When a Stranger Calls

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 6:43pm

Several years ago, I rented this movie from a local video store for $2 (you read that correctly). I had heard that it was scary, but what others had neglected to mention was that I would be petrified with fear by the 20 minute mark. For those who have not yet seen it, I won't give away any plot points.

By the end of the opening sequence, I had to stop the movie
and wait a second before I continued. As the movie went on, I realized that I had yet to see a scene that rivaled the structure and intensity of the first act. In fact the middle section of the film was quite awful. That is until I saw the final 20 minutes, which are almost as solid as the first.

Anyways, rented the movie last week and it holds up extremely well, and still has the power to give me nightmares. Has anyone else seen it?

PS - If you haven't seen it, pick it up at your library or video store. Watch the first and last 20 minutes, and call it a day.

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 6:46pm

I thought the first 20 minutes of its sequel When a Stranger Calls Back, was very tense and scary. Don't recall anything about the first one, except I know I saw it; because I remember thinking it ripped-off Black Christmas. I'll have to rent it and rewatch.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 7:32pm

I agree with you. They should've just stretched the first 20 minutes out to feature length somehow and forgot about the rest.

[Tenorific2]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 7:38pm

Same here, the whole opening was spine tingling, it's when we see Colleen Dewhurst playing a bar chick, that I thought, "she must have been hard up at that time or doing somebody a favor". The rest of the film I can't remember.

The sequel had one creepy moment when the guy was painted to look like the wall. That freaked me out.

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 9:57pm

You're right. "When a Stranger Calls Back" had an excellent opening as well. I almost ran out of the room when the killer appeared in the living room.

I also agree about Dewhurst. I look at her and I'm thinking, "Why her? Why this movie?" Updated On: 5/27/05 at 09:57 PM

[Justice]

Posted: 5/27/05 at 11:44pm

By the way, folks, they are remaking "When a Stranger Calls". Hopefully, this time, the middle will be as good as the first and last scenes.
But Carol Kane in a thriller, playing serious, is priceless...

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:18am

"But Carol Kane in a thriller, playing serious, is priceless..."

Aww, I liked her a lot in the movie.

Watching the movie again, I was surprised at how solid she is as a dramatic actress. Then, I found out that she has an Oscar nomination.

PS - Here's hoping that Leelee Sobieski makes a comeback and plays Jill. Apparantly, she and Erika Christensen are in the running. Updated On: 5/28/05 at 12:18 AM

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:24am

My favorite of that type of film is Black Christmas with Olivia Hussey, Kier Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon and Andrea Martin.

[BT]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:26am

Is that the one where the caller says, "Have you checked the children?" If so, I think I wet myself the first time I watched it...

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:32am

CM2-

I've never seen "Black Christmas". But I keep on hearing about it, so when I get enough money, I will definitely get the DVD.

BT-

That's it.

[BT]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:35am

I'll check out Black Christmas. The other one that freaked me out was "He knows you're alone" - watched both that and Stranger Calls while babysitting - not a good move.

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:43am

I know how you feel.

(SPOILERS)

Speaking of which, funny story: I showed my usually tough sister "When a Stranger Calls" last week, and she flipped out like nobody's business. There was one part during the opening scene where she screamed bloody murder...

Jill: Can you see me?
Caller: Yes...
Jill: I'm sorry I turned the lights down. I can turn them back up if you like.
Caller: No, don't...

She almost had a heart attack where the upstairs door opens

[cabarethed]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 1:08am

I have been absolutely dying to see Black Christmas for years...but it's not in video stores near me, and it's not on Netflix. I can only find it on Amazon for 26.96 (collectors) or 14.96. Is it worth it to just go and pay the 27? I love this kind of movie, but I'm afraid that I'll be let down.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 9:52am

"Please, I know a professional virgin when I see one."


I would say it's worth it, it's one of the best movies of it's type that I can think of and one of my favorites.

