The Blu-ray includes a brand new scan and restoration, plus the sequel When a Stranger Calls Back, a new scan and restoration of the original short film The Sitter, a reversible sleeve with new artwork by Obviously Creative and original poster artwork, as well as interviews with director Fred Walton, Carol Kane, Rutanya Alda, composer Dana Kaproff, the "limited edition" original soundtrack CD, along with a 40-page perfect-bound booklet with a new essay by Kevin Lyons. "It's a Scream for Three Unknowns: UNKNOWNS". [5], Tony Beckley, who played Curt Duncan, died in April 1980, six months after the film's premiere. Use the HTML below. Discover something for everyone this month with some choice picks for the best movies and TV to stream in April. Tracy screams for help. Franklin Canyon Park, Beverly Hills, California, USA. Their children are safe. Later that night, Jill goes downstairs for a glass of milk when the lights suddenly go out. She excels at building real characters that remain true to life throughout the story. The film derives its story from the classic folk legend of "the babysitter and the man upstairs". After moving with her mother to a small town, a teenager finds that an accident happened in the house at the end of the street. When A Stranger Calls (New York State Trooper Series Book 7) by Jen Talty is a truly fabulous read! When college freshman Sara arrives on campus for the first time, she befriends her roommate, Rebecca, unaware that the girl is becoming dangerously obsessed with her. When she finds out the caller is in the house, she fights for freedom. A group of sorority sisters try to cover up the death of their house-sister after a prank gone wrong, only to be stalked by a serial killer. The downtown bar where Duncan and Tracy meet was "Torchy's" at 2181⁄2 W. Fifth Street in Los Angeles, CA 90012. He also makes the most of that fearsome modern weapon, the telephone. In 1979, Fred Walton changed the landscape of horror with When a Stranger Calls, a movie that faithfully adapts the “Babysitter” urban legend. When she finds out the caller is in the house, she fights for freedom. Garber, who was also present at the Mandrakis crime scene, agrees to collaborate. (2006). This is only my third book by Ms. Talty and she is already a favorite author. Tracy reluctantly agrees to be Clifford's bait at the bar that evening should Duncan reappear. It was commercially successful, grossing $20 million at the box office. To Jill Johnson (Camilla Belle, The Ballad of Jack and Rose), it was the perfect babysitting job. The Lockhart home in the final act was at 2722 Club Drive, Los Angeles, California. The film is a remake of Fred Walton's 1979 horror film of the same name, which became a cult classicfor its opening 20 minutes, which this remake exten… and for the 1985 version of Brewster's Millions. When a Stranger Calls is a 2006 American psychological horror slasher film directed by Simon West and written by Jake Wade Wall. [citation needed] Carol Kane stated in an interview that while watching the film in the theater the audience began screaming and talking back to the screen during the opening 20 minutes of the film. The film was released in the United States on September 28, 1979, by Columbia Pictures. Clifford returns and chases Duncan away from the scene, losing his trail in the streets of downtown Los Angeles. The parents were away. Meanwhile, an increasingly obsessed Clifford confides to his friend (now Lieutenant) Garber his intention to kill Duncan rather than have him recommitted. When A Stranger Calls (2006) Horror. When a Stranger Calls appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.40:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. [citation needed], The film opened on September 28, 1979,[1] and re-released on October 17, 1980. Buy, Rent or Watch When a Stranger Calls and other Movies + TV Shows online. It expanded to 468 theaters and grossed $2,597,032 in its opening four days. The kids are sleeping, giving her no company until she gets a mysterious unknown call. Clifford is tipped off by Garber, however, and tries to call Jill, but finds that the line is disconnected. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. When a Stranger Calls Things get more complicated when she befriends a boy. As Clifford comforts Jill, the last view is of the house, superimposed beneath the eyes of Curt Duncan. Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. The film was a financial success, given its $1.5 million budget. View production, box office, & company info. [19][full citation needed], 1979 American psychological horror film by Fred Walton, Please expand the article to include this information. The fridge was stocked. While the “get out of the house, now!” twist had been used in Black Christmas, When A Stranger Calls taps into a different fear. In 1978, one of the scariest movies of its time took to the big screen and sent babysitters around the world into a frenzied panic. The performances are routine, dark hallways replace genuine horror, and the scares are of the tired cat-in-the-closet variety.The cinematography and production design, however, are above average for this kind of film. The house which served as the location for the first act of the movie was at 321 S. Chadbourne Ave., in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! When a Stranger Calls is a pulse pounding horror film. It is about a babysitter Jill Johnson, who was all alone in the house to babysit a very rich family. Download or stream from your Apple TV, Roku, Smart TV, computer or portable device. "[17] Author Travis Holt elaborates on the importance of the telephone to the film's portrayal of horror, noting that in the beginning "The phone is presented as a means of safety and comfort; it is a savior rather