Murder by Phone

Murder by Phone (also known as Bells and The Calling) is a 1982 science fiction slasher film directed by Michael Anderson. Its plot follows a series of murders committed by a disgruntled phone company employee who designs a device that kills victims when they answer their telephones.

Cast

 * Richard Chamberlain as Nat Bridger
 * John Houseman as Stanley Markowitz
 * Sara Botsford as Ridley Taylor
 * Robin Gammell as Noah Clayton
 * Gary Reineke as Lt. Meara
 * Barry Morse as Fred Waites
 * Alan Scarfe as John Websole
 * James B. Douglas as Jack Gilsdorf
 * Ken Pogue as Fil Thorner
 * Neil Munro as Winters
 * Tom Butler as Detective Tamblyn
 * Colin Fox as Dr. Leon Alderman
 * Jefferson Mappin as Alex
 * Luba Goy as Beth Freemantle
 * Lenore Zann as Connie Lawson
 * George R. Robertson as George Lord
 * Angus MacInnes as Colin Bartell
 * Neil Affleck as Phone Tracer

Novel
The movie was preceded by a novel called Phone Call written by the screenwriters Michael Butler and Dennis Shryack by author Jon Messman. It was published in 1979, three years before the film version. It is never credited in the film's credits. The link was mentioned on the cover in later editions of the book.

Production
Murder by Phone was filmed in 1980 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

It was known as Bells and was picked up for distribution by Roger Corman's New World Pictures.

The score by John Barry is electronic, played entirely with synthesisers. This was a rarity for Barry. Whilst he composed and conducted the score, it was performed by Jonathan Elias and John Petersen. Elias later went on to work with Barry on the scores for Jagged Edge and A View to a Kill.

Release
Murder by Phone was released in the United States on October 8, 1982.

Critical response
Leonard Maltin noted the film's cast and direction as being legitimately "talented," but deemed the film a "hoary horror exercise."

Home media
Murder by Phone was released on VHS by Warner Home Video in 1984. The VHS was reissued in 1998.