Second Sight, out now

When Jill Johnson babysits for a couple’s children she has no idea that a mystery caller has murderous intents… and that he is already in the house with her!

Fred Walton’s (April Fool’s Day, I Saw What You Did, The Stepford Husbands) 1979 horror movie is bundled with its TVM sequel and original short in Second Sight’s attractive collector’s release, which also includes a CD of the soundtrack by Dana Kaproff, a 40-page perfect-bound booklet with new essay by Kevin Lyons and a reversible poster.

This is a very comprehensive package for fans of the series, and all it really lacks is a commentary or the inclusion of Simon West’s forgettable 2006 remake. The question is, “does it really deserve your money?” and the answer has to depend on how enamoured you are with the movies. The original has long been feted as a true classic, but my suspicion is that it’s the opening 20 minutes that people base this on, as the middle section is baggy and the ending feels like it’s from a different movie.

What we learn is that Walton made the 22-minute short The Sitter and then expanded the story with a new cast to make the feature, even though (to my eyes) this makes the story episodic and disjointed. The short and the movie’s opening are excellent, as Carol Kane is terrorised by the mysterious caller. It’s since been mythologised in Kevin Williams’ original Scream and become an established horror trope.

The short was made before John Carpenter’s ‘babysitter-in-peril’ Halloween, with the expanded movie subsequently made partially in response to Carpenter’s. However, it lacks the real craft of Halloween, and is as workmanlike as any of the other holiday themed horror movies that followed (some even directed by Walton).

When a Stranger Calls Back is the belated 1993 made-for-TV sequel that nobody realised they wanted, with Carol Kane and Charles Durning both reprising their roles and Walton writing/directing again. It’s not a bad movie, just redundant, and its contrivances to create another babysitting attack with these same characters are a stretch too far.

These are new scans and restorations in HD, although the print does show its grain in the many dark scenes. Extras include Directing A Stranger, an interview with Fred Walton, as well as actresses Carol Kane and Rutanya Alda on the first movie. There’s also an interview with composer Dana Kaproff.

Verdict: A reasonably-priced collector’s set with two movies and a soundtrack, Stranger Calls fans will no doubt lap this up, but the curious and uninitiated might be surprised what all the fuss is about. 7/10

Nick Joy