Questions regarding the stalker *spoilers* - When a Stranger Calls Back (1993) Discussion

[–] figure_of_expression 19 years ago

i'm not for sure, but what i thought to be why was:

1. "I cant see" is probably referring to the fact that since his whole body is painted he must keep his eyes closed in order to keep the illusion and blend into the wall... its also a good way to syke Jill out

2. my thoughts on this were, since he is all about the mind games, moving things, misplacing them, etc... when he punches her stomach he's leaving a bruise/mark that wasn't there beforehand...

3. not so sure on this one, maybe to make a point about blending in... being faceless himself?

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[–] treeline1 19 years ago

Maybe you can help me with more questions:

*****SPOILERS*****

1. In Jill's apartment, Landis turns off the light. WHY didn't she just turn it back on?

2. He somehow locked the apartment door and she couldn't get out. Why didn't she shoot the lock?

3. WHY did she walk INTO the brick room, knowing he was there?

4. I didn't see the prequel movie. Is Landis supposed to be the killer from that movie?

5. A ventriloquist can't make his voice sound like it's coming from someplace else - especially coming from outside when he's inside. Right?

6. HOW did John find Landis? Was he the only ventriloquist in the city?

7. In the beginning, when Landis is inside the house and walking toward Julia, why does he stretch out his hands like a vampire?

8. How could he possibly have killed or gotten the live children out of the house in five minutes?

9. Was the pajama top he put in Julia's closet supposed to be the one the little boy was wearing that night?

10. Why were the police so non-chalant about Julia's plight?

Thank you!!!

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[–] buddyup2003-1 19 years ago

Wow, now that you mention it the movie does have a lot of loose ends, but what I know for sure that the "stranger" in this movie is a different one entirely from the original one. I guess the only ties to the original is the theme and Jill from the original movie returning to help a new victim. For other two of your questions, he stretched his hands out with the intention of gouging his thumbs into her eyes and the PJs were the same ones as one of the kids I belive.

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[–] treeline1 19 years ago

Thanks, Buddy. It is a great movie. Never fails to scare me.

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[–] fiatlux-1 18 years ago

1. In Jill's apartment, Landis turns off the light. WHY didn't she just turn it back on? Maybe he unplugged it, I don't know.

2. He somehow locked the apartment door and she couldn't get out. Why didn't she shoot the lock? Maybe she panicked.

3. WHY did she walk INTO the brick room, knowing he was there? I don't think she knew at all where he was, since he had pulled that creepy "act" in the supermarket. She was walking in a very deliberate way along the floor, while talking to him to see if something would tip her off as to where he was.

4. I didn't see the prequel movie. Is Landis supposed to be the killer from that movie? Don't know that either.

5. A ventriloquist can't make his voice sound like it's coming from someplace else - especially coming from outside when he's inside. Right? I'd love to know the answer to that one too!!!

6. HOW did John find Landis? Was he the only ventriloquist in the city? I think he just checked out various places that the lady suggested: the theaters and clubs on 39th? Street, and lucked out.

7. In the beginning, when Landis is inside the house and walking toward Julia, why does he stretch out his hands like a vampire? He's a psycho.

8. How could he possibly have killed or gotten the live children out of the house in five minutes? I think he had more time than many (including me at first) realized. Julia only checks on them once, early on. The audience is then paying attention only to Julia, who is walking around, making tea etc. Both Julia and the audience think the man is outside.

9. Was the pajama top he put in Julia's closet supposed to be the one the little boy was wearing that night? I think so, or symbolic.

10. Why were the police so non-chalant about Julia's plight? I figure that they thought she was just suffering from post-traumatic stress from what happened to her 5 years ago. A book moved and an "un-set" alarm wouldn't likely bother them. But what I couldn't understand myself...was why they took the shirt so lightly? Did they think disturbed Julia bought one herself and forgot she did??

"That's bearing false witness, my friend."
-The Darkling

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[–] garymcfly 18 years ago

Julia actually checks on the children twice, when she arrived, and then just as she heard the kettle boiling in the kitchen.

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[–] Sburt4-1 18 years ago

1. In Jill's apartment, Landis turns off the light. WHY didn't she just turn it back on?

I believe she went to the door to leave

2. He somehow locked the apartment door and she couldn't get out. Why didn't she shoot the lock?

she panicked

3. WHY did she walk INTO the brick room, knowing he was there?

I think she was trying to figure out where he was

4. I didn't see the prequel movie. Is Landis supposed to be the killer from that movie?

nope this is a different killer. Jill was the main character in the first film but came back to this film as the campus director of women services.

5. A ventriloquist can't make his voice sound like it's coming from someplace else - especially coming from outside when he's inside. Right?

at the house Julia was babysitting at there was a window opened 6 inches that was never explained, he was able to throw his voice with the window being open

6. HOW did John find Landis? Was he the only ventriloquist in the city?

Clifford followed that woman's advice and lucked out. We don't see if Clifford went to another bar before going to the club where Landis worked.

7. In the beginning, when Landis is inside the house and walking toward Julia, why does he stretch out his hands like a vampire?

he was going for Julia's eyes, remember the end when he was going for Jill's eyes?

