“When a Stranger Calls” (1979) combines horror with elements of detective stories and thrillers in a restrained way. I describe it as “low-key” because blood and guts are scarce, though there is suspense, pursuit scenes, and brief moments of violence. The film has a refined quality and clearly drew inspiration from the artistic sensibilities of "Halloween" (1978), but substitutes an ordinary villain for Michael Myers’ seemingly invulnerable character. There's also a detective component reminiscent of “Dirty Harry” (1971) and “Tightrope” (1984), though embodied by Charles Durning as a commonplace, average-sized investigator. The film is most recognized for its disturbing initial scene, which was later adapted in Wes Craven’s "Scream" (1996), where Drew Barrymore assumed Carol Kane's part. It stands out as an artistic achievement with Dana Kaproff’s evocative score. However, the middle section feels noticeably slow-paced, a characteristic that might not resonate well with contemporary audiences who have attention deficit disorders. The scene involving someone seemingly unconscious in a closet and without any injuries also felt a bit silly to me. The film's length is 1 hour, 37 minutes, and it was filmed in Los Angeles. GRADE: B-/B

Source on TMDB