Every babysitter's nightmare becomes real...
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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Character
Grave, earnest, classical in form and spare.
- gravecomic
- earnestironic
- classical in formformally daring
- sparerichly built
- resolvedopen-ended
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- Wuchakon TMDB · Jun 20226/10
**_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” (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
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Cast
- Carol KaneJill Johnson
- Charles DurningJohn Clifford
- Colleen DewhurstTracy
- Tony BeckleyCurt Duncan
- Rutanya AldaMrs. Mandrakis
- Carmen ArgenzianoDr. Mandrakis
- Kirsten LarkinNancy
- Ron O'NealLt. Charlie Garber
- HeetuHouseboy
- Rachel RobertsDr. Monk
Crew
- Fred WaltonDirector
- Steve FekeWriter
- Fred WaltonWriter
- Donald PetermanDirector of Photography
- Dana KaproffOriginal Music Composer
- Sam VitaleEditor
- Steve FekeProducer
- Doug ChapinProducer
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
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No Man of Her Own 195078% alikeBoth grave, classical in form, earnest.
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El Manantial 200170% alikeTelevision · Both grave, earnest, classical in form.
Often watched with
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