Review of Don't Answer the Phone! (1980) by David. B — 08 Jan 2008
This is somewhat sleazy. Not in the way the usual slasher film is where high school/college students get massacred in the woods or where naked chicks with large breasts are stalked and killed, but in the way where I felt like washing myself afterwards.
It's not at all gory nor does it contain deep dialogue, but it's just creepy to think there are actually people like this out there. It should have contained deeper dialogue due to a psychologist being the leading lady, but not every one is one, including the scritwirter/director Robert Hammer.
The killer here is almost bald, large in size and does not wear a mask. He is a photographer and picks up the females he eventually strangles to death like most people do to score a root. He is your typical sociopath serial killer.
The film Peeping Tom came to mind during various scenes, but PT is not as disturbing as this film and fairly different despite the photography aspect. The killer here uses his profession as a Photographer to lure and attract beautiful women and it is there where the real sleaziness exists.
The sets are dark and have a urban feel to them and it doesn't take long for the stranglers victims to realize something is not right. This film although released around the time of the Halloween and Friday The 13th hysteria of the early 80's does not follow in those footsteps.
Don't go expecting that kind of slasher flick with this. DATP has the slight feel of a serial killer film from the 60's, but is firmly rooted as a slasher flick. The acting here is fairly good for a film made on a small budget especially the performance from the talk show psychologist Flo Gerrish.
James Westmoreland was good too, but not as convincing in the role of a serial killer as say Michael Rooker was from Henry: Portrait of A Serial Killer or even Florian Koerner von Gustorf from Schramm.
It would be nice to see this get a dedicated region 4 dvd release with a bunch of special features since the only copy I found easily accessible was an all region release with a cheap transfer. Fans of the sleazy serial killer films from the 70's should like this.
This review of Don't Answer the Phone! (1980) was written by David. B on 08 Jan 2008.
Don't Answer the Phone! has generally received negative reviews.
Was this review helpful?
