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When a Stranger Calls (1979)

Director:
Fred Walton
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Horror/Thriller
NORWEGIAN TITLE
When a Stranger Calls
RUNNING TIME
97 minutes
Producer:
Doug Chapin
Steve Feke
Screenwriter:
Steve Feke
Fred Walton


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Jill Johnson Carol Kane ½
John Clifford Charles Durning
Curt Duncan Tony Beckley
Tracy Colleen Dewhurst ½
Dr. Mandrakis Carmen Argenziano
Mrs. Mandrakis Rutanya Alda
Lt. Charlie Garber Ron O'Neal

 

Review

Based on an urban legend from the 1960s, this film about a babysitter who receives a disturbing phone call from a man telling her to "check the children" starts off well with Fred Walton directing the 20-minute opening scene with classic 1970s horror aptness, but then quickly runs out of material. The remaining hour or so consists of little more than Walton following his antagonist around in more or less unconvincing situations that are all far too obvious fillers pending an inevitable, and therefore quite predictable finale. It doesn't help much either that the performance by Tony Beckley, who plays the killer, is utterly unremarkable. Nor is it a good sign that the most interesting character (Colleen Dewhurst's) is a bit-part with no real relevance for the plot.

Copyright © 5.8.2015 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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