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When a Stranger Calls

Play trailer Poster for When a Stranger Calls R Released Oct 26, 1979 1h 37m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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38% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A retired police detective (Charles Durning) hunts a deranged British seaman out to re-create a baby sitter's (Carol Kane) horror.
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When a Stranger Calls

Critics Reviews

View All (16) Critics Reviews
Anton Bitel Little White Lies To appreciate just how different it is from the other entries in this then still nascent subgenre [the slasher], we need to move on from its opening to its more critically neglected middle section. Dec 17, 2018 Full Review Gary Arnold Washington Post Although Walton contrives to keep most of his contrivances on the safe side of absurdity, "Stranger" is at best a close call. Apr 30, 2018 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Aggravatingly devoid of suspense. Rated: C Jan 30, 2006 Full Review Larry Vitacco Philadelphia Gay News With an effectively chilling beginning, a frightening edge-of-your-seat finish, and superb characterizations in between, Stranger is guaranteed to make your skin crawl. May 27, 2020 Full Review Richard Corliss Maclean's Magazine When a Stranger Calls does not herald a major film-making talent -- it's just another textbook experiment in terror. You will jump, though. Jul 19, 2019 Full Review Tony Mastroianni Cleveland Press What counts in a suspense movie is the way in which tension mounts in which the film leads you on, in the way climaxes explode on the screen. Oct 3, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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CodyZamboni Z Terrifically intense, scary beginning and ending, Carol Kane is amazing, But major misstep is movie's middle section, spending so much time focusing on the pathetic psycho, Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/01/24 Full Review Alain E A genuine suspense movie. Until the very end the viewer has no idea what is coming next. Maximum impact will be the first time someone watches this, when you wonder what fate awaits the babysitter. The middle section is also good, as it is not clear what plans the guy has for the woman drinking in the bar. The finale is kind of lame. Like the director decided, ok, we have 90 minutes running time. Wrap it up! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/29/24 Full Review Stanny R The single most boring film I’ve ever wasted my time watching. Everyone hypes up the opener and guess what?… it’s not even that good. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/27/24 Full Review Cathy P I just watched an old review of this movie by Siskel and Ebert. They both hated it. I remember seeing this movie in 1980 and I found it filled with impending doom and very scary. I was a babysitter at the time which added to the fear. I have seen it many times over the years, and I enjoyed it every time. The 2006 remake I did not like as much. The sequel When A Stranger Calls Back is also a great movie in my opinion. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Dave S The premise is pretty straightforward: a convicted killer of two children escapes from a mental institution after 7 years of incarceration with the intent of continuing with his evil ways. When A Stranger Calls is a frustrating mixed bag of a movie. The first twenty minutes are stellar, creating a tangible sense of dread. The final act, while a bit overplayed at times, also manages to build some suspense. The middle act, however, is an unmitigated disaster, a crime procedural filled with poorly executed scenes that border on the absurd, some terrible acting, and tinny audio that makes some of the dialogue incomprehensible. It's never a good sign when a movie starts going downhill after the first twenty minutes. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/07/23 Full Review Madie R One of the best opening scenes of a horror/thriller film. The rest of the movie was just meh. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
When a Stranger Calls

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When a Stranger Calls

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Movie Info

Synopsis A retired police detective (Charles Durning) hunts a deranged British seaman out to re-create a baby sitter's (Carol Kane) horror.
Director
Fred Walton
Producer
Doug Chapin, Steve Feke
Screenwriter
Fred Walton, Steve Feke
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Melvin Simon Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 26, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2019
Runtime
1h 37m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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