Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One Of The Most Terrifying Movies Of All Time, September 26, 2004
The sequel to 1979's good-but-not-spectacular "When A Stranger
Calls" blows its predecessor out of the water in almost every way
imaginable, in my opinion. The first 20 minutes or so of the film, which, like the original has a babysitter in the house(this time played by one of my personal favorites, Jill Schoelen)
receiving increasingly ominous telephone calls, could be called a remake of the (admittedly great) first 20 minutes of the last one, but from there the two movies veer off in different directions, this one taking a darker and far eerier path. It's after the first 20 minutes that the film eases off the terror throttle a bit, both to get to know the characters better and to give the viewer a chance to breathe without having a heart attack.
Carol Kane, the babysitter from the first film, along with Charles Durning, the lead detective from the first, return to help with the police investigation, due to their experience in a similar situation years before. In my opinion, both give superior performances this time around, which along with the new cast members makes for one of the better ensembles of players out there. And as for the villain of the show, what can be said of this character? Not very much, for the antagonist remains a mystery until well into the final third.
After the brief respite following the opening terror, "When A Stranger Calls Back" rises quickly and dramatically in fright and intensity, and some of the most chilling and disturbing visual imagery ever conceived of comes into play towards the end.
A complete masterpiece, with intensity comparable (though not as much gore) to the first "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", the best "Hellraiser"s, and the deranged "House Of 1,000 Corpses".
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The sequel is actually better than the first!, April 11, 2005
This is one of those absolutely rare sequels that outdoes its predecessor in every way. The first one was very good, don't get me wrong. It was a classic. But it is here outdone. The first film was only scary at the beginning and end and had a long, drawn-out, yawn-inducing middle. The sequel is consistently terrifying and exciting throughout. Most of the characters in this movie are smart and the acting is great for a horror film. It makes excellent use of locales, and the fact that it was shot in the fall really adds to the overall effect. On top of being a very creepy film, this movie also has a good plot, presenting an almost Agatha Christie-type mystery (though the mystery is solved rather early in the film). The villian in this film is very, very creepy. The scene where he comes out of hiding in the hospital room and starts hitting the girl in the coma is downright disturbing. The first 20 minutes of this movie will not disappoint (they are absolutely unnerving!) I have seen (and own) hundreds upon hundreds of classic horror films. I say "classic" because I must say there is nothing at all scary about most new horror films. Movies that rely solely on startle effects (loud sounds, things jumping out suddenly) may occasionally achieve "startling" a viewer--but that does not make a film scary. Horror is about mood, pacing, build-up, and the construction of creepy and unnerving atmosphere. Most modern, MTV-style horror flicks are way too fast-paced to build up the kind of atmospheric effect that is necessary for a film to be creepy, let alone scary. Horror at its best is a slow and brooding menace. This film is one which is effective even to the most jaded of viewers. Enjoy this as a halloween treat!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Scariest Movie I've Ever Seen!, August 23, 2000
Forget "The Exorcist" this is the scariest movieyou'll ever see! The first 15 minutes of the film scared me so much that I literally could not move off the couch. Jill Schoelen plays Julia, a lovely, vulnerable girl who is doing a friend a favor by babysitting their kids. However, someone is going to make this night a living hell. Someone is watching Julia, toying with her like a cat and mouse. Unlike the original "Stranger" this film continues the suspense throughout the entire film. And yet, only one scene includes violence and blood. Carol Kane and Charles Durning reprise their roles, and I must say, are much more effective in this film. The ending of the film will shock you and leave you terrified for a very long time. I guarantee this will be the scariest film you've ever seen!
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