WHEN A STRANGER CALLS (Original, Sequel, Remake & Rip-off)

WHEN A STRANGER CALLS

German Titles:
Das Grauen kommt um 10 / Das Grauen kommt um Zehn

USA, 1979
Director: Fred Walton

8/10

I saw "When A Stranger Calls" for the first time when I was a 10 or 11 and as far as I remember, it really creeped the shit out of me. Now, many years later, it still manages to frighten me, especially the nerve-wracking 23minute opening (one of the scariest and most suspenseful opening scenes in history) and the stunningly tense finale (which is also incredibly suspenseful).

Fred Walton's tight direction is absolutely excellent and his script is just brilliant, due to lots of unexpected plot twists. The score is extremely effective and chilling, the acting performances are all very believable, it's packed with chilling atmosphere and the camera work is just beautiful

Overall, a really great horror-thriller classic! If you haven't seen it yet, you need to watch it ASAP - and don't forget to check the children... :-)

Wiki ~ Imdb

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WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK

German Title:
Stimme der Dunkelheit

USA, 1993

Director: Fred Walton

5,5/10

I had very high hopes for this sequel
(same director - Fred Walton / same main actors - Charles Durning & Carol Kane,
same score composer - Dana Kaproff / similar story),
but sadly I ended up extremely disappointed:
"When A Stranger Calls Back" is a mediocre thriller that just can't hold a candle to the fabulous original.

The first half of the movie is just great: a fabulously suspenseful and creepy opening scene, a wonderful score, great actors (terrific performance from the wonderful Jill Schoelen) and loads of breathtaking atmosphere.

Unfortunately it gets completely downhill in the second half: way too many super-boring and tedious scenes, hardly any suspense or tension, a really ridiculous plot, an absolutely terrible ending and an extremely dumb and annoying 'stranger'.

Really a shame, this could have been sooo much better...

Wiki ~ Imdb

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WHEN A STRANGER CALLS
(Remake)

German Title:

Unbekannter Anrufer

USA, 2006

Director: Simon West

8/10

A surprisingly amazing quasi-remake that I enjoyed about as much as the original, and IMO also one of the best Screen Gems releases of the last 5-6 years. I totally don't understand all the hate this movie got.

It's highly suspenseful, tense and atmospheric from beginning to end, including a few spine-chillingly creepy scenes and some explosive moments. Camilla Belle is absolutely terrific in her lead role, very believable and powerful. The script is well-written and superbly paced, the score is extremely effective and the camera work / cinematography is just beautiful.

Highlights:
  --The impressive Mandrakis residence - my goodness, this house looks so gorgeous and stylish (lots of glass and wood, great-looking lighting, dark corridors), I immediately want to move in there.

-- The dialogue which includes many great lines from the original ("Have you checked the children?", "Your blood all over me." etc.)

-- I totally love that they remade only the legendary opening scene from the original. Yeah, they took Walton's 23-minute intro and blew it up to 90 minutes. Sounds horrible, but actually works incredibly well!

I don't care what others say, I had a fantastic time watching it.

Wiki ~ Imdb

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WHEN A KILLER CALLS
 (Rip-off)

USA, 2006
Director: Peter Mervis

3,5/10

One of the 'better' mockbusters from The Asylum - still, faaar from being a good movie. "When A Killer Calls" - a blatant and pointless rip-off of the "When A Stranger Calls" 2006 remake.

Pros:

The first half is actually pretty nice due to lots of tension and haunting atmosphere. Rebekah Kochan's performance is decent, the soundtrack is ok and the kills are all superbly brutal and gory.

Cons:

The rest of the movie is horribly boring, tedious and unsuspenseful, including many scenes that are way too long and slow. The actors are all lame and untalented, most of the characters are stupid and unlikable standard slasher stereotypes. The dialogue sucks, the hectic editing is annoying and the whole movie just looks immensely cheap.

Somewhat ok but ultimately forgettable.

Wiki ~ Imdb