976-Evil (1989)

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

976-EVIL is a 1988 horror film directed by Robert Englund.  The film's title refers to the 976 telephone exchange, a now mostly defunct premium-rate telephone number system that was popular in the late 1980s.

This is a cheesy little horror film from the 80's directed by Freddy Kruger himself.  I enjoy watching these movies from the 80's.  It takes me back to my youth with those hair styles and the way the characters talk and act.  But I find the film to be pretty average.

The story centres around cousins Spike (Patrick O'Bryan) and Hoax (Stephen Geoffreys).  Geoffreys was Evil Ed in the film Fright Night and it's impossible to watch him on screen and not think about that.  Anyway, Spike loses his motorcycle in a game of poker and calls a horrorscope line, 976-Evil. He follows the advice on the line and gets enough money so he doesn't have to give up his bike.  Eventually his cousin Hoax finds the number himself and gives it a call.  Personally I would have wiped my ass with the card and tossed it straight into the trash.  Hoax keeps calling the line and it has him performing Santanic rituals, getting possessed by the devil and taking revenge on everyone that picks on him. 

Once you've been to hell, everything else pales in comparison!

976-Evil was a decent time waster & a pretty watchable horror film. The script by Brian Helgeland & Rhet Topham moves along at a fair pace although it does drag in a couple of place.  Englund does a pretty good job as director although he does throw in some cheesy Freddy Kruger type one liners throughout the film.   The special effects are fine, the cinematography & lighting is cool & it's well made throughout. The acting is also pretty good, except the terrible Sandy Dennis & her almost as terrible hair-dos.  They could have chilled with all the smoking.  I've never seen so many smokers in one film.  If the demon didn't kill them they'd have lung cancer within the year.

Yes, there are plot holes galore but Geoffreys performance as a wigged out psychobitch geek who ain't gonna take it anymore is kickass. There's not too much gore though there were some quite cool special effects and make-up, but don't expect a masterpiece.

When Spike dialed 976-EVIL, he knew it was an expensive toll call, but he didn't know that he'd have to pay for it with his soul.

976-Evil is very unique, very original and just pretty fun to watch.  It's a cheese-packed time waster that serves as fine entertainment for those who enjoy these kinds of films. Just understand it for what it is before picking it up and viewing.   It did spawn a sequel, which I haven't had a chance to see yet, however I understand that Spike returns in the second movie.

One Number for Hell!

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".

Directorial debut of Robert Englund. 

J.J. Cohen lost about thirty pounds for his role as Marcus.

Spike's usual (favorite food) at the diner is 'Deviled Egg'.

You can see a club sign near the beginning of the film that says 'Diablo'.

Marcus was originally supposed to be killed by being thrown off the roof of a building by Hoax. However, this had to be changed to Marcus getting killed in the bathroom by Hoax instead because of the low budget.

Would it be...possible...to open with a pair of hearts?