone there?" (Heavy breathing)
Scott: Yeah, someone needs a Halls or something.
Mike: There is actually one scene that is nothing but heavy breathing on the phone. Our heroine Jill Johnson played by Camilla Belle is breathing right back at the Stranger.
Even though her eyebrows were a bit dark and thick she was easily the most watchable part of the film.
Scott: She was cute, but she had to be, no one would watch a guy in that role, or an older woman, it had to be a young cute/vulnerable girl.
Mike: Correct and rather than go with a Sarah Michelle Geller, they boldly went the nobody route.
Scott: In case you were not aware, this is a remake of the 1979 movie When a Stranger Calls. There was a sequel in 1993, for TV, When a Stranger Calls Back.
Mike: I'm sure the originals were so good they were just screaming remake.
Scott: It's interesting that they used the same character names in this and the original. I never would have thought the first one was so good as to duplicate even the names.
Mike: My favorite character was Rosa the maid. Just kidding. I wanted to see if you were still awake after this art house masterpiece.
Scott: The movie was filled with dynamic characters and intense... sorry I couldn't even finish that.
Mike: The other amazing thing is the mega expensive all glass house where this takes place. If this movie happened at my house, it would have been over in 30 minutes.
Scott: 30? Try, like 10 minutes at my house. It was a pretty cool place though. Let those who live in glass houses, throw stones at the director for making this movie.
Mike: The movie did raise some interesting questions, though. Do you think she got paid after wrecking the house? Do you think she ever got called back to baby-sit?
All deeeeeep questions.
Scott: I don't know, what's the going rate now-a-days for babysitters? It better be a bunch.
Mike: Did you read the credits? My favorite part was where they listed The song in the music credits.
Scott: Yeah, one song for the movie. If your movie has a one song soundtrack, you may be a redn... Sorry wrong saying.
Mike: I also realized that there was a real actor in the movie. Lance Henrickson of Aliens and Near Dark. Now those were good horror films. To clarify, Lance was the voice of the Stranger.
Scott: Yeah, well, this wasn't. What do you rate this?
Mike: Dude I think I will be giving out my second rating of 1 star. That's 1 star overall and 1 star for horror.
And you?
Scott: I guess I would give it a 1.5 for overall, only because I have seen worse. For horror, I give it 1.
Mike: Whatever you do, Don't Answer the Phone and Don't See this Movie!
Scott: When a Stranger Asks You to See this Movie, Say No!
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