When a Stranger Calls Back

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When a Stranger Calls Back

R

1993

1h 34m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

63%

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8 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A retired detective and a crisis-center counselor hunt a killer stalking a coed.

Tony Scott

Variety

The telefilm is a good rattler, despite some logic dropouts.

Mar 4, 2019

Full Review

Paul Lê

Bloody Disgusting

Fred Walton’s less familiar sequel When a Stranger Calls Back is a remarkable successor in more ways than one.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 21, 2023

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Paul Freitag-Fey

Daily Grindhouse

The oddness behind the final reels may undermine some of the carefully-considered character development the film expertly sets up.

Aug 2, 2019

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

As with its predecessor, the opening set-piece is the best part of the movie.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 8, 2019

Full Review

Mike McGranaghan

Aisle Seat

It's not particularly good, but it's not terrible, either. If you're in the mood for a lightweight thriller that doesn't require a lot of thought (or your full attention), it'll do just fine.

Rated: 2/4

May 29, 2019

Full Review

C.H. Newell

Father Son Holy Gore

Fred Walton's sequel nearly hits all the same eerie notes as the original with a different, weirder story and some of the same characters.

Rated: 4/5

May 1, 2019

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A.L.Jude P

Somewhat creepy yet a pragmatic thriller.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/03/23

Full Review

jona i

More thrilling throughout than the previous installment, though not as exciting as the parts that worked in the previous installment.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fourteen years after When a Stranger Calls, this TV movie brings back Cheryl Wilson, Carol Kane and Charles Durning as Mrs. Schifrin, Jill Johnson and John Clifford, as well as director Fred Walton. The opening of this movie is great. Julia Jenz (Jill Schoelen, an unsung scream queen) is babysitting when she hears a knock on the door. Smart enough to not let anyone in, she tells the man on the other side of the door that she can call a tow truck for him but won't let him in. When she does try to call, the lines are cut and as she begins lying to the mysterious voice, she realizes that someone is coming in and out of the house. It's too late — the children she was watching have been abducted. Five years later and Julia is still traumatized, with whoever stole the children continuing to break into her apartment. She's helped by counselor Jill Johnson, but the constant abuse causes her to try and kill herself with a self-inflicted head wound. Julia and John Clifford decide to figure out who the stalker is, a man who can throw his voice and has special makeup and clothing that allows him to blend into the walls of Julia's apartment.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Honestly, I was expecting this to be a disaster, but it definitely wasn't that. The acting is decent, the story is interesting and the final act is possibly the best of the 3 films. It's not a perfect movie, but it's still a decent sequel.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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steve d

It doesn't do much new, but it is great to see these characters again and it is really engaging.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Took a while to get going, but a not bad sequel.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/08/19

Full Review

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Fred Walton

Director

Charles Durning

John Clifford

Carol Kane

Jill Johnson

Jill Schoelen

Julia Jenz

Gene Lythgow

William Landis

Karen Austin

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Trailer Bulletin: School for Scoundrels

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Synopsis

A retired detective and a crisis-center counselor hunt a killer stalking a coed.

Director: Fred Walton
Producer: Tom Rowe
Screenwriter: Fred Walton
Production Co: Krost/Chapin Productions
Rating: R, TV-14 (V)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 20, 2018
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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