When a Stranger Calls (film series)
| When a Stranger Calls | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Fred Walton Steve Feke |
| Original work | The Sitter (1977) |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | List of films |
When a Stranger Calls is an American film series that comprises three standalone psychological thriller horror films, as well as an originating short film. The original film has gained a large cult following, with its first 20 minutes consistently regarded as one of the scariest opening scenes in movie history, inspiring many others, including the critically acclaimed hit Scream (1996) and its sequels. Inspired by Fred Walton's 1977 horror-thriller short film The Sitter, The series serves as a suspenseful retelling of the urban legend of "The babysitter and the man upstairs", about a babysitter, Jill Johnson, who is menaced by mysterious and frightening phone calls which are finally revealed to be coming from inside the house. The 1979 film is an expanded remake of Fred Walton and Steve Feke's short film The Sitter, which roughly comprised the first 20 minutes of this film, followed by an investigate segment in which a detective searches for the stranger.[1] The 1993 sequel follows Johnson, now a college counselor, as she attempts to protect a student from another such stalker. The 2006 remake solely adapts the 20 minutes that served as the opening of the first film and entirety of The Sitter, extending the premise to a feature-length film.
Jill Johnson is the only character to appear in every film, with John Clifford, the Mandrakis couple and the Stranger each appearing in three films.
Films
| Film | U.S. release date |
Director | Writer(s) | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sitter | 1977 | Fred Walton | Steve Feke Fred Walton |
Steve Feke |
| When a Stranger Calls (1979) | October 26, 1979 | Doug Chapin Steve Feke | ||
| When a Stranger Calls Back | April 4, 1993 | Fred Walton | Tom Rowe | |
| When a Stranger Calls (2006) | February 3, 2006 | Simon West | Jake Wade Wall | John Davis Wyck Godfrey Ken Lemberger |
Overview
The Sitter (1977)
In early 1977, Fred Walton and his old college friend Steve Feke were throwing around story ideas for a film and Feke told him the legendary tale of "The babysitter and the man upstairs" which Walton felt had potential for a film. The production of The Sitter was made on a low budget with both Feke and Walton working steadily for the financing, including their friends' contributing $1,000 here and there. The 22-minute film, shot on 35mm in three days in May 1977 on a budget of $12,000, closely prefigures the opening twenty minutes of When a Stranger Calls, now consistently regarded as one of the scariest openings in horror movie history. Once post-production on The Sitter was completed, Walton and Feke realized that the market for short films wasn't nearly as good as they had both anticipated. Although major studios were not interested in the short film, they were able to land a one-week showing at a theatre for consideration at the 1977 Academy Awards to qualify a nomination for Best Live Action Short. The Sitter had a short theatrical run being screened before Looking for Mr. Goodbar at Mann's Village Theatre in Westwood, California. In spite of its good reception, the film did not get nominated for an Oscar.[2]
When a Stranger Calls (1979)
Executive producers Barry Krost and Douglas Chapin had gone to the theatre to see Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and both were so impressed by The Sitter that they sold Mel Simon on the idea of expanding it into a feature-length film, which eventually became When a Stranger Calls, directed and written again by Walton and Feke. The film was released in the United States on October 26, 1979, by Columbia Pictures. It was commercially successful, receiving a mixed critical reception, with many praising the opening scene and performances, but criticism for its writing and lack of scares, and having since gained cult status. The plot follows Jill Johnson, a young high school student babysitting for a very rich family, as she begins to receive strange phone calls threatening the children. When she finally realises that it's not a joke, she calls the police, only to find that the calls are coming from inside the house.[3][4]
When a Stranger Calls Back (1993)
A made-for-television sequel, When a Stranger Calls Back, was released in 1993 on Showtime with Carol Kane and Charles Durning reprising their roles and Walton returning as director and writer, to mostly positive reviews.[5][6][7]
When a Stranger Calls (2006)
Screen Gems first announced the production of a When a Stranger Calls remake in August 2004, with Jake Wade Wall penning the script, replacing plans by Screen Gems to release another theatrical sequel to the original film titled When a Stranger Returns. Evan Rachel Wood was offered the role of Jill, but turned it down, before Camilla Belle was ultimately cast in the role. The film adapts the first 20 minutes of the original film and entirety of The Sitter as the premise for the entirety of the film.[8][9]
Principal cast and characters
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.
- An empty grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
- V indicates a voice-only role.
- Y indicates a younger version of the character.
