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:

Crime | Drama | 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

The character of the disturbed killer Curt Duncan was based on a college acquaintance of director Fred Walton who somehow could just enter a room and automatically make others in the room uncomfortable. Yet Walton felt enough sympathy for this person that the character of Duncan is treated with a fair amount of sensitivity.

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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

[repeated line]
Curt Duncan: Have you checked the children?

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Connections

Referenced in The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo: The Alligator Mystery (1997)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Disappointing........

When A Stranger Calls has received a lot of hype for having the scariest opening in horror movie history. I will admit it was tense and chilling and it set up the movie perfectly. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie is not scary. The 50 or so minutes turns into a crime/drama about the cop (Charles Durning) chasing the psychopath (Tony Beckley) who has escaped after being locked up for seven years. The last 15 or so minutes focuses on Jill (Carol Kane) who was the babysitter that was terrified seven years earlier and her reunion with the psychopath. Unfortunately, the climax is somewhat disappointing.

The acting is fairly average and the music is the typical "dread" music. The movie had so much potential to be one of the scariest horror movies made, sadly, it descends into a crime/drama that never really gets any better.

2½/5.