976-EVIL (1988)

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

Director:

Robert Englund

Writers:

Brian Helgeland, Rhet Topham

Stars:

Stephen Geoffreys, Patrick O'Bryan, Sandy Dennis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen Geoffreys	...	Hoax
Patrick O'Bryan	...	Spike
Sandy Dennis	...	Aunt Lucy
Jim Metzler	...	Marty
María Rubell	...	Angela (as Maria Rubell)
Lezlie Deane	...	Suzie
J.J. Cohen	...	Marcus
Paul Willson	...	Mr. Michaels
Greg Collins	...	Mr. Selby
Darren E. Burrows	...	Jeff (as Darren Burrows)
Joanna Keyes	...	Suzie's Mother
Gunther Jenson	...	Airhead (as Gunther Jensen)
J.J. Johnston	...	Virgil
John Currie Slade	...	John Doe (as Jon Slade)
Demetre Phillips	...	Sergeant Bell

Storyline

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

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Plot Keywords:

woman on top | religious parent | cigerette | smoking | female frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

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.

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dial the Devil

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$2,955,917

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinetel Films, Horrorscope Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 105 min (extended VHS cut)

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Directorial debut of Robert Englund.

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Goofs

In the opening scene, you can see that the phone in the distance (as well as some of the pre-electrocution shots) is a rotary type phone. However during the electrocution shots, the phone is now a touch tone phone.

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Quotes

Hoax: [crawling on the floor of the gym locker room] You think you're cool, because you're bigger, because you're stronger than me.
Hoax: [Spike spits on him] Oh... Come on, come on! Hit me! Just you wait. It's gonna' be different from now on. Someday soon, you're gonna' be down here, and I'm gonna' spit on you.
Spike: When hell freezes over, asshole.
Spike: [picks him up menacingly, then just pushes him away] Little shit! Get out of here!

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Crazy Credits

Mindy Seeger is credited in opening credits but not in the final cast.

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Alternate Versions

The TV version seems to have quite a bit of footage that the video version does not. There are scenes where extra dialogue is used to replace a couple of lines in the same scenes. These extra scenes were probably cut in the video and theatrical releases because some are inept and acted very poorly.

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Connections

References The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

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Soundtracks

I'm a Wild One
Written by Stephen C. Marston, Jill H. Roberts, Thomas Chase, and Steve Rucker

User Reviews

Hey! Wait a minute!

So, maybe this movie isn't up for an acdemy award, but look at what people are saying. Just because Freddy Krueger directed it, people think it's going to be another "Elm Street" venture? Personally, when I first saw this movie I didn't like it. I thought it was poorly acted, and rather stupid. But then I looked INTO the movie and I saw that it had a message. Yes, a message! I can identify with Hoax, no, not because of the atmosphere at home or because of a cousin that saves the day. In high school every day, I've faced toilet dunking and another horrible things that cruel people have done to me. I know exactly how Hoax felt. And I understood exactly what went on. If you're looking at it from a different point of view, then this movie isn't for you in the first place. But for anyone who has had to deal with cruel jocks and for anyone who has always been ridiculed by girls and others, this movie is for you. Just don't expect it to be another "Elm Street" installment!