8. How could he possibly have killed or gotten the live children out of the house in five minutes?

I don't think it took five minutes, I think the whole time Julia was being bothered was longer than five minutes.we see the clock a few times and it seems like he bothered her for over an hour and half. I don't know how he got the children out of the house, most likely out of the kitchen through the sliding door but not sure, that makes it more scary not knowing exactly how he did it

9. Was the pajama top he put in Julia's closet supposed to be the one the little boy was wearing that night?

most likely! there is a quick scene where Julia checks the children and you can see the shirt

10. Why were the police so non-chalant about Julia's plight?

they thought she was just a upset co-ed who never got over what happened five years earlier. she found a childs shirt, for all the cops knew Julia bought it herself, wasn't serious enough to do something for her , all they could do was called Jill from the womans center from the college campus and say there is a upset co-ed

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[–] natalie_princess_of_OLTL 17 years ago

Well I just saw this for the first time but maybe I can help.

1. In Jill's apartment, Landis turns off the light. WHY didn't she just turn it back on?

Well I figured that he cut the power off somehow. Wasn't that his MO, to cut the lights and phone line? It'd seem pretty silly if he just turned the light out.

2. He somehow locked the apartment door and she couldn't get out. Why didn't she shoot the lock?

She unlocked it--as was shown when John just burst in without any trouble--I think there was some sort of obstacle outside blocking the door from opening.

3. WHY did she walk INTO the brick room, knowing he was there?

There was no way she could've known where he was, she was just walking to try to find him so she could shoot him.

4. I didn't see the prequel movie. Is Landis supposed to be the killer from that movie?

Nope, havne't seen that movie in years but Jill said he was caught remember?

5. A ventriloquist can't make his voice sound like it's coming from someplace else - especially coming from outside when he's inside. Right?

Yeah if there's an open window (even if it was only 6 inches).

6. HOW did John find Landis? Was he the only ventriloquist in the city?

As another poster said I think he was just checking out all the places that woman told him about and lucked out.

7. In the beginning, when Landis is inside the house and walking toward Julia, why does he stretch out his hands like a vampire?

Well seeing as how he looked like he was going to poke Jill's eyes out I think he was going to poke Julia's out.

8. How could he possibly have killed or gotten the live children out of the house in five minutes?

Well he was in and out all night--but this is one question I have no answer for. I'll have to watch the movie again and try to pick up clues.

9. Was the pajama top he put in Julia's closet supposed to be the one the little boy was wearing that night?

That was the impression I got. She didn't say anything though, just that it was a child's shirt--but don't traumatized victims usually block out a lot of stuff? She could've just not remembered that he was wearing it.

10. Why were the police so non-chalant about Julia's plight?

Think about it--a hysterical young woman comes into the police station screaming about something that happened 5 years ago and books that had been moved, an alarm that had been set and a child's shirt? I mean, what could they have done if they had even believed her?

And for a question of my own--why did Julia leave the shirt in her closet? I think I would've taken it with me for proof.

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[–] treeline1 17 years ago

Thanks, Natalie. Great answers. And your question about not taking the shirt out is a good one, too. Fascinating movie!

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[–] Sburt4-1 17 years ago

great answers as well! great film. I believe the killer most likely took the children out through the sliding door. just a thought.

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[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fiatlux-1 18 years ago

1. Why does he keep saying "I can't see" or something along those lines, during the final scene?
I thought he said " Its dark, Jill! I can't see!", echoing the exact words that either Julia OR the psycho wrote in Julia's diary the night of the shooting: "Its dark. I can't see. No phone. Jill, where are you?"

2. Why does he sneak into the hospital and prod/punch Julia while she's in a coma? He's a psycho, and probably angry that he didn't succeed in killing her.

3. What point was he trying to make with that faceless dummy routine? I am disappointed that the film didn't delve into his background AT ALL so I guess we'' never really know what his psychotic point was supposed to be. Maybe he was into shattering "illusions", so maybe he was shattering the illusion that Julia was in control at the house and the children were safe in a nice house??? Just guessing of course.

Know that they never go into the guy's motivations and state of mind once, but just curious about these things and most horror flicks just leave a killer's thinking up to the imagination anyway, besides what is already explained.

"That's bearing false witness, my friend."
-The Darkling

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[–] sabrinaalyse 18 years ago

the "I can't see" is just him repeating what Julia was saying when he was in her apartment the night she shot herself.....he's trying to drive her crazy. The reason she says I can't see is because she literally can't, all she can do is HEAR him but not see him.

I agree the poster who said that he's a psycho which is why he hits her....I think he just hates her for not dying, I mean, he's tried twice now and she's still alive.

The routine is a metaphor for himself I think.

Just my opinions.....

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[–] Sburt4-1 18 years ago

1. Why does he keep saying "I can't see" or something along those lines, during the final scene?

Landis wrote that in Julia's Journal and he was reapeaing that at the end of the film to Jill

2. Why does he sneak into the hospital and prod/punch Julia while she's in a coma?

he was mad at Julia for shooting herself

3. What point was he trying to make with that faceless dummy routine?

mindless ramble about how everthing is an illusion

Know that they never go into the guy's motivations and state of mind once, but just curious about these things and most horror flicks just leave a killer's thinking up to the imagination anyway, besides what is already explained.

I believe he wanted to break the illusion that people who have money and a nice home with a babysitter are safe and that is why I think he took and murdered the children

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[–] kwalstedt-1 16 years ago

I don't know why, but I just love this movie and can't get enough of it. It's not as gory or extreme as modern movies, but has something that few movies have these days - total suspense! It is also truly creepy at many points and it's hard for me to find anything anymore that gives me the creeps. Extreme violence and gore and psychos jumping out from behind a door don't do anything for me.

Does anyone know where I can view the dummy scene online? It's one of my favorites. What about the final scene? I looked on Youtube and there's only the opening scene.

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