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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

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    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
    6/10
    Two Incredibly Frightening Sequences
    There really is something to that old adage that if you grip the audience right away and end up giving them a good, strong finish, you're golden. When A Stranger Calls takes this to heart and serves up two genuinely terrifying 20 minutes sequences that are held together by a slow, plodding 2nd act that waddles along without much zip or excitement. For a thriller, it's not very thrilling.

    The film starts off with a babysitter (the excellent Carol Kane whose expressive eyes could tell an entire 90 minute story without dialogue) being tormented by an obscene phone caller telling her to check the children. Anyone over the age of 10 has probably heard the classic legend that this section is based on and the payoff is, more or less, the same. It's a brilliant, suspenseful sequence that shows director Fred Walton as a master of his craft.

    After this, we end up following the detective on the case (Charles Durning) who is looking for the child killer. That's essentially the next 40/50 minutes and it's about as exciting and gripping as an episode of Columbo. Try as the actors might, it just never gets off the ground until the killer decides to go after Kane's character in the present day where she has two young children of her own. Once that section begins, the film hits its stride again and ends on a high, terrifying note.

    When A Stranger Calls is pretty much two really effective short films with a dull police procedural shoved in between it.
    helpful•21
    1
    • jamiemiller-07611
    • Aug 1, 2019

    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

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