Writer/Director Fred Walton (APRILS FOOLS DAY, THE ROSARY MURDERS) has the unenviable job of continuing the story of the early eighties movie WHEN A STRANGER CALLS. While that film was successful in scaring up the box office, except for the film’s tension-filled first and last ten minutes, I found it predictable and somewhat of a snoozer. Walton could have just churned out a quick-buck slasher film (that’s what I was expecting), but instead produces a worthy follow-up that for all intensive purposes, rises above the film that inspired it. WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK paces itself, but has enough twists, turns, and suspense to keep your attention throughout the film, something the original lacked. As there was no audience for non-teen horror films in 1994, there was no theatrical release and it was sold to Showtime as their first made for cable movie.

Walton wisely reunites Carol Kane (as Jill Johnson) and Charles Durning (as detective John Clifford) who rekindle the acting chemistry they shared in the first film. He incorporates the look, tone, and claustrophobia of the first film into the sequel. Like the original, the film is long on sweat-inducing tension and paranoia, and short on gore and bloodletting (although there is some). If you need to see a head explode every ten minutes to enjoy a film, rent a Troma movie instead. I had only one problem with the film: The killers identity is kept secret through the film until the climax, and when he is revealed it is a little disappointing. The problem is not with the character, its just a matter of poor casting.

College student Juli Jenz (Jill Schoelen) is the persecuted babysitter this time around. She underwent a traumatic incident with a psychotic killer (who uses the phone to terrorize), five years ago and now years later at college she’s been getting some suspicious calls which lead her to believe the killer is back. When she contacts the police, they inform her that her original stalker is dead therefore she must be having flashbacks and refer her to a psychiatrist, instead of checking for physical evidence.

Meanwhile, its been thirteen years since her initial stalking, and Jill Johnson is now a social psychologist and director of women's services for the college. She has to investigate all students rapes, threats, etc. and when Juli comes for consultation, they form a bond from the traumas they both have endured. When finding physical evidence that someone has been inside Juli’s dorm room, Jill goes to the police. But you know how cynical the police are in these movies (in a sense the police are the antagonists in the film), so Jill has to call in her old friend and serial killer expert John Clifford (Durning). Jill, Juli, and Clifford are now on the trail of the killer, or is it vice-versa?

As mentioned earlier the paranoia and suspense elements are played to the max and it comes together better than the above description leads you to believe. The film’s look is supremely drab but this is an intentional effort to make the film less glossy and more gritty. There are no bright colors, the rooms are dark and shadowy. The characters are well developed, the scripting is tight, and the direction is right-on.

SIGHT

WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK may have been filmed at 1.85.1 and cropped to full frame for its cable TV debut. But Goodtimes releases a full frame transfer of the film. Goodtimes has released widescreen films when available, so maybe this is the way it was shot. Regardless, David Geddes cinematography is intentionally dreary and gritty to meet the tone of the film and subject matter. The film does not have a glossy, Hollywood-style luster. Having said that, the DVD transfer serves the cinematography well. Lots of brownish, olive colored hues combined with grayish, shadowy color saturation. Flesh tones are a little pale, but again this is intentional. Overall, though the transfer is far from perfect, it serves the film well.

SOUND

This is a Dolby Stereo Surround soundtrack. The forward soundstage gets most of the directionality, with occasional activity and ambience from the rear speakers. The bass is somewhat low. The mix is crisp and clear. The movie is mostly dialogue driven and with that in mind the soundtrack is more than adequate; a 5.1 remaster would not have enhanced the film at all. Composer Dana Kaproff’s taut and tense score comes through diligently in the mix and supplements the gritty feel of the film.

FEATURES

No extras, not even a trailer.

CONCLUSION

WHEN A STINGER CALLS BACK is in a sense is a throwback to the modern horror film, when bloodletting FX and wisecracking killers took a back seat to mood, atmosphere, suspense, and storyline. If you even casually enjoyed the original WHEN A STRANGER CALLS, then this film is must. Or if you enjoy a edge-of-your-seat whodunit thriller, then check it out on DVD. In the nineties, when a terrible horror film like LEPRECHAUN can spawn sequels, a film like WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK is a breath of fresh air. Goodtimes does a fairly good job with the mastering; my only complaint is there are no extras to speak of. Goodtimes, get with the program please.

                                        Rating (out of 5):