Don't Answer the Phone! (1980)

A deeply disturbed photographer and Vietnam veteran, named Kirk Smith, terrorizes Los Angeles by going around strangling lingerie-clad young women in their homes while taunting Lindsay Gale... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Hammer

Writers:

Robert Hammer (screenplay), Michael D. Castle (screenplay),

Stars:

James Westmoreland, Ben Frank, Flo Lawrence

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Westmoreland	...	Lt. Chris McCabe
Ben Frank	...	Sgt. Hatcher
Flo Lawrence	...	Dr. Lindsay Gale (as Flo Gerrish)
Nicholas Worth	...	Kirk Smith
Denise Galik	...	Lisa
Stan Haze	...	Adkins
Gary Allen	...	John Feldon
Michael D. Castle	...	Lab Man (as Michael Castle)
Pamela Jean Bryant	...	Sue Ellen (as Pamela Bryant)
Ted Chapman	...	Man in Bar
Chris Wallace	...	Psychic Von Hammensveld
Dale Kalberg	...	Nurse
Deborah Leah Land	...	Police Woman
Tom Lasswell	...	Police Psychiatrist
Mike Levine	...	Gary Markov

Storyline

A deeply disturbed photographer and Vietnam veteran, named Kirk Smith, terrorizes Los Angeles by going around strangling lingerie-clad young women in their homes while taunting Lindsay Gale, a young psychologist, by calling her on a radio call-in show to describe his sexual hang-ups and misogynistic ways, while a local police detective, Lt. McCable, is always two steps behind in trying to catch the psycho.

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Plot Keywords:

psychologist | photographer | rampage | photography | drink | 

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Taglines:

Murder's just a phone call away ...

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Crown International Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 February 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Hollywood Strangler

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Scorpion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 85 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

All the shots of the killer on the prowl on the streets of Los Angeles were filmed without permits.

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Goofs

The first blonde victim can clearly be seen to breathe after being strangled.

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Quotes

Sam Gluckman: I want you to know something, officer. I wouldn't print anything like this. I mean really... candles stuck in all her privates? That's just sick.

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Connections

References One of a Kind (1976)

User Reviews

Man's Wedding Present

WARNING: SPOILERS

One of the best horror movies of all-time, it really needs a special DVD release with all the toppings so it can be rediscovered by horror fans. The last release they gave it in '99 was awful because they edited all the brutal parts out. My review is based on the 1982 Media VHS version. If you've been reading the reviews for this film so far by others, pay no attention to them. This is a real chiller that will shock you. It has been unfairly maligned by feminists who don't like these movies in the first place and had already made up their minds before they even saw it! There's hardly any blood in this movie at all. The murders aren't committed with a knife or a gun. They are all stranglings based on two real life cases that were happening in Los Angeles during the late 70's, Lawrence Bittaker with Roy Norris and Ken Bianchi with Angelo Bouno. The movie is also based on the novel Nightline by Michael Curtis. Nicholas Worth does a good job portraying the demented Vietnam veteran. It's one of the most closest to realistic psycho roles you'll ever see. We know all along that he's the maniac prowling the mean streets of L.A. The scene where he's in his living room talking to his stepfather is hilarious. James Westmoreland as the detective on the case actually tries to fight Worth in one scene where he ends up getting body slammed into a couch! Not to be missed. The score by Byron Allred is chilling and effective. There's one scene in the film midway through that shows Dodger Stadium in the background. And not to be outdone, Porky shows up as a photography manager. For those who haven't seen this, it's time to check it out.

Score, 8 out of 10 Stars