Michael_Elliott 976-EVIL (1988) * 1/2 (out of 4) Hoax (Stephen Geoffreys) is a teen who is constantly being picked on. His older, cooler cousin Spike (Patrick O'Bryan) has gotten involved with a phone number, which is actually a connection to Satantic forces. After being picked on one time too many, Hoax calls the number and soon seeks revenge on those who have tormented him.976-EVIL is best remembered for being directed by Robert Englund but I must say that I really didn't find too much of it to be impressive. There have been all sorts of horror films based around teens being picked on and of course there's the "fun" of seeing them get their revenge. Sadly, there's really nothing fun about this movie and in fact I was pretty shocked at how boring it actually was.The biggest issue with this film is that you have to be patient with it. I was quite patient with it as not much happened for the first twenty-minutes. Then thirty-minutes. And then forty-minutes. Then fifty-minutes. Nothing really happened for more than 50% of the running time and we all eventually run out of patience. I was really shocked because there's not really anything that happens in the movie and once things finally start to pick up its too late as you've already checked out.The direction by Englund has a few clever touches including one sequence in a bathroom that has the camera above the toilets looking down. The performances are actually good with Geoffreys turning in fine work with a somewhat forgettable character. Sandy Dennis steals the film in a more comic bit as Hoax's crazy mother who is a bigger religious nut than Carrie White's mother! 976-EVIL is a pretty boring film that really doesn't have too much going for it. Even the death scenes are rather lame and as far as 80's horror films go, this one here is pretty forgettable.

Mr_Censored Nerdy kid in town (Stephen Geoffrey of "Fright Night") gets revenge on everyone who ever wronged him when he hooks up with Satan, via horror hot-line "976-EVIL." Directed by Robert Englund of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" fame, the film is obviously very low budget but not completely without charm. As an actor turned director, Englund obviously cares about his characters first and foremost, and in turn, his film gives them ample time to breathe. Also, the man obviously paid attention during his tenure as Freddy, as his film takes many visual cues from the "Elm Street" series and tries its best to rise above its meager budget. There's also an underlying sense of humor (again, a byproduct of being Krueger) that helps make the whole easier to swallow.A shame, though, that aside from some decent characters and solid cinematography from Paul Elliott which attempts to establish a foreboding mood, the film barely has enough juice to reach its lame conclusion. While the first half sets our characters up nicely, the second more or less tears down any progress made by dispatching of decent characters too quickly and wrapping things up in what feels like a very rushed and hap-hazard sort of way. The film's main weakness is in its script which stretches its premise far too thin and requires its audience to fill in the blanks a few too many times. Also, the gore and make-up effects from the usually consistent Kevin Yagher are surprisingly substandard and, at times, laughable. What should be an undeniably enjoyable 80's cheese-fest is instead a frustrating and uneven dud that could have and should have been much more. Stephen Geoffrey aside, horror fans will recognize Lezlie Deane from "Freddy's Dead" – another actor whose career went absolutely nowhere in the following decade.

oprlvr33 So this was the legendary Robert Englund's big directorial debut??? Hey, I LOVED him as iconic Freddy Kreuger, but as Director? I hope this was his only project.How some Reviewers could rate this even remotely above a 3-point is beyond me. Only due that Geoffreys plays the title role is the reason I sat through it all (should I have stated 'Suffered'?) waiting for it to improve. It didn't. The acting is terrible, the entire plot; below B-film quality, the action was lame and very slow (if you can describe it as such) and God-awful. Englund appears to give his characters absolutely nothing to work with; no depth whatsoever. And he portrayed Freddy Kreuger?! One would assume he'd have utilized his iconic expertise into this genre and produced a horror film even Krueger would have been proud.The poker scenes, especially near the end where the biker chick has a moment with Spike...I sure thought this was a HORROR FILM - because THAT was romance scene. So just where WAS the "horror"? Not ONE SCENE is remotely "scary". The entire special effects were special, and well beyond cheesy; poorly executed would be a better term. Either the producer was high that time or the graphics dept. was on break, recruiting a C-student apprentice.As said, Geoffreys plays the lead; but that's par the course. The character directions were weaker than last weeks coffee. The film altogether: Insufferable.We sat dumbfounded through most of this train-wreck. And here it apparently was an over-rated horror movie??? That film reviewer must have been on Quaalude's or something.Thank heavens Geoffreys and J.J. Cohen did other very excellent acting work.

Arlis Fuson Great little 80's horror, very unique, very original and just simply fun to watch. Great cast full of 80' and 90's legends and Robert Englunds directorial debut.When a nerdy kid calls a psychic hot line ran by the devil (or something - you decide) he is possessed and all his wishes come true and he takes on all of the people who bully him and cause his life to be a miserable one. His cousin finally steps in and realizes that he must destroy this possessed kid.Not a bad film, I was disappointed to see a mistake within the first two minutes. When a detective is blown up in a phone booth and his body flies back the rope is very visible. So major obvious flaws always make me knock points off, not that I am literally taking points.The production was decent and I thought this was one of those 80's horrors that stand up and competes really well with all thats out there. It's about a number you call on a "horrorscope". The number will give you anything you want, but gets mad if you don't use its gifts and let the evil take you over.Stephen Geoffreys did an amazing job acting here, hes one of my faves from the 80's. His dorky laugh and cool charm, what's not to like. He reminds me so much of Jack Nicholsan. Here he is the main guy possessed and he goes from nerd to quick witted, one liners via Satan so fast. He's truly one of the best actors in the 80's "teen" scene, yet he was way older I am sure. With movies like The Gate and Fright Night you cant go wrong with him. Patrick O'Bryan made his acting debut and will return in the movies sequel as well, but he didn't do much more in this biz. A lot of great acting here with stars from many of my old faves. Sandy Dennis (Parents, God Told Me To), Leslie Dean (Freddy's Dead), JJ Cohen (Back to the Future trilogy), Darren Burrows (Cry Baby) and Robert Picardo (Burbs, Munchies, Innerspace).Brian Helgeland and Rhet Topham did some pretty good writing here, they wrote some cool movies from that era and this is one of the best. I especially loved how evil it gets for a while. Geoffreys got evil and they showed him as a sex object as he does a séance in the middle of a pentagram and then the part with the spiders in the TV dinner was creepy... Good little film 6 out of 10 stars.