Some of my other fave scary flicks:
Halloween, The Wicker Man, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ('74), The Exorcist, April Fool's Day, Curtains, The Burning, Friday the 13th, May, Black Sabbath, The House on Sorority Row, The Fog, Night of the Living Dead (68 ), Tenebre, The Ring, Candyman, Night of the Demons, Carrie, The Howling, Fright Night, The Hitcher, Joy Ride, Jeepers Creepers, My Little Eye, Carnival of Souls, Psycho ('60), A Nightmare on Elm Street, Poltergeist, The Evil Dead, Don't Look Now, Slumber Party Massacre, Play Misty for Me, Sisters ('73), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (all 3 versions), The Others, Cujo, Last House on the Left, The Shining, Rosemary's Baby, Prom Night, Dressed to Kill, Suspiria, Terror Train, Tales from the Crypt ('73), The Thing ('81), Urban Legend, Wrong Turn, Scream, Alice Sweet Alice, Alien, Angel Heart, Odishon, Jaws, The Blob ('88 ), The Prowler, The Hole, Campfire Tales, Creepshow, The Initiation, The Entity, Monkey Shines, Night of the Creeps, Coma, Session 9, The Stepfather, Witchboard, Demoni, Eyes of a Stranger, Visiting Hours, The Final Terror, Hell Night, Stage Fright ('87), Shivers, From Beyond the Grave, Asylum ('72), Cat People ('42 and '82), Repulsion, Wait Until Dark, Pit and the Pendulum ('61)

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 10:00am

You have a LOT of great movies on your list. Most of them, in fact, are on my list as well. To those, I would add:

Final Destination
Texas Chainsaw ('03)
House of Wax (the reaction this movie got is so sad)
Dawn of the Dead ('04)
May
Below
The Grudge
House of 1000 Corpses (though I believe myself to be the only person alive who enjoyed it)

Posted: 5/28/05 at 10:02am

". . . still has the power to give me nightmares."

I'm a little curious as to why this is something that people would consider desirable.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 10:11am

Heh, broadway86, I actually enjoyed House of 1000 Corpses, too. I thought it was really over the top and entertaining. I liked it a lot more than the TCM remake. I love Karen Black!

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 10:48am

Not wishing to threadjack, but you enjoyed 1000 Corpses more than the Texas Chainsaw remake? Wow.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 10:59am

I thought the TCM remake was pretty pointless, popcultureboy. There was barely any back story on the killers and I didn't believe the motivations of most of the characters. It also really obviously ripped off The Blair Witch Project with some of it's "news reel" footage. I thought House of 1000 Corpses was much more visually interesting and entertaining, it was a far better homage to 70s horror, but I can understand why some people don't like it. It has a campy, over the top quality that I sometimes enjoy.

Updated On: 5/28/05 at 10:59 AM

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 11:45am

I've been wanting to see this for a long time, so I recently ordered it from Columbiahouse!!!!!!

[Britt0913]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 11:58am

why haven't you checked the children?

None of the Blockbusters near me have the sequel, so I have yet to see it. Is it worth watching, or only the first 20 mins?

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:14pm

I thought it was.

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:16pm

Has anyone here seen "The Sentinel" (1977)? That movie gave me the creeps. It starred Cristina Raines (whatever happened to her?), Chris Sarandon, Ava Gardner, Burgess Meredith, Sylvia Miles and Beverly D'Angelo.
Updated On: 5/28/05 at 12:16 PM

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:19pm

Yes, The Sentinel! Forgot all about that one. I liked Cristina Raines. I liked her in that film, Nightmares, a series of short films. She was in the very first one. A killer is on the loose, and she goes out to get cigarettes, and needs gas...

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 12:25pm

Yeah, I forgot about The Sentinel, too. Not a bad little film. Worth remembering for Ava Gardner's brief appearance, Beverly D'Angelo and Sylvia Miles as the crazy lesbian neighbors, and the freakshow finale.

I remember Christina Raines in Nashville where she sang that song that was basically one line over and over again...pretty voice though.

Humanoids from the Deep is another fun horror flick that I forgot.

Updated On: 5/28/05 at 12:25 PM