Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

When a Stranger Calls Back Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 19, 2019

As with many horror films, 1979’s “When a Stranger Calls” was a self-contained story, without major franchise plans to explore in multiple sequels. However, the movie was a hit, and with success comes a demand for more. Interestingly, co-writer/director Fred Walton didn’t jump on a continuation right away, moving on to other projects such as “The Rosary Murders” and “April Fool’s Day,” working on his craft before returning to the source of his first helming achievement. Theatrical dreams dissipate for 1993’s “When a Stranger Calls Back,” with the feature made for the cable market, ultimately presented on Showtime, which was experimenting with original content at the time. The downgrade in theatrical possibilities is clearly displayed in the follow-up, as “When a Stranger Calls Back” doesn’t feel cinematic. It plays smaller and boxier, but Walton still know how to trigger a response from viewers, conjuring a semi-remake that works familiar beats of torment while adding a few new wrinkles to the case, while the production smartly turns to stars Carol Kane and Charles During to add gravitas whenever possible.

Julia (Jill Schoelen) is a babysitter with plans to take care of two children from an affluent family during a quiet evening in the suburbs. Settling into the night, Julia’s peace is disturbed by the arrival of a mysterious man who demands to use the phone to call his auto club. Julia tries to help while keeping the door locked, but she soon discovers the phones are dead, with the mystery man determined to terrorize her. Five years later, Julia remains on edge, unable to deal directly with her traumatic experience, trying to remain safe behind locked doors as she attends college. However, trouble soon returns to the young woman, who senses her attacker has returned, going to the police for help. Coming to her aid is Jill (Carol Kane), who recognizes the delicate nature of the situation, reteaming with John (Charles Durning) to help find and arrest the persistent madman.

“When a Stranger Calls Back” opens with Julia’s horrific evening, and it’s a fantastic sequence. Walton revives the formula that made the original endeavor a hit film and brings it to a new character, with Julia getting caught in the webbing of her own lies as she tries to find a polite way to get rid of an unseen man requesting help with his car. The conflict takes up 25 minutes of screen time, and Walton finds ways to keep tension taught while massaging in Julia’s frustrations with her mistakes, slowly realizing she’s in deep trouble.

Julia’s trauma is established, launching “When a Stranger Calls Back” with enjoyable menace, but a time jump soon returns Jill to the story, with the former babysitter now in charge of empowering women with self-defense classes and therapeutic treatments. She’s joined by John, representing the only two people who believe Julia’s story, setting out to understand who is terrorizing Julia while the cops ignore the problem. Walton wisely takes Julia’s nightmare seriously, working to deepen her already abyssal feeling of helplessness, giving the picture emotional texture that generally goes against the needs of the genre. “When a Stranger Calls Back” isn’t psychologically dense, but the effort is made, which helps the movie work through its slow-burn approach, finding the sleuthing aspect of the script not as involving as its mental odyssey.

When a Stranger Calls Back Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Boasting a "New 2K scan of the original film elements," the AVC encoded image presentation for "When a Stranger Calls Back" is presented in two aspect ratios: a cropped 1.78:1 and 1.33:1, with the latter size representing the feature's cable television debut. Both viewing experiences benefit from a fresh scan, capturing the original look of the movie, retaining its downbeat palette, with brown and gray outfits, overcast locations, and dark corners. Skintones are natural, and period clothing delivers some brighter hues, along with apartment decoration. Detail is satisfactory, securing facial nuances, including the intricate makeup work that appears in the final act. Delineation is strong, communicating darker interplay. Grain is film-like. Source is in good shape, without overt damage.

When a Stranger Calls Back Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA delivers a basic listening event. Dialogue exchanges are reasonably clear, managing fluctuations in emotional response and argumentative behavior. Hiss is detected, with a few surges in intensity. Scoring is defined, adding to suspense needs with a clear read of instrumentation. Atmospherics contribute a sense of room space and rainstorms.

When a Stranger Calls Back Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Directing a Stranger" (13:24, HD) is a conversation with helmer Fred Walton, who tracks his initial inspiration for a "When a Stranger Calls" sequel, turning down the professional opportunity after the film's successful release. The project was set-up at Fox, with the studio running numbers on the project, deeming it a "can't lose" business opportunity. They ultimately stopped the project due to lack of star power. Work resumed at Showtime, who demanded a happier ending than what was scripted, with Walton openly disgusted with the final scene of "When a Stranger Calls Back." Casting highlights are examined, and Walton gets candid when discussing Carol Kane's process, which is riddled with self- doubt, making for a chillier collaboration. The genesis of the body paint idea is shared, and the interviewee describes the experience of watching the feature at home vs. a theater environment. Walton concludes with a summary of his plans for the third chapter, which were killed during the development process at Miramax.

• "The Process is Everything" (8:20, HD) is a brief chat with Carol Kane, who assesses Jill's evolution between installments of "When a Stranger Calls," digging into the psychology of the role and the empowerment angle of the sequel. A cast reunion was welcomed, heaping praise on co-star Charles Durning, and talk of hair, makeup, and costumes is presented, with Kane putting effort into personal details. The actress seems happy with the picture, and she shares her memories of the movie's debut on Showtime and its longevity with suspense fans.

• "A Stranger's Prey" (13:46, HD) catches up with Jill Schoelen, who walks through her career in horror, becoming very familiar with the genre along the way, becoming a fan of "When a Stranger Calls." She recalls time spent with Walton and his way of doing business, and details relationships with co-stars, making a special connection with Durning during their lone scene together. Schoelen analyzes the sequel's cable obscurity, with "When a Stranger Calls Back" growing in popularity over the years, and delves deep into the psychology of the role, emotionally communicating time spent with trauma and her primal connection to the script. It's a very informative and touching interview.

• "The Sitter" (21:22, HD) is a 1977 short film from Walton, which he used as the inspiration for "When a Stranger Calls."

• And a T.V. Spot (1:09, SD) is included.

When a Stranger Calls Back Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"When a Stranger Calls Back" includes some padding to fill the run time, though flashes of weirdness do arrive from time to time. There's ideal strangeness with the villain of the piece, and Jill's evolution onto a fierce, gun-toting warrior for female safety is a nice addition to the routine. Sadly, there's not enough unexpected encounters to really encourage surprise, but sluggishness is almost always pushed aside by thespian skill and the essentials of thriller cinema.