I thought it started off very well but you're right, as soon as it switches focus to the investigation it becomes a bit of a chore to get through but still, overall I thought it was pretty decent.

I hadn't seen Black Christmas or Halloween when I first saw this film. I thought it was pretty good at the time, even though the mid section dragged a bit. When I finally saw it again years later after having seen so many other films, I would admit it didn't hold up as well as I'd hoped. I wouldn't say it's terrible, but its main fault is still the middle section where we don't see the main actress and it really does drag enough to be noticed. A few kills added to this part might have helped a little. The whole thing is helped by the fact that Kane, Durning and Dewhurst are all very good actors.

The sequel, When a Stranger Calls Back, is actually not too bad. When I first saw it I wasn't expecting much, but it does have a few really creepy scenes that I won't reveal since some people here may not have seen it. Like the first one it does have some parts that drag a bit, and it's obviously not the same killer as he was killed in the end of the first one.