When a Stranger Calls (1979)

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

Director:

Fred Walton

Writers:

Steve Feke, Fred Walton

Stars:

Carol Kane, Charles Durning, Rutanya Alda

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Carol Kane	...	Jill Johnson
Rutanya Alda	...	Mrs. Mandrakis
Carmen Argenziano	...	Dr. Mandrakis
Kirsten Larkin	...	Nancy
William Boyett	...	Sgt. Sacker (as Bill Boyett)
Charles Durning	...	John Clifford
Ron O'Neal	...	Lt. Charlie Garber
Heetu	...	Houseboy
Rachel Roberts	...	Dr. Monk
Tony Beckley	...	Curt Duncan
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Tracy
Michael Champion	...	Bill
Joseph Reale	...	Bartender (as Joe Reale)
Ed Wright	...	Retired Man
Louise Wright	...	Retired Woman

Storyline

High school student Jill Johnson is traumatized over an evening of babysitting by a caller who repeatedly asks, "Have you checked the children lately?" After notifying the police, Jill is told that the calls are coming from inside the house...

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Plot Keywords:

cult film | doing homework | threatening telephone call | child murder | flash forward | 

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Taglines:

A Terrifying Classic!

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cuando llama un extraño

Filming Locations:

2722 Club Dr Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$21,411,158

Company Credits

Production Co:

Melvin Simon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film would land Fred Walton the directors chair for the similarly-themed TV thriller 'I Saw What You Did' (1988). Both films are about young women menaced by a killer on the phone.

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Goofs

When Jill has a drink at the wet bar, the grandfather clock is visible in the shot, about a foot to the right of the bar. In all other shots the clock is about four to five feet from the bar, much closer to the hallway.

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Quotes

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 ...

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Connections

Featured in 31 Horror Movies in 31 Days: When a Stranger Calls (1979) (2018)

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Soundtracks

Huelga En General
Performed by El Teatro Campesino
Courtesy of Menyah Records

User Reviews

Great opening and ending--lousy middle

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.