976-Evil (1989)
-
0% of critics liked it
(10 reviews) -
30% of users liked it
(9,110 ratings)
This underrated teen-revenge horror film starring Stephen Geoffreys (Fright Night) was the directorial debut of Robert Englund, best known as Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. Geoffreys plays Hoax, a picked-on nerd who lives with his religious-nut mother Lucy (the marvelous Sandy… More This underrated teen-revenge horror film starring Stephen Geoffreys (Fright Night) was the directorial debut of Robert Englund, best known as Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. Geoffreys plays Hoax, a picked-on nerd who lives with his religious-nut mother Lucy (the marvelous Sandy Dennis). One day Hoax calls a 976-line for a "Horrorscope," and the demonic voice at the other end starts giving him wicked advice. Before long, he has killed his brother's girlfriend with tarantulas, slashed the face of a teen tough with his newly-sprouted talons, and gutted several of his tormentors. Only a well-meaning journalist and a sexy schoolmarm can stop the now-demonic Hoax before he sends the whole neighborhood straight to Hell. Granted, the screenplay is rather confused and slow-moving, but Geoffreys and Dennis are great, the effects work by Kevin Yagher is skillful, and this is one of the few teen-horror films with characters that are actually interesting. Look for Robert Picardo (The Howling) in a fun cameo as the diabolical Mark Darke. After a brief stint as a teen star, Geoffreys went on to appear in gay porn films as "Sam Ritter." ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Englund
- Written By
- Rhet Topham, Brian Helgeland
- Genres
- Horror
- In Theaters
- Mar 22, 1989 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
-
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a hopelessly obnoxious piece of work...
-
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Englund's attempt at directing fails miserably.
-
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
É um alívio saber que Englund desistiu da carreira de diretor depois desta sua estréia pavorosa.
-
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
There are worse horror flicks, but that doesn't make this worth watching.
-
Clint Morris, Moviehole
An unsual combination of "Revenge of the Nerds" meets "The Lawnmower Man"
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Stephen Geoffreys
as Hoax
-
Jim Metzler
as Marty Palmer
-
Patrick O'Bryan
as Spike
-
Maria Rubell
as Angella Martinez
-
Sandy Dennis
as Aunt Lucy
-
Jim Thiebaud
as Rags
-
Gunther Jensen
as Airhead
-
Darren E. Burrows
as Jeff
-
Robert Picardo
as Mark Dark
- René Assa
-
Don Bajema
as Deputy
-
J.J. Cohen
as Marcus
-
Greg Collins
as Mr. Selby
-
Wendy J. Cooke
as Gang Girl
-
Ed Corbett
as Santa Claus
-
Lezlie Deane
as Suzie
-
J.J. Johnston
as Virgil
-
Tom McFadden
as Minister
-
Roxanne Rogers
as Waitress
-
Cynthia Szigeti
as Female Operator
-
Bert Hinchman
as Coroner
-
Joanna Keyes
as Suzie's Mother
-
Christopher Metas
as Cashier
-
Demetre Phillips
as Sgt. Bell
-
Joe Slade
as John Doe
-
Paul Willson
as Mr. Michaels
-
Jim Landis
as Paramedic #2
