"When a Stranger Calls" is a psychological thriller film initially released in 1979, directed by Fred Walton. Its famous plot centers on Jill Johnson, a babysitter who receives terrifying phone calls from a psychopathic killer while babysitting. The most iconic part of this film is the opening 23 minutes, which are regarded as one of the scariest openings in film history. The story expands to follow a detective hunting the killer, who is stalking another woman and later returns to torment Jill years later. A notable feature of the story is the classic line "Have you checked the children?" which the caller ominously repeats. After tracing the calls, it's revealed they come from inside the house, leading to a tense confrontation with the intruder. The killer had already murdered the children before Jill arrived. The film achieved cult status despite mixed reviews and a low budget, praised especially for its suspenseful opening sequence. There is also a 2006 remake of the same title, "When a Stranger Calls," which expands the original's opening sequence into a full-length feature. It follows a similar storyline of a babysitter receiving threatening calls and realizing the danger is close by. So, "When a Stranger Calls" refers to these thriller movies, originally from 1979 and again in 2006, known for their suspenseful babysitter terror and chilling phone calls.