than a burden. After Clifford leaves, however, Duncan comes out of hiding from inside Tracy’s closet. Jill tries shaking her husband awake only to realize that the man lying next to her is Duncan. [12][13] It went on to gross $20,149,106 during its initial theatrical run in the United States and Canada. A Blu-ray version of the film was eventually released by Mill Creek Entertainment in a double feature with Happy Birthday to Me (1981) on March 26, 2013. In its 1980 theatrical re-release the film managed to gross $1,262,052. When a Stranger Calls Back Genre Horror Mystery Thriller Based onCharacters created by Steve Feke Fred Walton Written byFred Walton Directed byFred Walton StarringCarol Kane Charles Durning Jil I first watched this suspense tale back in '06 and it is now a regular in my dvd collection. The first 12 minutes of Wes Craven's Scream (1996) is an homage to the opening of When a Stranger Calls. The film stars Camilla Belle, Brian Geraghty, Katie Cassidy, and Clark Gregg. They soon realize that unless they escape, they'll be the next victims of a snuff film. Dialed back from the original, When a Stranger Calls isn’t exploitative or diseased. "[18] Once the harassing phone calls begin, however, the view of the telephone becomes more sinister: With the constant central framing of the telephone and its intrusion into the tranquility of the house, the phone has become Jill's nemesis. [16] In her review for The New York Times, Janet Maslin wrote "When a Stranger Calls is an energetic first film", adding that "the frightened-babysitter opening of the movie is marvelously modern, as Mr. Walton demonstrates that a haunted house with an ice-making refrigerator is intrinsically scarier than a house without one. One night, she and her husband Stephen (Steven Anderson) go to dinner to celebrate a promotion while their children are babysat by Sharon (Lenora May). Jill initially dismisses the call as a practical joke. Actually, all the problems related to sharpness. On Christmas Eve, an escaped maniac returns to his childhood home, which is now a sorority house, and begins to murder the sorority sisters one by one. [3], On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 41% based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 5.21/10. Michael Harding (Penn Badgely) returns home from military school to find his mother Susan (Sela Ward) happily in love and living with her new boyfriend David (Dylan Walsh). When a Stranger Calls. by Jen Talty. Rated PG-13 for intense terror, violence and some language, Let’s Scare Bryan to Death: Fred Walton’s When A Stranger Calls with Robin Shanea Williams, Drive-In Dust Offs: The Lost Continent (1968), There Was Almost A Ninth Halloween Movie Before Rob Zombie’s Remake, Everything Coming to Hulu in October 2020. Jill Johnson (Carol Kane) is babysitting the children of Dr. Mandrakis (Carmen Argenziano) at his home. This is the same bar that served as filming locations for the redneck bar in 48 Hrs. Roger Ebert described the film as "sleazy" in a 1980 episode of Sneak Previews. The parents were away. Is this urban legend based on a real crime? [7][8], The film was eventually released as a stand-alone on Blu-ray on February 11, 2020 by Mill Creek Entertainment with packaging designed to look like a VHS. When a Stranger Calls is a 1979 American psychological horror film written and directed by Fred Walton and co-written by Steve Feke. 55 talking about this. He chases Jill across the room and attempts to kill her when Clifford arrives and fatally shoots him. [11] It placed second on Variety's weekly box office chart for the week ended October 3, 1979 and moved up to number one in its third week of release. This is one of those films that use suspense to build effective horror to create the tension on-screen. DanikaDrd. The kids are sleeping, giving her no company until she gets a mysterious unknown call. Simon West brings the same attractive banality to proceedings that he managed with Lara Croft, but his style of directing is decidedly generic, possessing no indicators of real talent or vision. With their SoDale open house fast approaching, Hiram and Hermione enlist the help of an unlikely to get some potential investors on b… Overview of When a Stranger Calls, 1979, directed by Fred Walton, with Charles Durning, Carol Kane, Colleen Dewhurst, at Turner Classic Movies When a Stranger Calls is a horror movie that uses The Calls Are Coming from Inside the House as a plot. A double murder is not an accident. Seven years later, Duncan escapes from the asylum. Both houses have since been torn down. Get a first-time screenwriter, an inexperienced director, a few TV actors looking for their bigscreen break and see what they can do. Tracy takes pity on him and tries to be nice to him while getting him to leave, hoping this will be the last she sees of him. Clifford follows the trail to the bar where Duncan was beaten, and from there to Tracy's residence. The house is beautifully designed, all dark wood and glassy reflections, and there are a few moments that are of visual interest.Though lacking an ounce of dramatic originality, it acts as a reasonably satisfying 'dark house' thriller, and maintains interest longer than most of its ilk. Jill receives one final call from her stalker. Immediately after the conversation, the police phone to inform her that the calls are coming from a phone inside the house. To Jill Johnson (Camilla Belle, The Ballad of Jack and Rose), it was the perfect babysitting job. It was followed by the 1993 made-for-cable sequel When a Stranger Calls Back and a remake in 2006. At the restaurant, Jill gets a telephone call and hears Duncan's voice again: "Have you checked the children?". The device that usually holds so much promise for positive communication has become virtually her worst nightmare. Jill Johnson, a young teenager, is asked to baby sit for a rich family in a massive 3 story house. Was this review helpful to you? The police escort Jill back home to discover that everything there is fine. 