When a Stranger Calls (1979)

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I watched this film when I was about 12 years old which was a big mistake. The first 25 Minutes of this film is some of the scariest and creepiest pieces of film making I have seen even today. The film then builds up to a terrifying ending.

Although the beginning was really good the rest of the movie was a little draggy,and Duncan as the killer cuts a pathetic figure. Hard to believe someone so scrawny could have the strength to murder with his own hands. The ending wasn't scary in the least. I'm being generous with the 6 rating it's more like 5.5.

It´s been said, the opening and climax are great. I personally would add that Carol Kane is awesome. The middle part just hasn´t dated well. It can feel at times like trying to stretch a shorter concept but it adds to the psycho´s sociopathy and the cop´s motivation. That does bolster the climax, not as quotable as the opening but kind of scarier. It wouldn´t work as well without that "middle part" even if it should ideally be a bit shorter. After knowing what we learned about the characters, the suspense and the film itself have grown all the way up. I genuinely got the chills at the very end and that is worth more than all the jump scares in the book. It´s flawed, but a solid classic nonetheless. You´ll probably sleep with the lights on and isn´t that what horror films are about?

I came upon this via a slasher list, but it isn't quite that. It starts out that way in the first part, though, and makes perfect use of a house, a babysitter, a telephone and a creepy caller, with a particularly nasty outcome. Then, onto part two (six or seven years later): the cop who showed up at the end of part one now is a P.I. who learns that the culprit of part one has escaped. Here, we also get to know the killer in the setting of a big city, and he meets up with an older attractive woman. The P.I. wants to kill the killer. This whole part reminded me of an atmospheric character study like 'Henry: portrait of a serial killer'; not thát good, but close. Then, the final chapter, in which we return to the babysitter, who is now a career woman, married and with two children. Another strange twist, which makes this a special film, no matter what you'll think of it. For me, it gets a little too much 'out of hand', even if it's still a more than decent final chapter.All in all, I'm still not quite sure what to think of it. The particular slasher / thriller elements seem out of place with the elements of gritty drama which are also there... For now, I'm going to say it doesn't réally work for me, but perhaps another viewing in the future may persuade me otherwise.6 stars, I'd say, but the spot on acting and atmosphere deserve more; 7 out of 10.