Review of 976-EVIL (1988) by Andy F — 14 Oct 2014

With the popularity of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films at an all-time high, it seemed only natural that Robert Englund would try his hand at directing. Unfortunately, his first effort "976-Evil" is a huge disappointment trying to cash in on the long-defunct premium phone services that were all the rage in the late 1980's.

It's basically a pale imitation of Stephen King's "Carrie" and dozens of other similar films, with a bullied Stephen Geoffreys seeking revenge on his tormentors. The picture is light on horror for the first hour but heavy on "Elm Street"-like visuals which shouldn't surprise anyone considering who the director is. The problem, or at least one of them, is that Englund doesn't make much use of his single best asset, which is Geoffreys himself.

The actor is naturally likable, especially playing these lovable nerds, but the screenplay insists on putting more of the focus on his vastly uninteresting cousin, played by Patrick O'Brien. The plot is also quite confused and vague, having something to do with a Satanic phone line and committing murder through Satan's guidance, but none of that is really made very clear.

Still, it is the lackluster pacing that kills any chance that "976-Evil" had at being a successful film. Englund has a nice eye for detail, but his film is quite dull and forgettable where the horror elements are crammed into the final half hour. There's very little original or worth watching here.