When a Stranger Calls is an entertaining suspense-thriller featuring fine performances from lead actors Charles Durning and Carol Kane, and while this is a barebones release by Mill Creek, it is the right price point to pick up.
When a Stranger Calls
(1979)
Genre(s): Suspense/Thriller
Mill Creek | R – 97 min. – $14.98 | February 11, 2020
Date Published: 02/11/2020 | Author: The Movieman
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Mill Creek Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
The opinions I share are my own.
THE MOVIE — 3.5/5 |
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Plot Synopsis: Babysitter Jill Johnson (CAROL KANE) is tormented by a series of ominous phone calls until a compulsive cop (CHARLES DURNING) is brought on the scene to apprehend the psychotic killer. Seven years later, however, the nightmare begins again when the madman returns to mercilessly haunt Jill, now a wife and mother. No longer a naïve girl, though still terrified but prepared, she moves boldly to thwart the maniac’s attack. Quick Hit Review: When a Stranger Calls is a pretty effective, if not bit uneven, thriller from the 70s with fine performances from Carol Kane and Charles Durning. I’ve probably seen this a few times over the years and still holds up fairly well, and makes for a great Saturday night viewing, though given the greatness of that decade, it is easy to get lost in the mix. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 0/5 |
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This release comes with a retro VHS-styled slip cover. No features were included. |
VIDEO – 4.5/5 |
| Mill Creek releases the movie I believe for the second time (the last was part of a two-movie feature with Happy Birthday to Me), and I’m guessing this 1080p transfer probably is the same or at least close. Whatever the case, the picture here looks quite good, detail is sharp throughout and colors have some vibrancy even with the darker look while black levels were stark. There was a couple occasional minor specs but this was an otherwise clean transfer. |
AUDIO – 4.0/5 |
| The disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is efficient, dialogue comes through with clarity and not at all echoey which I find can happen with these stereo tracks. There is some modest depth when it came to the suspense-filled scenes along with the score. |
OVERALL – 3.0/5 |
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When a Stranger Calls is an entertaining suspense-thriller featuring fine performances from lead actors Charles Durning and Carol Kane, and while this is a barebones release by Mill Creek, it is the right price point to pick up, not to mention it comes with a cool retro VHS slip cover. |