When a Stranger Calls (1979): Amazon.ca: Carol Kane, Charles Durning, Rutanya Alda, Carmen Argenziano, Kirsten Larkin, William Boyett, Ron O'Neal, Heetu, Rachel Roberts, Tony Beckley, Colleen Dewhurst, Michael Champion, Fred Walton, Barry Krost, Doug Chapin, Larry Kostroff, Melvin Simon, Steve Feke: DVD

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Released a year after John Carpenter's 1978 Halloween, this thriller by longtime actor-turned-director Fred Walton has held a strong following of its own. In an exemplary piece of suspense, the film begins with a babysitter (Carol Kane) fielding threatening phone calls while on the job. She soon finds that a pair of children in her charge have been murdered in their beds; she is nearly killed herself by the homicidal maniac before police arrive. As with Halloween, the action jumps some years ahead, when Kane's character is herself a wife and mother--and the monster escapes from a mental institution to re-create his original carnage in the heroine's own home. Between these exciting bookends, the film loses its way and becomes dissatisfying and obscure. But Walton compensates by engineering a couple of great horror moments worth savoring. Tom Keogh

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Customer Reviews

51 Reviews

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (51 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The scarest opening ever!, Jun 29 2004

By

Drums "drummereh" (Ill.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When a Stranger Calls (DVD)

The first 20 somethin minutes of the movie is so scary I can't describe it, and I mean it's scary up untill the veary last shoot of the first scene( my heart jumped out of my chest ), the movie is worth it for the first scene on it's own.
The movie sorta slows down for awhile after the oening scene some scary stuff hear and there but nothing even close to the opening( I think the writer was trying to make it suspenceful, but it was just stupid to me ).
The movie get interesting and scary again when we meat up with the girl from the opening scene and her family 7 years latter, then it slowly gets scary again, and it's scary up until the last shoot, I mean when I saw the last shoot I couldn't get the shoot out of my head and had a hard time sleeping.
Overall the movie is a classic, and a must see some slow parts hear and there but really scary, a must see( if you have the guts to see it ).

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not that dull in the middle!!, Feb 16 2006

By A Customer

This review is from: When a Stranger Calls (DVD)

The 2006 remake of this film kind of putted the 20 first minutes in the middle(instead of at the begining of the film) and stretched the theme omitting the detective story and turning the film into a teen film instead of an adult one such as the original.It also omitted the shocking ending which is the second best part of the story.The director here tries to shock the audience with suspense instead of gore even though the film was rated R.After his terrible murders,the killer who escaped the ward seems to be cured and has become kind of a weak person trying to be accepted by the people on the street but is mostly meet by rejection.Perhaps because of that,he will return to his old evil ways.Charles Durning plays a private eye who wants to kill the man who murdered two children seven years ago.It's hard to understand or have sympathy for his goals since he is no Charles Bronson.Carol kane is very good in giving an emotional response
when she thinks her children might be dead.The film may have it's weakness but it's not for nothing that alot of people still remember it as a classic suspense after all those years.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Why haven't you checked the children?, Jun 21 2004

By

murkywater (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When a Stranger Calls (DVD)

Wow, this movie was terrific. I just watched it, like five minutes ago and my heart is still beating quickly. The beginning scenes had me covering myself (except one eye) with a blanket as did the ending moments. The middle is a bit slow, but you are getting introduced to the killer. I actually ended up feeling bad for Kirk Duncan, because he didn't seem to know what he was doing. A real thriller. Save for a time where you can scream as much as you want!

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars has its good moments
i watched this movie quite awhile ago and didn't care for it at all.however,after watching again recently,i actually didn't mind it. Read more

Published on Mar 19 2007 by falcon

5.0 out of 5 stars Have YOU Checked the Children?
What a keeper! I hadn't seen this movie since I saw it in the theater many years ago. I got the same goosebumps I did 'way back then. Read more

Published on Jun 5 2004 by J Keistler

3.0 out of 5 stars If only it had been different
The main problem with this film is that the most suspenseful scenes are at the beginning and the end. What's in-between is sleep-inducing. Read more

Published on Mar 16 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the top 5 thrillers!
If you want to be scared buy this D.V.D., it has everything and more. I have to say the 2nd part was even better (I just wish they had Carol Kane with her husband and children as... Read more

Published on Mar 13 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Treat it as a short film...
This is what you do.

This is the most expensive short film that you will every buy. Get it and watch it for the first 20 minutes up until when that scene ends. Read more

Published on Jan 11 2004 by OverTheMoon

3.0 out of 5 stars When a viewer yawns
Despite a raging indifference to the acting chops of Carol Kane--I still can barely stand to watch "Taxi" largely due to her annoying grate--I decided to give "When... Read more

Published on Dec 27 2003 by Jeffrey Leach

4.0 out of 5 stars scary opening scene
I remember watching this movie as a kid. The opening scene is a classic among thrillers!

Published on Dec 9 2003 by lovermovie

5.0 out of 5 stars awesome...
This Film Is Great To Watch On Halloween...Or Anytime!!Especially The First 20 Minutes!!!

Published on Oct 30 2003 by Matt

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT , Suspensful !
This was a very suspenseful film! I love the whole movie but the first half was AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Published on Oct 29 2003

3.0 out of 5 stars When a Stranger Calls
Now before anyone who really loves this movie takes a hissy fit (hehe), let me first say that this isn't a bad thriller. Read more

Published on Oct 4 2003 by Clob Lane