Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersSundance Film FestivalIndependent Spirit AwardsBlack History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

When a Stranger Calls

  • 19791979
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
13K
YOUR RATING
When a Stranger Calls (1979)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer1:06
3 Videos
58 Photos
HorrorMysteryThriller
A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
13K
YOUR RATING
    • Fred Walton
    • Steve Feke
    • Fred Walton
  • Stars
    • Carol Kane
    • Charles Durning
    • Rutanya Alda
    • Fred Walton
    • Steve Feke
    • Fred Walton
  • Stars
    • Carol Kane
    • Charles Durning
    • Rutanya Alda
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 180User reviews
    • 83Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos3

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:06
    Watch Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 4
    Video 28:34
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 4
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 9
    Video 28:09
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 9

    Photos58

    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    Carol Kane in When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    Carol Kane in When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Carol Kane
    Carol Kane
    • Jill Johnson
    Charles Durning
    Charles Durning
    • John Clifford
    Rutanya Alda
    Rutanya Alda
    • Mrs. Mandrakis
    Carmen Argenziano
    Carmen Argenziano
    • Dr. Mandrakis
    Kirsten Larkin
    • Nancy
    William Boyett
    William Boyett
    • Sgt. Sacker
    • (as Bill Boyett)
    Ron O'Neal
    Ron O'Neal
    • Lt. Charlie Garber
    Heetu
    • Houseboy
    Rachel Roberts
    Rachel Roberts
    • Dr. Monk
    Tony Beckley
    Tony Beckley
    • Curt Duncan
    Colleen Dewhurst
    Colleen Dewhurst
    • Tracy
    Michael Champion
    Michael Champion
    • Bill
    Joseph Reale
    • Bartender
    • (as Joe Reale)
    Ed Wright
    Ed Wright
    • Retired Man
    Louise Wright
    • Retired Woman
    Carol Tillery Banks
    • Mrs. Garber
    • (as Carol O'Neal)
    Dennis McMullen
    • Maintenance Man
    Wally Taylor
    • Cheater
      • Fred Walton
      • Steve Feke
      • Fred Walton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    When a Stranger Calls Back
    6.1
    When a Stranger Calls Back
    When a Stranger Calls
    5.1
    When a Stranger Calls
    The Sitter
    6.6
    The Sitter
    Black Christmas
    7.1
    Black Christmas
    The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
    7.0
    The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
    Terror Train
    5.8
    Terror Train
    The Stepfather
    6.7
    The Stepfather
    April Fool's Day
    6.1
    April Fool's Day
    The Changeling
    7.2
    The Changeling
    Alice, Sweet Alice
    6.4
    Alice, Sweet Alice
    Sleepaway Camp
    6.2
    Sleepaway Camp
    Pieces
    6.0
    Pieces

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Throughout the opening segment, director Fred Walton gradually increased the feeling of suspense by making each subsequent phone call ring a touch louder than the previous one. They escalate from eerie to jarring and finally infuriating.
    • Goofs
      Based on the year the film took place, 1 minute would not be nearly long enough to trace Curt's call. Back when the movie was set, it would've taken 10-20 minutes for several switchboards and circuits to locate the origin of the call.
    • Quotes

      Jill Johnson: [thinking it's Curt again] Leave me alone!

      Sgt. Sacker: Jill, this is Sergeant Sacker. Listen to me. We've traced the call... it's coming from inside the house. Now a squad car's coming over there right now, just get out of that house!

    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: 10/When a Stranger Calls/Starting Over/Apocalypse Now (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Space Race
      Performed by Billy Preston

      Written by Billy Preston (uncredited)

      Engineer Thomas Vicari (uncredited)

      Producer Billy Preston (uncredited)

      Courtesy of A&M Records

    User reviews180

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    That opening sequence is still incredible.
    It's a story we've all seen before many times, a babysitter is terrified by an unknown stalker...

    ..however there is something pretty different about this one, for my shame, I had no idea this film existed, I enjoy what I now know to be the remake, but this original version deserves the credit for originality.

    There is some real tension in the first twenty minutes, it's a very powerful start, you are made to feel very uncomfortable as you watch Jill go from irritation to sheer panic.

    Credit to Carol Kane, I think she plays the part of Jill very well, it's such a sincere performance.

    The music and filming work really well, a lot of thought went into its production. Nowadays we're hardened to gore and violence, and horror in general, I can imagine when this went out, many people felt uneasy when home alone.

    I think there is some real menace in this film, the scares are real, it's just a shame that we only really get them at the beginning, and the end of the film. The middle segment of the film doesn't quite have the same bite as the start and finish, but overall, it is still a cracking horror, 7/10.
    helpful•11
    1
    • Sleepin_Dragon
    • Aug 19, 2021

    FAQ1

    • Why did Curt target Jill?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 26, 1979 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Torchy's Bar - 218 1/2 West Fifth Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Melvin Simon Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 37 minutes
      • Mono

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    Top Gap
    By what name was When a Stranger Calls (1979) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.