This "AHP" episode from season one of 1985 called "The Night Caller" is one that's a tease as it's like mind fear and it twist in a strange way. The story has Betsy(Linda Fiorentino) as a recent divorcee who's just moved into a new apartment and she starts to receive strange and creepy phone calls plus she feels like she's being watched by a peeping tom thru her apartment window. Really this rivals Hitchcock works like "Rear Window" or "Psycho" as it has you thinking only to surprise as in the end you ask did Betsy really solve her problem or not? Also look for comic Sandra Bernhard in a small part as Betsy's best friend.
4 Reviews
I better not come back a second time
kapelusznik1823 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
****SPOILERS****Slighty inferior re-make of an earlier 1964 "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" episode where "The Master" Alfred Hitchcock actually and in fact comes back from the dead, in what can be called in dying not living color, to introduce this one about a young woman being harassed by her next door neighbor with a slew of unlimited and threatening phone calls. Within hours after Betsy Van Kennon, Linda Fiorentino, moved into her new apartment she started getting these calls that she suspects her next door neighbor Art Toomey, Michael O'Keefe, a just discharged US Army veteran with mental problems is responsible for. It just happens that Art has been eying Besty every minute of the day and night that she had to block the view from her window with a bedspread to prevent him from looking in.
It's obvious that Art is watching Besty since he knows every movement she makes at home as well as at work and, by phoning her, lets her know about it! Calling the police for help all Besty gets from the detective Duane Calvin, Stephen Davies, is that as long as there's no proof of Art calling her there's nothing he can do but only warn him not to do it that's if he's in fact doing it!
****SPOILERS**** The calls get so out of hand that Besty becomes a prisoner in her own home and goes so far to get probably by mail or, if it existed at the time, internet a .44 cannon like Magnum revolver to protect herself from the crazed and determined, who never seemed to leave his apartment, phone nut. Finally snapping from the avalanche of threatening and annoying phone calls Besty flips out and blasts away at him. It's then that she finds out who's really behind the phone calls only to realize that she looked in the wrong direction or better yet elevation to who was doing the calling!
It's obvious that Art is watching Besty since he knows every movement she makes at home as well as at work and, by phoning her, lets her know about it! Calling the police for help all Besty gets from the detective Duane Calvin, Stephen Davies, is that as long as there's no proof of Art calling her there's nothing he can do but only warn him not to do it that's if he's in fact doing it!
****SPOILERS**** The calls get so out of hand that Besty becomes a prisoner in her own home and goes so far to get probably by mail or, if it existed at the time, internet a .44 cannon like Magnum revolver to protect herself from the crazed and determined, who never seemed to leave his apartment, phone nut. Finally snapping from the avalanche of threatening and annoying phone calls Besty flips out and blasts away at him. It's then that she finds out who's really behind the phone calls only to realize that she looked in the wrong direction or better yet elevation to who was doing the calling!
The Night caller
coltras3518 May 2022
A psychopathic peeping tom neighbour has an opportunity to plaque a young woman's life by phone. A remake of the 1964 episode ( starring Felicia Farr), but with some differences. The ending, of course, is similar, but there's minimal conversation between the suspected caller and the lady. It's creepy, has seedy atmosphere and some tension, however, the characters aren't too likeable, and it's rather flat in places.
Thought-Provoking
mountain22717 August 2006
Night Caller was a very riveting little episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents,-cleverly directed by John Byrum and very stirring.The plot centers around Betsy Van Kennon,(Linda Fiorentino) who is a recent divorcée moving into a new apartment in Marina Del Rey, set up for her by her ex-husband.
The music in this episode is very eerie,and plays very well to some of the chilling moments the viewer is treated to.A very intense mystery, and you are constantly wondering what is going to unfold next.This episode was adapted from a story by Gabrielle Upton.You are on the edge of your seat and guessing from start to finish.Solid performances from Fiorentino,Michael O'Keefe,Tony Bill, and guest star Stephen Davies chips in nicely as Detective Duane Calvin.
The music in this episode is very eerie,and plays very well to some of the chilling moments the viewer is treated to.A very intense mystery, and you are constantly wondering what is going to unfold next.This episode was adapted from a story by Gabrielle Upton.You are on the edge of your seat and guessing from start to finish.Solid performances from Fiorentino,Michael O'Keefe,Tony Bill, and guest star Stephen Davies chips in nicely as Detective Duane Calvin.
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