‘After moving in a new apartment, Leigh Michaels receives mysterious phone calls and gifts. She approaches the police but unsatisfied with their investigation, she decides to tackle the matter herself.’

I remember watching this on TV and it scaring the crap out of me. On rewatching it, it still had the same effect.

This was an early depiction of stalking and the fear, terror and feeling of powerlessness it produces in the victim. It also depicts a killer who displays traits of not just psychopathy but also narcissism (note how he wants full power and control over Leigh and her entire life), but also another axis of fear- that of not being believed.

There are many harrowing scenes such as when Leigh has to hide under a grate with the killer stepping onto it with her being underneath him. If he discovers her, she’s really screwed. This adds another level of terror and vulnerability. There’s also another scene when we see the killer already in her apartment and then we see him run out.

I love that Adrienne Barbeau’s character just happens to be gay and it’s covered in three lines of dialogue. Gay and no big deal- 2026 has a lot to learn from this movie.

There are also interesting little reference points to other Carpenter movies- the character name Elizabeth Sulley is reused in The Fog, the producer’s surname is Kobritz which is also used in the same movie. There was a preliminary idea considered for Halloween 2 which involved Laurie living in a high rise in the city. It sounds a lot like this.

The thing I love the most about Someone’s Watching Me! is the fact it’s set in the LA of that era. This was the time of Ted Bundy and an assortment of other inner-city weirdos. I kept thinking of the (brilliant and much-maligned) middle section of When A Stranger Calls. Both are very scary and feature the 70’s in all of it’s wood-panelled glory.

Just think- this TV movie was made the same year as Halloween. Both work so well because they depict the horror that can disrupt and turn upside down ordinary people in everyday locales. Which is precisely why they are so terrifying.

4 out of 5 stars