| Character | Short film | Films | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sitter | When a Stranger Calls | When a Stranger Calls Back | When a Stranger Calls | |
| 1977 | 1979 | 1993 | 2006 | |
| Jill Lockart (née Johnson) | Lucia Stralser | Carol Kane | Camilla Belle | |
| Detective John Clifford | Bob Sutton | Charles Durning | Steve Eastin (as Detective Harv Hines) | |
| Curt Duncan The Stranger |
Curt SandersV | Tony Beckley | Mentioned | Tommy Flanagan |
| Lance HenriksenV | ||||
| Mrs. Kelly Mandrakis | Karen Kondan | Rutanya Alda | Kate Jennings Grant | |
| Dr. Mandrakis | Bill Striglos | Carmen Argenziano | Derek de Lint | |
| Lt. Charlie Garber | Charles Boswell | Ron O'Neal | David Denman (as Officer Burroughs) | |
| Sgt. Sacker | Ed Ruffalo | William Boyett | John Bobek (as Officer Lewis) | |
| Nancy | Sally TaylorV | Kirsten LarkinV | Katie CassidyV (as Tiffany Madison) | |
| Tracy Fuller | Colleen Dewhurst | |||
| Bill | Michael Champion | |||
| Dr. Monk | Rachel Roberts | |||
| Stephen Lockhart | Steven Anderson | Mentioned | ||
| Sharon | Lenora May | |||
| William Landis The Stranger |
Gene Lythgow | |||
| Julia Jenz | Jill Schoelen | |||
| Dr. Schifrin | Kevin McNulty | |||
| Will Mandrakis | Mentioned | Arthur Young | ||
| Allison Mandrakis | Madeline Carroll | |||
| Bobby | Mentioned | Brian Geraghty | ||
| Scarlett | Tessa Thompson | |||
| Ben Johnson | Clark Gregg | |||
| Boom Boom | Brad Surosky | |||
| Track Coach | Karina Logue | |||
| Rosa Ramirez | Rosine Ace Hatem | |||
| Cody | Escher Holloway | |||
| Officer | Owen Smith | |||
| Additional Officer | Jessica Faye Helmer | |||
| Stacy | Lillie WestV | |||
Additional crew and production details
| Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composer(s) | Cinematographer | Editor | Production companies |
Distributing companies |
Running time | MPAA rating | |
| The Sitter | Jane McNealy | Willy Kurant | Sam Vitale | Parnassus Productions | Paramount Pictures | 22mins | R |
| When a Stranger Calls (1979) | Dana Kaproff | Donald Peterman | Melvin Simon Productions | Columbia Pictures) Embassy Pictures (re-release) |
1hr 37mins | ||
| When a Stranger Calls Back | David Geddes | David Byron Lloyd | Krost/Chapin Productions The Producers Entertainment Group Pacific Motion Pictures |
Universal Television | 1hr 34mins | ||
| When a Stranger Calls (2006) | James Dooley | Peter Menzies Jr. | Jeff Betancourt | Davis Entertainment Screen Gems |
Screen Gems | 1hr 27mins | |
Reception
Box office and financial performance
| Film | Box office gross | Box office ranking | Budget | Worldwide Total income |
Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other territories | Worldwide | All time North America |
All time worldwide | ||||
| The Sitter (with Looking for Mr. Goodbar) |
$22,512,655 | not available | not available | not available | not available | $12,000 | $22,512,655 | [10] |
| When a Stranger Calls (1979) | $21,411,158 | not available | not available | not available | not available | $740,000 | $21,411,158 | [11][1] |
| When a Stranger Calls Back | not available | not available | not available | not available | not available | not available | not available | not available |
| When a Stranger Calls (2006) | $47,860,214 | $19,355,221 | $67,215,435 | #1 | not available | $15,000,000 | $67,215,435 | [12] |
| Totals | $91,784,027 | $19,355,221 | $67,215,435 | $15,752,000 | $111,139,248 | |||
Critical and public response
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| When a Stranger Calls (1979) | 41% (17 reviews)[13] | 58/100 (7 reviews)[14] |
| When a Stranger Calls Back | 57% (7 reviews)[15] | not available |
| When a Stranger Calls (2006) | 9% (93 reviews)[16] | 27/100 (20 reviews)[17] |
Home media
| Title | Format | Discs | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Special Features | Distributors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| When a Stranger Calls (1979) | Blu-ray | 01 | — | 3 December 2018 | — | Content New Special Features | Second Sight |
| When a Stranger Calls Back | Blu-ray | 01 | 2018 | — | — | Content New Special Features | Scream Factory |
| When a Stranger Calls (2006) | Blu-ray | 01 | — | — | 4 December 2014 | None | Umbrella Entertainment |
See also
References
- ^ a b "It's a Scream for Three Unknowns: UNKNOWNS". Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times, October 26, 1979: p. G23.
- ^ Rockoff, Adam. Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film, 1978-1986, retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ "When a Stranger Calls and Happy Birthday to Me". blu-ray.com. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ "When a Stranger Calls". bvhscollector.com. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ Scott, Tony. "Showtime Original Movie When a Stranger Calls Back – Variety". Variety.com. Variety Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ Gallman, Brett. "Horror Reviews - When a Stranger Calls Back (1993)". OhtheHorror.com. Oh the Horror. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ Schwartz, Dennis. "WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK". DennisSchwartzReviews.com. Ozus’ World Movie Reviews. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ LaPorte, Nicole (August 10, 2004). "'Stranger' redials". Variety. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
- ^ Balchack, Brian. "Screen Gems plans remakes of When a Stranger Calls and it' sequel When a Stranger Returns". MovieWeb. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
- ^ Looking for Mr. Goodbar at Box Office Mojo
- ^ When a Stranger Calls at Box Office Mojo
- ^ "When a Stranger Calls (2006)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved February 3, 2006.
- ^ "When a Stranger Calls (1979)". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "When a Stranger Calls". Metacritic.
- ^ "When a Stranger Calls Back". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "When a Stranger Calls (2006)". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "When a Stranger Calls". Metacritic.
