It's hard to imagine an opening sequence generating more tension, unease, and fear than the opening 20 minutes of When A Stranger Calls. By itself, it works as a self-contained short film - a ghoulish urban legend or campfire story come to life. With Fred Walton's sharp direction and Carol Kane's expressive eyes, they're able to work wonders with very little. Anything coming after that can't help but disappoint and, unfortunately, When A Stranger Calls turns into a typical police procedural for the rest of its runtime until the final 15 minutes which are at least somewhat effective.
Review of When a Stranger Calls
