MovieChat Forums > Horror > When a Stranger Calls (1979)

When a Stranger Calls (1979)

posted 8 years ago by somesunnyday
8 replies | jump to latest

I haven't seen this one in a while and really enjoyed my recent viewing. It has that great 70's vibe, a brilliant first 20 minutes, a creepy but somehow sympathetic villain and my favourite cop of all time, Charles Durning. The sequence in the middle doesn't really fit but I still enjoyed it. I'd forgotten the end sequence where he ends up being in the bed next to Carol Kane, that was a nice little shock. I'd also forgotten how much of a nod this gets during the first 15 minutes of Scream. 7/10

[–] yakko362002 8 years ago

I always liked it. I'm not sure how the killer is sympathetic though, but I haven't seen it for a while and maybe I've forgotten something. Many have said that the midsection seems like part of a different movie but it didn't bother me too much. Durning was a solid actor who never turned in a bad performance that I'm aware of, and fortunately for horror fans he was in a few other great horror movies too.

[–] somesunnyday 8 years ago

I'm not sure how the killer is sympathetic though,

The killer is obviously a monster but there's a scene where he's staring at himself naked in the mirror and has flash backs to what he did to the kids and his time in the asylum. He seems to be horrified by himself and breaks down. It shows a human element and how he's a victim of his own insanity.

[–] yakko362002 8 years ago

I don't remember that part. I'll have to watch it again and see. It has been quite a while since I've seen it. As I recall it wasn't really ever specifically stated what was done to the children.

[–] somesunnyday 8 years ago

Definitely give it a re-watch

[–] DeaconFrost666 8 years ago

6/10

[–] yakko362002 8 years ago

I have a DVD. Maybe there's even a Blu-ray by now.

[–] Hey_Sweden 8 years ago

It's on a reasonably inexpensive double feature Blu along with Happy Birthday to Me.

As for what the killer did to the kids, it's never explicitly stated, but it is said that he used his bare hands and that the killings were quite brutal.

What do you think this is, a signature? It's a way of life!

[–] Strannger (2007) 8 years ago

Dated, but the begibing was suspenfyl and thrilling. I wish the movie had covered him going after babysitters instead of a time jump.