THIS is the scariest movie ever made.
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — When a Stranger Calls
honeymoonavenue — 11 years ago(December 11, 2014 11:44 AM)
I am extremely appalled about how underrated and under-appreciated this film is. This is the only film that genuinely scares me, and the only film that I can absolutely not watch alone. People claim that The Exorcist, The Shining, Nightmare on Elm Street, etc. are the scariest movies of all time, but I've watched each of those films alone at night and wasn't frightened a single bit. I will never watch WASC alone. I know that the middle may be a little slow to some people (I personally love it), but the first and last 20 minutes are the scariest moments ever captured on film. The tone, the music, the execution, the settings, the vintage/retro cinematic quality.terrifying.
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the_secret_door — 11 years ago(March 25, 2015 04:56 PM)
The atmosphere of tension created in this movie is almost unparalleled. Agree totally! It's surprising that the director, Fred Walton, didn't go on to do many more horror/suspense movies.
He actually recreated the sense of dread in "When A Stranger Calls Back" (Act I) which is almost as good as this. Even better in a way, since most of us know the call is coming from inside the house, but don't know the payoff in the sequel! -
stacy0912 — 10 years ago(January 18, 2016 09:54 PM)
I have a high threshhold for horror movies, I absolutely love them. But this movie had my heart pounding, having me in full fledged fight or flight mode. I paused it at fifteen minutes in and I have yet to get back to itand that was a little over a week ago. The camera angles were brilliant, maybe a little too brilliant.
The creepiest part wasn't the killer, but what was
not
happening.The way they kept that focus on the blackness behind the babysitter, and kept us waiting for him to walk out of it was terrifying. I'm nervous just thinking about it again. This movie hits on all my fears. The idea someone could be living in your house without you knowing is what nightmares are made of. I had a nightmare about this very thing almost twenty years ago that has stayed with me, and probably at some point it will become a novel. Maybe I can finally work through some of these fears.
~Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable~ -
BatPopsicle — 9 years ago(June 23, 2016 12:13 PM)
The idea someone could be living in your house without you knowing is what nightmares are made of.
There is a movie from the 70's called 'Bad Ronald' that's about that very same thing. Saw it as a kid and it creeped me out. -
Paul P. Powell — 4 months ago(November 25, 2025 06:28 AM)
Agreed. It is 'effin terrifying.
Can't quite name it as scariest movie ever but it is certainly a whopper. A muffin-choker, a gobstopper. Heart-in-throat stuff.
Charles Durning was so great anytime he played a police officer. He excelled in those assignments.
Paul P. Powell, Pool Player