When a Stranger Calls

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Horror Films)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

I am a fan of movies with interesting plots. Movies that take place around simple concepts and rewrite the cliches of cinematic storytelling. How scary the thought of a stalker calling you and keeping tabs on your every move. In its original context left alone it is creepy and thought provoking. But this Remake of the 1979 "When a Stranger Calls" is not even remotely scary, the only thoughts it provokes is "When will this be over.?"

Jill Johnson, played by Camilla Belle is your average teenager movie cliche who is forced to babysit because she is grounded for ironically going over her cell phone minutes. After the parents leave, she is left alone, a stranger calls her repeatedly as she tries to figure out where the stalker is coming from.

And that is the plot. 95% of this movie is a One Person Play, that even "The Producers" would reject. With no other characters playing much of a crucial role we are forced to watch a frightened girl roam a house an hour and a half as she scares herself with common noises of a refrigerator ice maker, a predictable black house cat and of course a ringing phone.

If you are alone in a mysterious house, what scares you about it. I would say the silence. But we are not entertained by moments of scared straight silence instead this one hour and twenty three minute film plays a on hour and twenty two minute dollar store Halloween sound track (that refuses to stop even for dialogue.)

This fear factor of this film is being alone. Being alone and having no one to call out to in your times of need is frightening. Everyones been there at times, whether you have been alone in a huge glass mansion or just in the comfort of your house. This film keeps asking the same unsettling question, What do you do when your alone and in trouble, Jill Johnson decided to call the cops. To Jill these police officers might come to her rescue. They were bigger then her, they were her life line.

For me I call on God. He is bigger the fear. He understands loneliness and most importantly he understands me. Who would you call on if you had no one to turn to?

The ancient Hebrews had such awareness:

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. - Psalms 25:16-17

The ancient Hebrews believed that God was always there, and in times of trouble they would call upon God for help. Just like present day followers of Jesus, they believe that God is everywhere so it is impossible for him to be nowhere. One of the names given to Jesus was Emmanuel -which means God with Us.

Even someone like Jill Johnson (Pun Warning) can "call" on Christ at times she feels most alone and He will answer. Jill Johnson was scared for her life. She was alone and could sense bad things about to happen...

Even at times when we are scared and fleeing for our lives, God is there.

Even if you do have a terrible fear of ice makers...