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When a Stranger Calls (1979)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
26 October 1979 (USA)
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Tagline:
...Fear is the Message! more
Plot:
A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Babysitting
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Telephone
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Babysitter
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Murder
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Psychopath
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Awards:
1 win
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User Comments:
Great opening and ending--lousy middle
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Cast
(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:
Runtime:
97 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The film is based on the infamous babysitter-and-the-man-upstairs urban legend, which has been an element in several horror films but is most closely associated with this film.
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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.
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Quotes:
Curt Duncan:
[whispering, to Jill] You can't see me, but I had to come back. Don't you know why?
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Sam's Lake (2005)
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Soundtrack:
SPACE RACE
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FAQ
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| News articles | IMDb Horror section | IMDb USA section |
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A girl (Carol Kane) is babysitting one night. She keeps getting phone calls from a guy saying "Have you checked the children". (They're upstairs sleeping). The phone calls continue. She gets nervous (and never checks the children). She calls the police. They trace the calls--they're coming from INSIDE the house...
This was a big hit in 1979 with teenagers--despite the R rating kids were let into this one. It does have a great opening 20 minutes and a pretty scary ending--but the middle is dull dull dull. It involves the killer (well played by Tony Beckley) stalking an older woman (Colleen Dewhurst slumming) and a police detective (Charles Durning--also slumming) after him.
Good performances save the middle half from being totally unbearable, and there is good direction from Fred Walton. But all in all this is a mediocre thriller. Still, I'm giving it a 7 for the opening, the closing and the acting.