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"Have you checked the children," Perhaps one of the greatest moments in horror history, it frightened audiences back in 1979 and still has that power, this is When a Stranger Calls from 1979. 1979 was a critical year for horror films, there were major classics like ALIEN, Amityville Horror, The Brood, and Phantasm. There were also some cult/minor classics like Don't Go in the House, Prophecy, and Tourist Trap. When a Stranger Calls seems to be partially inspired by 1974's Black Christmas. Black Christmas was about a killer hiding within the walls of a sorority house during the holly jolly holiday. The killer in that film also made disturbing phone calls to taunt his victims. When a Stranger Calls remains to be a perfect horror film.
Plot: When a lonely babysitter puts the id to bed, she gets creepy phone calls from a stranger. Eventually she runs to check on them, only to find the kids dead. The killer is apprehended and placed in an institution. Wanting to fit in society, the killer breaks out of his "prison". The man is discovered to be a lonely ill individual struggling to not only fit in society but deal with his worsening illness. What follows is a highly suspenseful-action-horror film that has a shock of an ending.
Afterthoughts: Many people dislike the middle portion of the film, they feel that it's dull and unnecessary. I disagree it's my favorite part of the film, I prefer my killer's to be more characterized rather than the same old Michael Myers portrayal. I think people don't like it because we get to know the killer more and people don't want that. They don't want to identify with that character because they want to dislike that character. People have a one sided view of people who do sick things like this, they view them as inhuman monsters, however when they come to know the character more it's harder for them to route for their death because they're more humanized. For some since the killer is revealed they feel he/she is less frightening but I disagree, while you do feel sorry for the sicko you can't helped but be creeped out by him as well. The characters are strong, the acting is phenomenal, there's a ton of suspense, the writing is fantastic, the cinematography is nice, it's got a creepy atmosphere, and the dialogue is great. Overall When a Stranger Calls is a terrific little horror picture, and one of the best from the 70s. It falls in the same vein of films like John Carpenter's Someone's Watching Me (1978), Black Christmas (1974), Eyes of a Stranger (1980), Maniac (1980), Manhunter (1986), Don't Answer the Phone (1980), and Visiting Hours (1982).
Fun Facts: An awesome sequel was made in 1993 entitled When A Stranger Calls Back, and was followed by an dull remake in 2006. The film derives its story from the classic folk legend of "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs". When a Stranger Calls is essentially an expanded remake of Fred Walton's $12,000 short film for Columbia Pictures, The Sitter, which comprised the first 20 minutes of this film. Walton was inspired to turn the short into a feature-length film after the considerable success of John Carpenter's Halloween (1978). The film marked Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Donald Peterman's feature film debut as director of photography. Tony Beckley, who plays Curt Duncan, was terminally ill throughout production. Because of this, he did not at all fit the description of the killer, but Fred Walton refused to replace him. Beckley died soon after he finished filming his scenes. The 1993 sequel, When a Stranger Calls Back, was dedicated to his memory.
Film Rating: 5/5
DVD Rating:2/5
Disc Content:
Main feature
Scene selection
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Top reviews from other countries
Jochen A.
Der beste Horrorfilm aller Zeiten !!!
Reviewed in Germany on July 1, 2005
Steven Powell
One of the best films in the world
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2005H. Byrne
Scary stuff without blood and guts
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2010
