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🔔 Notify me when it’s streamingSynopsis
A student babysitter has her evening disturbed when the phone rings. So begins a series of increasingly terrifying and threatening calls that lead to a shocking revelation.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Fred Walton
Carol Kane
Charles Durning
Colleen Dewhurst
Tony Beckley
Rutanya Alda
Carmen Argenziano
Ron O'Neal
Rachel Roberts
Michael Champion
William BoyettVideos
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In this series · When a Stranger Calls
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Reviews · from TMDB members
WuchakJun 26, 2022
**_A killer psycho escapes from the asylum and…_** “When a Stranger Calls” (1979) is low-key horror mixed with detective drama/thriller. I say “low-key” because there’s little-to-no gore, although there’s suspense, chases and flashes of violence. It’s very polished and was obviously influenced by the artistic “Halloween” (1978) except with a very human antagonist as opposed to the indestructible Michael Myers. Then there’s the big city detective element à la “Dirty Harry”… Read more
(1971) and “Tightrope” (1984), but with a pot-bellied, average-guy investigator (Charles Durning). The film’s best known for its harrowing opening sequence, which was borrowed for Wes Craven’s “Scream” (1996) with Drew Barrymore taking over Carol Kane’s role. It’s a work of art with a rich, atmospheric score by Dana Kaproff. Unfortunately there’s a little too much drag time in the long mid-section, which wouldn’t work for modern viewers with ADHD. Then there’s the individual unconscious in the closet with no wounds (rolling my eyes). The movie runs 1 hour, 37 minutes, and was shot in the Los Angeles. GRADE: B-/B