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When a Stranger Calls (1979)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
26 October 1979 (USA) moreTagline:
...Fear is the Message! morePlot:
A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
1 win moreUser Comments:
A Very Scary and Real Thriller moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
97 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
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)Fun Stuff
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. moreGoofs:
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. moreQuotes:
John Clifford: Lets get something straight here, Doctor. I've been 33 years in the business of tracking people down and putting them away... spent almost a year alone on the case of Curt Duncan with the trial and the testimonies and the background investigations. Now, I didn't come here today to look in your God damn folders, in fact I probably wouldn't be here at all if you had done your job right.Dr. Monk: This is a hospital, Mr. Clifford, not a penitentiary. Everything appertaining to one of our patients is meticulously recorded in that patient's folder, whether you can make sense of it or not.
more
Soundtrack:
HUELGA EN GENERAL moreFAQ
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Jill Johnson (Carol Kane) is babysitting two children, when a stranger insists calling her in the phone, asking her to see the children in the upper floor. She decides to telephone to the police, to trace the phone call. When the office on duty tells her that the call is from inside the house, Jill panics. Seven years later, the maniac escapes from the asylum and the private investigator John Clifford (Charles Durning) is hired by the father of the children to kill the man. It is almost impossible to write a summary of this thriller without spoilers, so I have to stop here. A couple of days ago, I watched 'When a Strange Call Back', a type of sequel of this film. I was amazed with the beginning of the story, one of the most scary I have ever seen. Yesterday I decided to see 'When a Stranger Calls' and it is indeed a tense and suspenseful thriller. The situation through which Jill passes is amazingly real and scary. When the police officer tells Jill that the phone call is from inside the house, he heart of the viewer 'jumps'. This part is too frightening. The greatest problem in both movies is the continuation of the story seven years later (five in the sequel). It breaks the tension and the viewer gets completely lost about what happened to the characters. With a better sequence, this film certainly would be considered a classic. The story is excellent, and the performances are very realistic. In my opinion, the famous 'Scream' copied the introduction of this film. In Brazil, it was released on VHS only, and the quality of the image is not good. It deserves to be released on DVD. It is really worthwhile to watch this film. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): 'Mensageiro da Morte' ('Messenger of Death')