THRILLER; 1hr 40min
STARRING: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklena
White-knuckle: Fahy
When a Stranger Calls is an indelibly scary 1979 movie about a babysitter hounded on a landline phone by a homicidal lunatic. While not a remake (that happened in 2006), everything old is new again in this sleekly reminiscent outing that sees Chicago psychologist Violet (The White Lotus ’s Fahy) having the worst night ever in one of the classiest restaurants anywhere.
The widowed survivor of a violent marriage, Violet is braving her first date with a hot prospect (Sklenar as photographer Henry) when her phone is bombarded with a series of progressively ominous messages in the cartoony form of DigiDrops. The sender is not only tracking her every move and insisting she say nothing, but is threatening the life of her five-year-old son, Toby (Jacob Robinson), who is being babysat by Violet’s sister Jen (Violett Beane). Since the drops can only be sent from 50 feet, the culprit must be somewhere in the restaurant, and judging by the security footage of a masked man lurking in Violet’s home, he or she has an accomplice.
Cushioned in high-rise luxury, bathed in honeyed light, Violet is alone in the lowest depths of hell. If she confides in anyone, Jen and Toby will die. But as push turns to thumping shove, the real target here is an unsuspecting Henry, who knows something he shouldn’t and isn’t willing to keep it under wraps.
Happy Death Day director Christopher Landon and the Blumhouse Productions team are seasoned hands at putting on a nightmarish show. An adrenalised Fahy walks their high wire all the way, ploughing on with a jittery mix of terror and determination. The OTT climax to which the night is building gives the finger to any pretence of sanity — but sensible and safe were never on this menu.
