When a Stranger Calls Back

"Terror Is Twice As Chilling The Second Time Around!"

1993 1h 34m EN

😐

5.9

MID

🍅

63%

FRESH

⭐

6.1

IMDB

★5.9TMDB · 93🍅63%Rotten Tomatoes★6.1IMDB · 4,632

HorrorThrillerTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Jill Johnson, now a crisis center counselor, reunites with retired detective John Clifford to hunt a killer stalking a coed.

“Terror Is Twice As Chilling The Second Time Around!”

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Cast

Carol Kane
Jill Johnson
Charles Durning
John Clifford
Jill Schoelen
Julia Jenz
Gene Lythgow
William Landis
Karen Elizabeth Austin
Skid Row Woman
Babs Chula
Agent
John Destry
Detective 1
Duncan Fraser
Club Owner

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Fred Walton
Writers: Fred Walton
Languages: English
Countries: Canada, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

33 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Canada, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "When a Stranger Calls Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Fred Walton, shot by David Geddes. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Dana Kaproff. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor David Byron Lloyd shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Carol Kane and Charles Durning and Jill Schoelen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Terror Is Twice As Chilling The Second Time Around!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Fred Walton directs. David Geddes behind the camera. Dana Kaproff scores. David Byron Lloyd cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Canada, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

133 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 2 countries: Canada, United States of America.
3Part of the "When a Stranger Calls Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Fred Walton, shot by David Geddes. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Dana Kaproff. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor David Byron Lloyd shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Carol Kane and Charles Durning and Jill Schoelen carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Terror Is Twice As Chilling The Second Time Around!".
9IMDB entry: tt0108556 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 93 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: David Geddes
Original score: Dana Kaproff
Editing: David Byron Lloyd
Production design: Chris August
Costume design: Mary E. McLeod
Makeup / hair: Michael Pachal
Sound: Michael C. Casper
Stunt coordinator: Jacob Rupp
Runtime: 94 min · 1h 34m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: When a Stranger Calls Back (1993)
Rotten Tomatoes: 63% 🍅 Fresh
IMDB rating: 6.1/10 · 4,632 votes
MPAA: R

Awards

1 win total

Part of

When a Stranger Calls Collection

When a Stranger Calls is a 1979 American psychological horror film written and directed by Fred Walton and co-written by Steve Feke. It stars Carol Kane, Colleen Dewhurst, Tony Beckley and Charles Durning. The film derives its story from the classic folk legend of "the babysitter and the man upstairs." The film has developed a large cult following over time because of the first 20 minutes, now consistently regarded as one of the scariest openings in movie history. The first 12 minutes of Wes Craven's Scream is an homage to the opening of When a Stranger Calls. The film was released in the United States on October 26, 1979, by Columbia Pictures. It was commercially successful, grossing $21,411,158 at the box office. It received a mixed critical reception, with many praising the opening scene and performances, but criticism for its writing and lack of scares. It was followed by the 1993 made-for-cable sequel When a Stranger Calls Back and a remake in 2006.