MovieChat Forums > When a Stranger Calls (1979) Discussion > Anyone else like the middle?

Anyone else like the middle?

posted 11 years ago by honeymoonavenue
7 replies | jump to latest

I thought it was interesting.....could've been better but I liked it. The beginning and end are the scariest moments in movie history.

[–] ElectricWarlock 11 years ago

Yes, I do. It is different from the first and last sections of the film. I think they are straight horror and the middle section is more of a psychological thriller. The sudden change in style catches people off guard but I don't mind it. It deals with the psychology of a serial killer and shows how someone that crazed would try to function in a normal style. It takes us deep into Curt Duncan's mind. Colleen Dewhurst was also a great character who gave a great performance. I love the entire film.

I've been waiting for you, Ben.

[–] FortySecondStreetFreak 10 years ago

Agreed. It is a very weirdly structured/plotted film but Durning/Dewhurst & especially Beckley (who was literally dying) held the attention, as did the great 70's location footage.

[–] lupinlevorace 9 years ago

Although I love the opening, I actually prefer the middle than the rest of the movie.

I love the human angle of the killer, where we see that he actually try to become a "better" persons, but fail mostly thanks to his persecutor (Durning).

Deserve way more than the 6.6 rating it has as I wrote those words.

[–] Wuchak (8190) 2 years ago

I love the human angle of the killer, where we see that he actually try to become a "better" persons, but fail mostly thanks to his persecutor (Durning).

That's an interesting spin on events. So the detective is a "persecutor" because he wants to nab an escaped psycho killer who murdered two innocent children with his bare hands, making their corpses unrecognizable? True, he secretly wants to execute the bastage, but only because our hallowed institutions -- the justice system and those who run the asylum -- didn't care enough to keep him secure and protect society.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Kimrubymoon 8 years ago

Oh my, yes! That scene in Colleen Dewhurst's apartment when he sneaks back in and is hiding in the dark room that comes off the brightly lit hall...(not sure if I'm remembering this correctly) but then I also remember she locks her door and you hear him trying to get back in!!!! HOLY S$!t! ----that whole part was SOOOO creepy. HE was just so creepy. The middle shows his deep psychological issues and loneliness and gives you a sense of the large void in his soul. It's as though he's an animal and knows it. He doesn't act human and what's odd (like I wrote) is that he seems to know it. Meaning, he seems to know there is something way wrong with himself.

I thought the middle of the movie (and the actor who played the killer, Kurt) did an excellent job of showing psychopathy. It made the movie so much more than the normal slasher flick. This movie goes deeper and delivers with the middle part that many complain about! Just my opinion.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Yeah I did. I've always heard the middle was a bore. But I don't understand the criticism. It's only a 'bore' in comparison to the superb opening, by any other metric it's perfectly fine.