MovieChat Forums > When a Stranger Calls (1979) Discussion > Good movie but...SPOILERS

Good movie but...SPOILERS

posted 12 years ago by spotlightne
8 replies | jump to latest

Too much time was wasted with the killer walking the streets trying to pick up that middle aged woman, Tracy.

I knew seven years later he was gonna track down Jill Johnson again and terrorize her. But the previous hour didn't make much sense as he wandered around the streets aimlessly, then all of a sudden he decides to track Jill down and successfully entered not only her house but her bed.

Why didn't the scriptwriters give the killer a bit more brains? I imagined him breaking into places, stealing money, getting better clothes to wear. Instead of being a tramp (or hobo) for the best part of the movie.

And when that man tried to pick a fight with him in the bar, I first thought the killer would floor him effortlessly. Instead, the killer was floored.

I mean, if the killer had the motivation and intelligence to find Jill's house, ring her up, and then to enter her bed, then why was he lacking that motivation when he was walking the streets for so long?

[–] stayprettystockholm 12 years ago

seriously. what in the world was the point of all that? I was sitting there wondering the whole time what on earth any of this had to do with Jill. and as you said, why did he decide it then and now to attack her? in fact, what was his motivation to begin with years ago?

but to answer your question, he was crazy. that's why. that simple. crazy people don't typically have sense or anything.

"I do pretend I am a princess, so that I can try and behave like one."

[–] yogsottoth 12 years ago

He didn't suddenly decide to go after Jill, he saw her picture in the paper which probably pinpointed where she lived because it was a charity hosting sort of thing.

[–] HeartMonger 12 years ago

...Listen to the scene with Charles Durning talking to the psychiatrist. She explains that it will take some time for him to withdraw from all the medication that he was given, the shock therapy, and everything else. She states that he will go through different ways of looking at life, before returning to his old self, or something to that effect.
The time spent with Tracy was his come down, and his returning back to a crazy killer - very realistic. That is why after he is chased off by Charles Durning, and he is at the flop house, he looks in the mirror and finally becomes that crazed killer again. This movie is *beep* awesome, and psychologically correct!

This movie was NOT a big Hollywood production that catered to the age old "make the audience happy" approach.

"All I want in life is a thirty share and a twenty rating."

[–] ElectricWarlock 11 years ago

I agree with you. It goes deep into Curt Duncan's mind and shows us how he would attempt to join back to a "normal" society, but he couldn't because his mind is so crazed that he has no idea how a sane person functions. The middle section of this movie showed that very well and I like it very much.

I've been waiting for you, Ben.

[–] Kimrubymoon 8 years ago

I know! Frightening how some of these posters know zilch about human psychology.

[–] Porrohman 10 years ago

I wondered where I was going during that middle section, I actually started thinking there was gonna be a twist and he was just an innocent loony homeless guy and the detective was the real killer who framed him.

[–] chet19 9 years ago

I agree it was a slow 45 minutes in the middle. But there was just enough in there to keep me interested.

[–] Kimrubymoon 8 years ago

No offense but you are totally missing many points. He was a true, disturbed sociopath (and probable schizophrenic based on certain behaviors). This isn't your run of the mill thug who is interested in better clothes!!!! My oh my....take some psychology courses. Logical thought is NOT a part of this man's reality. And that's what the middle of this movie attempted to explain....provided the viewer has an ounce of knowledge and insight.