When a Stranger Calls

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When a Stranger Calls

R

1979

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A retired police detective hunts a deranged British seaman out to re-create a babysitter's horror.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

12/17/2018

To appreciate just how different it is from the other entries in this then still nascent subgenre [the slasher], we need to move on from its opening to its more critically neglected middle section.

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

04/30/2018

Although Walton contrives to keep most of his contrivances on the safe side of absurdity, "Stranger" is at best a close call.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

01/30/2006

C

Aggravatingly devoid of suspense.

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Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

05/27/2020

With an effectively chilling beginning, a frightening edge-of-your-seat finish, and superb characterizations in between, Stranger is guaranteed to make your skin crawl.

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Richard Corliss

Maclean's Magazine

07/19/2019

When a Stranger Calls does not herald a major film-making talent -- it's just another textbook experiment in terror. You will jump, though.

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Tony Mastroianni

Cleveland Press

10/03/2018

What counts in a suspense movie is the way in which tension mounts in which the film leads you on, in the way climaxes explode on the screen.

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Jason W

@Thejasonwatts 1d

Great opening, but then it drags a bit until it picks up at the end one final time for the climax.

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B P

@Bradster69 3d

Not Bad, but Not My Favorite

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J H

@UpstateNYThriller Jul 22

9.6/10 Perf 90s scary movie. original to the remake 🤌🏻 Babysitter gets harassed at mansion, turns kind of into a detective thing to find him. Original babysitter, runs crisis center to try and help her. Ominous Spooky city, old, but not too old. Great, great movie.

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Matt T

@Mmorgan Jul 22

The film equivalent to your drunk uncle telling you a story out of sequence and then forgetting what he’s talking about altogether.

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Tik T.

@RT12304746 May 15

It was kinda good. It's way better than 2006 i give a four stars for what's he good acting

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Thomas R

@Thomas.Riedel Dec 27

Ein wirklich spannender Triller, obwohl er nicht perfekt aufgebaut ist. Manchmal etwas unlogisch, aber teils auch megaspannend.

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Synopsis

A retired police detective hunts a deranged British seaman out to re-create a babysitter's horror.

Director: Fred Walton
Producer: Doug Chapin, Steve Feke
Screenwriter: Fred Walton, Steve Feke
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Melvin Simon Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2019
Runtime: 1h 37m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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