When the Dark Man Calls (1995) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A radio host confronts buried childhood guilt when a supposedly imprisoned killer returns and exposes a darker truth.

Story Structure — 6 Plot Phases

The Voice from the Past

Julianne receives a disturbing radio call from a man connected to a twenty-five-year-old crime. A chance sighting confirms that the caller has returned.

Key Events

• Mysterious Radio Call — A caller says he was imprisoned for twenty-five years for a crime he did not commit. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Radio studio
• Call Disconnected — Julianne's colleague disconnects the obscene and disturbing call. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Radio studio
• Childhood Flashback — The call triggers Julianne's memory of frightening childhood circumstances. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Julianne's memory
• Tattooed Man Spotted — Julianne recognizes Parmenter and his snake tattoo beside her car. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Road intersection
• Twenty-Five-Year Revelation — Julianne admits that she testified against Parmenter twenty-five years earlier. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Telephone conversation

Threats on the Air

Parmenter repeatedly contacts Julianne and threatens her through her radio program. His appearance near her daughter makes the danger immediate and personal.

Key Events

• Second Radio Threat — Parmenter calls the broadcast again and directly threatens Julianne. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Radio studio
• Schoolyard Warning — Parmenter approaches Julianne's daughter and compares her to an outwardly sweet but evil girl. Characters: Parmenter Location: School bus stop
• Threat Repeated On Air — Parmenter recounts the schoolyard encounter and says Julianne's daughter will lose her mother. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Radio studio
• Grocery Store Stalking — Parmenter continues stalking Julianne until they meet face to face in a grocery store. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Grocery store
• Chain Attack — Parmenter attempts to strangle Julianne with a chain, but she escapes. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Parking garage

Memory Turns Inward

After surviving an attack, Julianne revisits therapy and her childhood memories. She begins questioning both Parmenter's guilt and her own possible role in the original crime.

Key Events

• Police Contact — After the attack, Julianne contacts the police and discusses the danger. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Police station
• Doubt About the Murders — Julianne questions whether Parmenter really killed her parents. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Therapy office
• Questioning Her Own Guilt — Julianne wonders whether she framed Parmenter for a crime she committed. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Therapy office
• Return to Old Home — Julianne visits the decaying family home while searching for memories of the murders. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Abandoned family home

The Dead Man's Clue

Julianne finds Parmenter's body in the abandoned family home. The discovery eliminates the simple revenge narrative and redirects suspicion toward people from her past.

Key Events

• Parmenter's Dead Body — Julianne discovers Parmenter's dead body inside the abandoned house. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Abandoned family home
• Suicide Is Rejected — Julianne is told that Parmenter did not kill himself and that she was alone during the original murders. Characters: Julianne Kaiser, Parmenter Location: Car
• A New Suspect Collapses — A client breaks down when questioned about Parmenter's death. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Therapy office
• False Lead Against Max — An intoxicated man confronts Julianne, leading her to suspect him of knowing about the murders. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Julianne's house

Shadow Behind the Crimes

Conflicting suspicions lead Julianne back to the scene of the original murders. Recovered memory identifies the person behind both the old killings and Parmenter's death.

Key Events

• Shadow Recalled — Julianne returns to the old home and recalls the shadow seen during the killings. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Parents' bedroom
• Lloyd's Identity Revealed — Julianne recognizes the shadow as her brother and realizes he killed her parents and Parmenter. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Parents' bedroom
• Final Struggle — Julianne is tackled during an attempt to silence her, and the gun she received is fired twice. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Old family home

Leaving the Past

The final struggle ends with gunshots inside the old home. Julianne then leaves Chicago for New York with her family.

Key Events

• Leaving Chicago — Julianne leaves Chicago for New York with her family after the final confrontation. Characters: Julianne Kaiser Location: Road out of Chicago

Story Breakdown

• The Disturbing Call — A mysterious broadcast interrupts Julianne's ordinary professional life and revives a forgotten crime.
  • Nightly Radio Show — Julianne hosts a late-night radio program when an unsettling caller reaches her.
  • Twenty-Five-Year Claim — The caller says he was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.
• The Past Returns — A visual encounter confirms that the voice belongs to someone tied to Julianne's childhood.
  • Snake Tattoo — Julianne recognizes the caller beside her car by his distinctive tattoo.
  • Old Testimony — Julianne admits that her testimony sent him to prison twenty-five years earlier.
• Threats Become Personal — The returning man moves from radio harassment to direct intimidation involving Julianne's daughter.
  • Schoolyard Encounter — He approaches Julianne's daughter and delivers a cruel warning.
  • Parking Garage Attack — He attempts to strangle Julianne with a chain, but she escapes.
• Memory And Doubt — Julianne's investigation turns inward as therapy and recovered memories challenge her assumptions.
  • Murder Questions — Julianne questions whether the imprisoned man actually killed her parents.
  • Possible Framing — She considers whether she caused his conviction for a crime she committed.
• The House Of Evidence — The abandoned family home reveals that the apparent revenge story is incomplete.
  • Dead Parmenter — Julianne discovers Parmenter's body inside the old family home.
  • Rejected Suicide — Evidence indicates that Parmenter did not kill himself.
• False Suspects — Julianne considers several people connected to her history before recovering the decisive memory.
  • Client Breakdown — A client collapses when questioned about Parmenter's death.
  • Drunken Accusation — A drunken confrontation makes Julianne suspect someone who has known her since childhood.
• The Shadow Revealed — Returning to the original crime scene allows Julianne to identify the killer behind both mysteries.
  • Bedroom Memory — Julianne revisits the shadow she saw on the wall during the murders.
  • Final Gunshots — The killer attacks Julianne, and the gun supplied during the confrontation is fired twice.
• Leaving Chicago — After the final confrontation, Julianne abandons Chicago and begins a new chapter elsewhere.
  • Family Departure — Julianne leaves Chicago with her family.
  • New York Destination — The family travels toward New York after the old mystery is confronted.

Directed by

Nathaniel Gutman

Key Cast

• Joan Van Ark — Julianne Kaiser
• Chris Sarandon — Lloyd Carson
• James Read — Detective Michael Lieberman
• Geoffrey Lewis — Parmenter
• David Ferry — Howard Albright