According to hysteria-fostering, out of touch parent groups like the PMRC, alienated teens in the 80s looking to contact dark forces did so through their turntables, playing heavy metal LPs backwards in order to unlock Satans latest dispatches. But in 1981s Evilspeak, the word from Hell wasnt found on any vinyl platter it instead manifested itself in cutting edge fashion through the circuit boards of a computer.
When put-upon military cadet Stanley Coopersmith (Clint Howard) is assigned as punishment the task of cleaning out the basement of the schools chapel he comes across the subterranean crypt of Father Esteban (Night Courts Richard Moll), a 16th Century Satanist. Among the many arcane items Coopersmith finds in this musty crypt he takes as his prize Estebans diary, adorned with a jeweled pentagram on the cover. Soon, the bullied Coopersmith is using one of the schools computers to translate Estebans writings and (for reasons never elaborated on) the computer becomes hardwired to raise hell with each new brimstone byte.
Eager to learn more about the dark arts and not satisfied with vying for computer time with the other students, Coopersmith spirits the computer away into Estebans crypt and, with the assist of an extension cord, gets to work on conducting his own cyber-enhanced Black Mass.
The role of Coopersmith was the first adult role for Howard, who by that time already had a substantial career behind him as a child actor. Although Howard would always continue to be busy as an actor in years to come (often in big brother Ron Howards films), Evilspeak remains one of the rare occasions in which he was given a chance to be the lead. Howard is essentially playing a male version of Carrie White here a social outcast who taps into the power to strike back. Coopersmith was orphaned after his parents were killed in an auto accident and while we dont know what his life was like before his parents were killed, we do know that his current social skills are inadequate (in his interactions with his schoolmates and faculty, he wears an almost permanently pained expression). He also isnt much of an athlete, and his consistently dismal performance on the soccer field is just one more reason for him to be a perennial target for abuse.
Even though Coopersmith has one defender in the form of fellow cadet Kowalski (Haywood Nelson, from the 70s sitcom Whats Happening!!), it isnt enough to shield him from violent bullying by the schools nastiest cadets, a group of creeps led by the hateful Bubba (Don Stark, who went on to play Bob Pinciotti, father to Laura Prepons Donna, on That 70s Show). Making life even harder for Coopersmith is the fact that the schools soccer coach (Claude Earl Jones who, also in 1981, appeared in the TV horror classic The Dark Night of Scarecrow) privately encourages Bubbas campaign of abuse, hoping that itll finally force Coopersmith to sit out a game. Given everything thats going against Coopersmith hes orphaned, bullied, and (even at a young age) balding its not hard to understand why hed resort to demonic means to turn the tide for himself.
While Coopersmith could have translated Estebans writings via old-fashioned library research, by having his journey to the dark side facilitated by a computer, it gives Evilspeak a rad early 80s vibe. Computers (then still a novelty to the average person) hadnt become a popular element in 80s cinema yet with films like Tron (1982), War Games (1983), and Superman III (1983) all yet to come so EvilSpeak was ahead of the curve with Coopersmith representing one of the earliest cinematic computer nerds of the 80s (I think Keith Gordons Dressed to Kill character might be the first). In true nerd fashion, Coopersmith excitedly tells one of his teachers how hes using a computer to check the configurations on the model catapult that hes building as a class assignment so itll be really accurate!).
Rudimentary computer graphics abound in Evilspeak as blood red pentagrams and the unholy, digitally augmented image of Esteban flash onto the screen with some of the trippier graphics recalling the Star Gate sequence from 1968s 2001: A Space Odyssey. And, for reasons unknown, pigs (yes, pigs) also figure into the action. Usually in movies dealing with satanic forces, if theres animals involved youre primarily talking about fierce hellhounds. Maybe the occasional raven. But Evilspeak has some outside the box thinking going on so that means youve got pigs randomly charging in out of nowhere to dine on victims.
Despite having so many elements that should earmark it as a bona fide cult classic, Evilspeak remains more of a fondly remembered oddity. When you hear that theres a movie from the early 80s thats a Carrie-esque tale of a tormented nerd that stars Clint Howard channeling the ancient evil power of Richard Moll through a computer and that theres satanic swine involved its a natural assumption that this must be the best movie youve never seen.
However, because the bulk of Evilspeak is so focused on Coopersmiths repeated humiliations, Evilspeak plays out as a mostly joyless exploitation film. At least in Carrie, De Palma found a way to portray Carries tormentors as charismatic and often amusing figures despite of their rotten natures but Bubba and his crew are simply loathsome, making for an irritating, sometimes infuriating wait for Evilspeaks climax. Once the climax does arrive and the full force of Coopersmiths vengeance is unleashed it does prove to be a memorably gory exercise as Coopersmith levitates through the schools chapel, brandishing a sword to smite his enemies. Heads are sliced and lopped off with gusto and anyone who escapes the steel of Coopersmiths sword still has a rampaging pack of carnivorous pigs to contend with. In comparison, Id say the kids and faculty of Bates High School got off easy. Once man-eating pigs get involved, its on another level.
Knowing what we know now of the rise of the computer age, Coopersmith shouldve taken the long view and not gone for short-term retribution. Sure, harnessing satanic powers made for a spectacular show and he really gave everyone what they had coming to them. But Coopersmith wouldve been better of turning his affinity for computers into a big time career. I mean, imagine where War Games David Lightman is now compared to Stanley Coopersmith.
Its great to sic pigs on your enemies but success is really the best revenge.
