When a Stranger Calls (1979 film)
1979 American psychological thriller film by Fred Walton / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about When a Stranger Calls (1979 film)?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
When a Stranger Calls is a 1979 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Fred Walton, co-written by Steve Feke, and starring Charles Durning, Carol Kane, Colleen Dewhurst and Tony Beckley (in his final film role). Its plot follows Jill Johnson, a young woman being terrorized by a psychopathic killer while babysitting, the killer's stalking of another woman, his returning to torment Jill years later, and a detective's trying to find him. Rachel Roberts, Ron O'Neal, Carmen Argenziano, and Rutanya Alda appear in supporting roles. The film derives its story from the folk legend of "the babysitter and the man upstairs".[5][6]
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
When a Stranger Calls | |
---|---|
Directed by | Fred Walton |
Written by |
|
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Donald Peterman |
Edited by | Sam Vitale |
Music by | Dana Kaproff |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $1.5 million[1][2] |
Box office | $21.4–25 million[lower-alpha 1] |
The film was released in the United States on September 28, 1979 by Columbia Pictures. It was commercially successful, grossing $21.4 to $25 million at the box office against a $1.5 million budget, but it received a mixed-to-negative critical reception, with many praising the opening scene and performances, and others criticizing 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.
The film has developed a large cult following over time because of the first 23 minutes, consistently regarded as one of the scariest openings in film history.[7][8] The first 13 minutes of Wes Craven's Scream (1996) pay homage to the opening of When a Stranger Calls.