When a Stranger Calls (1979)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Fred Walton

Writers:

Steve Feke (writer)
Fred Walton (writer)

Release Date:

26 October 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

...Fear is the Message!

Plot:

A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.

Plot Keywords:

Babysitting | Telephone | Babysitter | Murder | Psychopath

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Charles Durning	...	John Clifford
Carol Kane	...	Jill Johnson
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Tracy
Tony Beckley	...	Curt Duncan
Ron O'Neal	...	Lt. Charlie Garber
Steven Anderson	...	Stephen Lockart
Rachel Roberts	...	Dr. Monk
Rutanya Alda	...	Mrs. Mandrakis
Carmen Argenziano	...	Dr. Mandrakis
Sara Damman	...	Bianca Lockart
Richard Bail	...	Stevie Lockart
William Boyett	...	Sgt. Sacker
Kirsten Larkin	...	Nancy
Carol O'Neal	...	Mrs. Garber
Ed Wright	...	Retired man

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Germany:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Fred Walton originally shot this film as a short entitled 'The Sitter', which was essentially the opening 20 minutes of 'When A Stranger Calls'. However after the huge success of Halloween (1978) Walton saw the potential of expanding the short into a full-length feature. The script was then expanded into a feature length film about the pursuit of villain Curt Duncan.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final scene, Jill goes to her bedroom closet to see if Curt Duncan is in there. She is about to open the door with her left hand. In the next shot, she opens it with her right hand.

Quotes:

Jill Johnson: [after Curt calls her at the restaurant] Curt Duncan! He's back! He has my BABIES!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) (VG)

Soundtrack:

SPACE RACE

Terrifying.

When a stranger calls has the most terrifying opening I have seen. It starts with the babysitter and the caller,we learn that the caller is calling from the upstairs bedroom inside the house.The babysitter gets away and the killer is caught.Years later the killer escapes,the babysitter (now living a happy life) is now a fully grown woman. One night the killer comes back to stalk her,and then she's in more danger than before.

The opening to the film is brilliant,it mounts more suspense than I have ever seen.The middle just goes downhill and gets boring.As the film approaches the end,audiences will be dissapointed,because it doesn't work as good as the beginning but in my own opinion I would say it still shows off that little scare. I would reccomend this but I have to make a strong warning,don't watch while babysitting or don't watch it alone.I rate 4/5.