A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination
William Boyett
- Sgt. Sacker
- (as Bill Boyett)
Joseph Reale
- Bartender
- (as Joe Reale)
Carol Tillery Banks
- Mrs. Garber
- (as Carol O'Neal)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThroughout the opening segment, director Fred Walton gradually increases the feeling of suspense by making each subsequent phone call ring a bit louder than the previous one. They escalate from eerie to jarring and finally infuriating.
- GoofsBased on the year the film took place, 1 minute would not be nearly long enough to trace Curt's call. Back when the movie was set, it would've taken 10-20 minutes for several switchboards and circuits to locate the origin of the call.
- Quotes
Jill Johnson: [thinking it's Curt again] Leave me alone!
Sgt. Sacker: Jill, this is Sergeant Sacker. Listen to me. We've traced the call... it's coming from inside the house. Now a squad car's coming over there right now, just get out of that house!
- Crazy creditsEven though Columbia Pictures distributed this film, the Columbia Pictures logo does not appear.
- SoundtracksSpace Race
Performed by Billy Preston
Written by Billy Preston (uncredited)
Engineer Thomas Vicari (uncredited)
Producer Billy Preston (uncredited)
Courtesy of A&M Records
Featured review
"When a Stranger Calls" from 1979 is a cult chiller classic as the famous words "Have you checked the children" stand long in memory. And the start and ending of the film is best, the scenes and dark backgrounds make for some scary moments. It involves Carol Kane as Jill Johnson a teen babysitter who's terrorized by strange phone calls while baby sitting only then tragedy happens, then the film expands and slows down and goes over a period of seven years, then Jill later an adult again has a past haunt! The film ends well. Overall good classic horror chiller of tease, and tense psycho like fear.
- How long is When a Stranger Calls?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Das grauen kommt um zehn
- Filming locations
- Third Street Tunnel, Bunker Hill, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(Clifford hunts the villain)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $21,411,158
- Gross worldwide
- $21,411,158
- Runtime1 hour 37 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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