976-EVIL (1988)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

Robert Englund

Writers:

Brian Helgeland (writer)
Rhet Topham (writer)

Release Date:

22 March 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Now, horror has a brand new number.

Plot:

People who dial 976-EVIL receive supernatural powers and turn into satanic killers. |

Plot Keywords:

Heart | Mutilation | Orchestral Music Score | Occult | Visions Of Hell

Cast

Robert Picardo	...	Mark Dark
Stephen Geoffreys	...	Hoax
Patrick O'Bryan	...	Spike
Sandy Dennis	...	Aunt Lucy
Jim Metzler	...	Marty
María Rubell	...	Angela (as Maria Rubell)
Lezlie Deane	...	Suzie
J.J. Cohen	...	Marcus
Paul Willson	...	Mr. Michaels
Darren E. Burrows	...	Jeff (as Darren Burrows)
Greg Collins	...	Mr. Selby
Joanna Keyes	...	Suzie's Mother
Gunther Jenson	...	Airhead (as Gunther Jensen)
J.J. Johnston	...	Virgil
John Slade	...	John Doe (as Jon Slade)

Also Known As:

Dial the Devil (USA) (working title)
Horrorscope (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Norway:18 (video premiere) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Cinetel Films

Trivia:

When Hoax casts the spell that makes spiders come out of Suzie's TV dinner, there's a box of snack cakes behind the TV dinner called "Devil Twins".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Hoax gets sick dissecting the frog he removes the surgical glove from his right hand. Then in the mirror in the bathroom it's back as he pulls out his hair, then when he's attacking the thug it's gone and then when he cuts off another thugs hand it's back.

Quotes:

Hoax: [possessed Hoax produces two ripped-out hearts] Would it be...possible...to open with a pair of hearts?

Movie Connections:

References Maniac (1980)

Soundtrack:

The Only Thing I Really Need

Maybe a cameo from Freddy himself could have redeemed it...

For a horror fan, the idea of watching something directed by genre icon Robert Englund might be too good to pass up, but this picture doesn't have much going for it besides novelty value.

"976-Evil" tells the story of much-abused, uber-nerdy outcast 'Hoax' Wilmoth (Stephen Geoffreys, who actually isn't as over-the-top weird as he was in "Fright Night"), and his 'cool', rebellious cousin Spike (Patrick O'Bryan), both of whom dial this goofy, gimmicky service that dispenses advice on how to deal with one's problems. Spike is able to use it to his advantage, but 'Hoax' is so impressionable that his repeated use of the service turns him into a demonic, freaky-looking imp that, while he is finally able to sadistically punish his tormentors (incidentally, they're all part of Spike's circle of friends!), we know that nothing good can come of this.

Helping to firmly establish the obvious inspiration from "Carrie", 'Hoax' is saddled with an overly religious nut-job of a mother (film veteran Sandy Dennis), who, much like Piper Laurie in that other movie, was probably encouraged to go for broke in her performance. Alas, as another reviewer pointed out, she's more annoying than anything else, and a viewer may grow impatient to see her get her comeuppance.

Overall, the film doesn't have much intensity, or pizazz, with no memorable set pieces, although I liked the opening sequence, the scene near the end which visualizes well the concept of a literally 'h*** frozen over' room, and 'Hoax''s makeup, which is a little inventive, not quite the usual demonic makeup. Some of the sets are also impressively disgusting and seedy.

Some performances are acceptable, some of them inept, and the writing (future Oscar winner Brian Helgeland, who also had contributed to "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master" prior to this, was one of the credited writers here) has its share of flaws. The ending actually isn't that bad, but when all is said and done, the picture emerges as a little underwhelming.

At least it has a great little cameo for Robert Picardo. (Also worth noting is that Englund's wife at the time plays the diner waitress.) Not bad, but it could have been better.

5/10