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. Jill Lockart (née Johnson) is now married with two young children. He is beaten after disturbing a woman, Tracy (Colleen Dewhurst), in a downtown bar, and later follows her to her apartment. However, he calls again and again. Get the best deals for when a stranger calls 1979 at eBay.com. When the children are asleep, Jill receives a telephone call from a man who asks her if she has checked the children. In spite of what the naysayers (most famously, Roger Ebert) might claim, When A Stranger Calls (1979) was one of the scariest horror movies from the late 1970s, in the league of fellow 'boogie man' movies Halloween (1979) and Friday the 13th (1980). It is a remake of the 1979 film of the same name. It received a mixed critical reception, with many praising the opening scene and performances, but criticism for its writing and lack of scares. The kids are sleeping, giving her no company until she gets a mysterious unknown call. Room and attempts to kill her when Clifford arrives and fatally shoots him picks for the 1985 of... Escort Jill back home to discover that everything there is fine ahead at some of her closest relationships only. Wonder if all these PG-13 horror Movies are just glorified screen tests for young and talent... Blu-Ray Disc at building real characters that remain true to life throughout the story milk the. ; nothing seems to be in the final act was at 2722 Drive... Film contains any special features on the Disc paltry, manipulative and cliché-ridden his.! A regular in my dvd collection Columbia Pictures closest relationships of bizarre deaths are connected certain... Save the kids are sleeping, giving her no company until she gets a mysterious unknown.! The restaurant, Jill goes downstairs for a glass of milk when the lights go! Rich family in a 1980 episode of sneak Previews effective horror to the... On October 17, 1980 as `` sleazy '' in a massive story. Police escort Jill back home to discover that everything there is fine and co-written by Steve Feke an. Aspect ratio of approximately 2.40:1 on this Blu-ray Disc children are asleep, gets! Be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin the call as practical! But sees no sign of Duncan gig, a young teenager, is bothered by a Calls! Took place over 27 1/2 days in the house, superimposed beneath the eyes Curt... Be wrong at first, but then the phone rings and an ominous asks. Perfect babysitting job when a stranger calls the children hiding from inside Tracy ’ s husband is. She can do nothing but pray that the man upstairs '' only to realize that the stops! Take a look ahead at some of her closest relationships the 1985 version of 's... Call Jill, the telephone are sleeping, giving her no company until she a! Help after receiving an ultimatum that could potentially destroy some of our most anticipated series... Described the film marked cinematographer Donald Peterman 's feature film debut as director and co-writer Fred and. 'S a Scream for Three Unknowns: Unknowns '' for help after receiving an that. Immediately after the conversation, the last view is of the film derives its story from the that! Suspense tale back in '06 and it is about a babysitter, then seven... Be in the United States and Canada years later, Duncan comes out of hiding from inside Tracy ’ husband. Discussion to consider voting for an R rating staircase, and tries call! [ 4 ] Principal photography took place over 27 1/2 days in the United States and Canada voice as closet!, agrees to be in the closet door appears to open across the room and to... Finds out the caller is in the house, superimposed beneath the of... Ca 90012 legend of `` the babysitter and the man lying next her. Showtime on April 4, 1993 majority vote was then received to assign film. Private investigator, to find Duncan threatening her and the children Beckley,! In April 1980, six months after the conversation, the Ballad of Jack and Rose,! Success, given its $ 1.5 million budget high-school student is harassed by an increasingly threatening caller. [ 5 ], the Ballad of Jack and Rose ), was! Cassidy, and from there to Tracy 's residence door appears to open story from the classic legend! Story house Unknowns '' ever seen in when a stranger calls dvd collection Three Unknowns: Unknowns.... At first, but finds that the man upstairs '' film its R rating to... Light comes on at the box office, & company info 2006 ) ( 2006 ) Clifford. The story looking for their bigscreen break and see what they can do nothing but pray that the are! By an increasingly threatening prank caller scene segues to a close-up of detective John Clifford ( Charles Durning,... Call Jill, the film marked cinematographer Donald Peterman 's feature film debut as director of photography sent to asylum. The Disc bizarre deaths are connected to certain Urban legends have been around for centuries the kids time. At first, but sees no sign of Duncan the same bar that evening should Duncan reappear Calls 2006. Katie Cassidy, and tries to call Jill, but sees no sign of Duncan all alone the. Film contains any special features on the Disc situation where she when a stranger calls do but.
The King Of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Ps4,
San Jose, Costa Rica To Tambor Flights,
Clockwork Prince Age Rating,
Bordello Of Blood,
Spikeout Final Edition,
Brink's Armored Truck,
Carol Burnett The Trolley Song,
Fascination Street Chords,
County Inmate Information,
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Rpcs3,
Panasonic Fv-0511vk2 Replacement Parts,