Adam

Sir Dizzy,

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Why? For reviewing this piece of crap so I didn't have to. Yes, I too saw When a Stranger Calls and I think I might have disliked it more than you. I agree with every point you make about this boring, uninspired crap-fest. What you did forget to mention is that this film is based on a picture from the late 70's starring Carol Kane (of Taxi fame) and veteran Charles Durning. That picture generated real tension in the first act and dared to go in an entirely different direction in it's final hour. This version simply expands the first act of that movie to ninety minutes and the end result is a thriller that telegraphs ever scare through endless hinting and a truly awful score that swells just as something is going to happen. And yes, the trailer gives everything away, so really--WHAT'S THE POINT OF SEEING THE DAMN THING!!!! Furthermore, the entire first hour of this movie is nothing more than shots of the lead character walking throughout the house so we the audience can get a grasp on how huge it is. As if we didn't already know. Or how about Simon West slyly showing us at the beginning of the film that our heroine is a track star. Thanks a lot Simon. So nice of you to fill in the blanks. When A Stranger Calls not only goes to the old "cat jumping on to the window sill" well too often. It actually commits the cardinal sin of showing us a cat jumping on to the window sill. TERRIBLE! I think the only part of your review that I don't agree with, is the point you make about the movie being made for fourteen year old girls who've never seen a thriller before. I carefully observed a group of tweeners in front of us as this boring movie rambled on and even they weren't buying it. Thank God. Maybe there is hope after all. Borrowing from the likes of Scream and Panic Room, When a Stranger Calls made me angry. This is an incompetent film on every level. This movie sickened me more than Hostel sickened you because it's so poorly executed, right down to that obvious dream sequence ending. Let this be proof to readers out there that Sir Dizzy and I do share a pure loathing for poorly made films. Avoid When a Stranger Calls at all cost. It isn't scary, it's just dull.

Jenny Stucki

I 'm afraid to admit that I too wasted my money on this stinker, and you both hit the nail on the head (with a sledgehammer) the really scary thing about this film is that it was greenlighted. OOOOEEEEOOOO

MM

I wonder if enough people signed a petition, if we could somehow prevent movies this lousy from ever being made, it's not enough to just say "there ought to be a law." We need to make a fucking law. Sign Here: Mark Mortenson,

Sir Dizzy

One of the questions I always mull when I see movies this bad is who's to blame for this kind of garbage. Is it us an audience or is it the studio's and what can we do to get them to stop making movies like this. It's a very hard subject to tackle, I see a lot of movies that I know are going to be bad going in just so I can review them and keep people from seeing them. But can we just avoid all bad movies, no its an impossible feat if you are like me and love movies and enjoy the occasional popcorn flick as much a more independent movie.

This subject was brought up last year when Deuce Bigalow: Euorpean Gigolo was released and my favorite movie review I have ever read was done by Roger Ebert.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050811/REVIEWS/50725001/1023

With my favorite quote I have ever read in a review:

"As chance would have it, I have won the Pulitzer Prize, and so I am qualified. Speaking in my official capacity as a Pulitzer Prize winner, Mr. Shneider, your movie sucks."

That quote and that review actually kept me from going to see the movies in theatres (I have since seen it on dvd, but I don't pay anything to see movies on DVD as a benifiet of my job so Columbia and Rob got zero dollars of my hard earned cash). Ebert was right and Goldstien was right it is a shame that studios, Columbia Pictures in this case pass on wonderful movies to make garbage like Deuce Bigalo. And does it pay off no, it doesn't or not all the time at least. The sequel to Deuce made 22 million dollars while the Aviator made 102, Ray made 75, Finding Neverland made 51, Million Dollar Baby 100 and Sideways made 71. How's that a snub for Columbia Pictures who decided to make crap and lost money on it. See we as an audience have power, if you are questionable on a movie go to a reviewer you trust and listen to their opinion, If you agree with Adam on most reviews or me for that matter and we say skip the movie, skip it because it will insure the studios stop making garbage like this.

If you are from Southern Utah, TJ and Westates theatres do a fantastic job at making sure we have a wide selection of movies to see. I saw the Squid and the Whale tonight and was alone in the theatres. We have had Capote, Good Night and Good Luck, Brokeback Mountain, The Matador and are getting the World's Fastest Indian on Friday. There are more selections than just what mainstream Hollywood throws at us. Go to http://www.apple.com/trailers/ and watch some trailers before you head out and check out Red Cliffs theatres are local indy movie house now.

Stanford Wells

Just so you ignorant assholes know Camilla Belle held her own up against Daniel Day Lewis and Catherine Keener in the ballad of Jack and Rose - some critics have said she steals the film. That's who she is, maybe you ought to do a little research before you make fools of yourselves. Dizzy I'd fucking say.

Boneman

I've seen the film to which you refer and agree wholeheartedly. Still that doesn't make this film any less worthless and her choice of taking the part any less disheartening. Relax Stanford, have freakin beer or something.

sirdizzy

When this is the first film I have seen Camilla Belle in and she is downright horrible in the movie I honestly don't care if she was good in another movie because by this performance alone the first I have seen her she needs to be run out of Hollywood. There is no excuse for taking a bad role, it ruins careers and she is not forgiven for this movie just because she was good in another movie.

Take for example Matt Dillon who is up for an Oscar for Crash, I saw Herbie Fully Loaded which is a cute movie but far from anything great first and Crash second. Herbie ruined some of Dillon's performace in Crash for me because I couldn't get the overacting silly villain he played in Herbie out of my mind when I saw him in Crash.

This is important to remember, Camilla Belle to me until I see her in something of value is a terrible actress because I saw her in When a Stranger Calls.

SW

That's swell that you can so eloquently defend your remarks, but as you can read above you didn't just impune her ability as an actress, but you accused her of fornicating her way into this role - come on man, just say you stuck your foot in your mouth and I'll leave it alone.

sirdizzy

I don't think my remarks need to be defended the only movie I have see Camilla Belle in is When a Stranger calls so from what I have seen her in, I honestly think she must have slept with someone to get that role and not get fired from it when it became obvious she was horrible in it. Simple as that, I am saying maybe I can see her in something else and just forget When a Stranger Calls but until I do, I think shes a horrible actress.

Jo

....So we weren't even watching the same movie?

I disliked it the first time. Liked it OK the second. Really was quite fond of it the third. It's one of those movies that you have to watch a few times to get better. You learn something new each time you watch it, which I love. But like with Shyamanlan and Hitchcock movies it isn't for those with the attention span of a hyperactive hummingbird (like some people here). It is NOT for those who hate to have to think when they watch a movie. So, like in the movie, on this page you also get to learn that some of you hate thinking.

And I always have to laugh whenever I hear someone try to tear down Camilla's acting, and double over when they try to insinuate she somehow screwed her way into movies. Sorry. No. If you prefer the embarrassing and hyper-exaggerated "acting" of, say, Emma Watson, then yeah, Ms Belle's calm and understated style is not for you. But to say she slept with the director is not only childish and weak criticism but unoriginal to boot.

And you admit you've only seen this ONE movie of her's?! Dude, you are so far from being entitled to negatively criticize her acting it's not even funny.