Review of Don't Answer the Phone! (1980) by Carl N — 08 Nov 2010

This film is without doubt pure exploitation. A deeply disturbed photographer and Vietnam veteran terrorizes and kills young women while taunting a female psychologist, by calling her on a radio call-in show.

I know I shouldn't have really enjoyed this sleazy film so much but it's just so entertaining. Despite some rather graphic misogynistic violence there are genuine moments of humour. The two lead detectives play most their scenes for laughs, a bust on a brothel had me thinking the film had changed into a slapstick comedy.

We are treated to some cheesy montages complete with a soundtrack ripped right from a 70?s porno. And acting and dialogue that borderlines on the absurd. Nicholas Worth's performance as the troubled killer is totally over the top.

Some of the scenes of him talking into a mirror or to his "father" are creepy and hilarious at the same time. But for some reason this just adds to the appeal of the film. Apart from some moments of raciest dialogue, that dates the film a little and a somewhat lacklustre ending.

I enjoyed every sordid minute. This is exploitation at its best.