I Saw What You Did (1988) (TV)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Fred Walton

Writers:

Cynthia Cidre (teleplay)
Ursula Curtiss (novel)

Release Date:

20 May 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Two teens, Lisa and Kim, are playing games making prank calls on the phone. But when they call Adrian Lancer who has some mental problems...

Plot Keywords:

Telephone Prank | Prank Telephone Call | Phone Terror | Remake | Based On Novel

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Shawnee Smith	...	Kim Fielding
Tammy Lauren	...	Lisa Harris
Candace Cameron Bure	...	Julia Fielding (as Candace Cameron)
Robert Carradine	...	Adrian Lancer
David Carradine	...	Stephen
Rosanna Huffman	...	Mrs. Harris
Jo Anderson	...	Robyn Griffin
Bo Brundin	...	Mr. Marley
Patrick O'Bryan	...	Louis
Dana Gladstone	...	Sid
Alan Fudge	...	Mark Fielding
Susan Kellermann	...	Gym Teacher
Michael A. Ross	...	Mike (as Michael Ross)
Stack Pierce	...	Policeman
Robert Winley	...	Randy

Also Known As:

I Saw What You Did... and I Know Who You Are!

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:15 | USA:Not Rated | West Germany:16

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

This Emmy winning TV movie is a remake of I Saw What You Did (1965). Both projects were based on the practical joke where one calls a total stranger, says "I saw what you did" and hangs up.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Camera can briefly be seen reflected in window when Adrian looks out after receiving second call from girls.

Movie Connections:

References "Sesame Street" (1969)

Fairly nice little made for TV thriller

I have never seen the William Castle original but this film was definitely a pleasing, if overstretched way to spend 82 odd minutes. The plot is pretty cool, if a tad silly, with a girls prank call of I saw what you did by accident reaching someone who has actually done something bad. Its a neat set up, but the story is kinda thin and starts to feel a bit dragged out by the end. Fortunately there's tight direction by TV thriller veteran Fred Walton and the acting is by and large engaging enough to keep things watchable. Shawnee Smith plays the lead, the friendly but mildly dorky Kim and pulls off an endearing, sympathetic performance that is a far cry from the idiocy of Linda in the sitcom Becker, or Amanda from the Saw flicks. Tammy Lauren plays the mismatched, cooler friend who gets into the mess with her and similarly is perfectly likable. Tammy Lauren I believe was later in the delightful revivalist splatter movie Wishmaster, though I have not seen that gem in ages. The films antagonist is portrayed with blank, gripping menace by Robert Carradine and there's a good cameo from David Carradine as his brother. This is hardly earth shaking stuff, but it is fun to watch, with a particularly gripping first half hour or so, then a slackening of pace, before a fairly decent finale. Its pretty well written and acted, there are one or two good jolts, and its always fun too see two Carradines in the same film. Its made for TV status means that this is fairly tame stuff, no significant nastiness, but within its constraints it is pretty satisfying viewing. Worth a look, especially if you enjoy any of the stars.