Review of Evilspeak (1981) by Private U — 15 Jul 2007

Stanley Coopersmith (Howard) is a young man with a lot on his plate. Not only has he have to overcome the tragic loss of his parents but he finds himself on the receiving end of daily humilation dished out by the teaching staff and fellow students at the military school he attends. Naturally angry at this injustice and desperate for revenge, Stanley decides to unleash the powers of evil (with the aid of his computer skills) after discovery a book written by a 16th Century monk banished by the Spanish Inquisition.

Whilst not the most original plotline committed to celluloid (think CARRIE but goofier and without the periods), Evilspeak is an enjoyable romp nonethless and this is due in no small part to the presence of B-movie legend Clint Howard. The film takes its time building up the audience's sympathy for his geeky character and rewards your patience with an unforgettable sword weilding, blood splattering ending. Sure the whole Satanic monk exacting revenge through a computer aspect is not the most convincing of ideas, but when you have got a possessed nerd gravitating through the air with an army of killer pigs who cares?

As for everything else, well it is pretty basic stuff with the supporting cast being rather non-descript and the special effects visibly low budget. The scare factor is relatively low but the action is solidly directed by Eric Weston.

Obviously blood spurting dummies were deemed too hardcore by the BBFC in the 80s, has the film was banned during the infamous "Video Nasty" period. Gorehounds looking for something spectacular maybe a little disappointed ( compared to modern films like Saw and Hostel, Evilspeak is positively quaint) but this is certainly worth a rent.