Don't Talk to Strange Men

You are adorable Samantha.

Released as the support feature to The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Don't Talk to Strange Men is a very effective creeper that is worthy of a larger audience. Clocking in at just over an hour in running time, film thrives on tension building and mood without having to spill a drop of blood. Story effectively is about a teenage girl called Jean (Christina Gregg), who whilst waiting for her bus on a secluded country lane, answers the phone ringing at the phone box situated by the stop. The voice on the phone is a charming and well spoken man, he strikes up a conversation with the intrigued girl and it's not long before the two of them are arranging to speak to each other at the same time tomorrow, and ...

Christine Gregg is really quite effective in this short drama. Her character "Jean" works part-time in the local pub then hops the last bus home from the phone box on the corner. One night, it rings - she answers it - and is soon captivated by the charming voice of the man at the other end. Soon, she becomes addicted to his calls and as we discover, simultaneously, that young girls are being lured by a mysterious attacker, we begin to suspect that she is being lined up as his next victim. Fortunately for her, she confides her newfound infatuation in her far more grown up younger sister "Ann" (Janina Faye) who warns her of the dangers and, when push comes to shove - shows considerable maturity. Watching this almost 60 years after it was made...