When a Stranger Calls (1979 film)
| When a Stranger Calls | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Fred Walton |
| Produced by | Doug Chapin Steve Feke |
| Written by | Steve Feke Fred Walton |
| Starring |
Charles Durning Carol Kane Colleen Dewhurst Tony Beckley |
| Music by | Dana Kaproff |
| Cinematography | Donald Peterman |
| Edited by | Sam Vitale |
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Production
company |
Melvin Simon Productions
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| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.5 million |
| Box office | $20,149,106 $1,262,052 (1980 re-release) |
When a Stranger Calls is a 1979 American psychological horror film. It was directed by Fred Walton and stars Carol Kane and Charles Durning. The film derives its story from the classic folk legend of "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs" and the 1974 horror classic Black Christmas. The film was commercially successful, grossing $21,411,158 at the box office, though it received a mixed critical reception. It was followed by the 1993 made-for-television sequel When a Stranger Calls Back and a remake in 2006.
The film has developed a cult following over time because of the first 20 minutes, now consistently regarded as one of the scariest openings in horror movie history. The opening sequence was largely influential for the horror genre and was paid homage to in Wes Craven's Scream in the latter film's opening 12 minutes.
Jill Johnson (Carol Kane) is babysitting the children of Dr. Mandrakis (Carmen Argenziano) at their home. When the children are asleep, Jill receives a telephone call from a man who asks her if she has checked the children. At first, Jill dismisses the telephone calls as a practical joke. However, as the calls become more frequent and threatening, Jill becomes frightened and decides to call the police, who promise to trace the caller if Jill keeps him on the telephone line long enough. Jill, frightened to extreme measures, arms herself as she receives one final call from the nefarious stalker. Soon after the conversation, Jill receives a call from the police, only to find out that the stalker is calling from inside the house. A light comes on at the top of the staircase, and Jill sees the stalker's shadow. In a panic, she immediately runs to the door, unhooks the chain lock only to reveal a close-up of a detective when she screams. The camera then zooms out.
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Wikipedia