Hoax is a socially awkward teenager. His overbearing mother makes his already strained social interactions even more challenging. Hoax begins calling a horror-scope line for kicks and what seems like good advice. This is bad news for Hoax but good news for Satan.
Ive never been a big fan of 976-Evil. Its the kind of movie I will put on when theres nothing on TV and Im sick of every other movie in my film library. I dont hate it. I just really dont care too much for it. The premise is good. If executed with greater prowess, I think it could have been great. I am always disappointed that this was directed by Robert Englund. I think that with a good script and talented cast, he could shine as a director. Unfortunately, Englund didnt have the perfect storm with 976-Evil. The finished product is really just sort of okay. Its almost tolerable when Im in the mood for something that doesnt completely suck.
Every time I watch 976-Evil, I spend the first 45 minutes feeling sorry for the Stephen Geoffries character and the last 45 minutes feeling sorry for his victims. His revenge comes off as too mean-spirited to allow the viewer to really enjoy it. Movies like I Spit on Your Grave or The Last House on the Left have their lead characters going through such shocking and profound torment or tragic loss that you cannot help but cheer for the lead characters as they exact their revenge. 976-Evil has Hoax going through some run of-the-mill bullying and all of a sudden hes ripping out the heart of the school bully. Its unnatural to cheer for that. His victory is hollow and without purpose.
The characters are impossible to warm up to. They arent relatable to the average person. They are caricatures of less than likeable stereotypes. Sandy Dennis performance is the worst in the film. Its far too over the top. Dennis portrayal of Hoaxs mother is obnoxious. While it tries to be campy and satirical of the right wing zealot, it ends up being obnoxious and serves as an unnecessary distraction from the films otherwise somewhat dark tone. Stephen Geoffries is almost as bad, as Hoax. He fails to come out of the shadow of his iconic turn as Evil Ed in Fright Night. Hoax is too similar to Evil for the character to stand on its own but too awkward and repulsive for anyone to warm up to. Patrick OBryan, as Spike, was the most likeable of the bunch, but like the rest of the cast, his character lacks any depth and gives us no real reason to care if he lives or dies.
Almost all of the dialogue is bad. The one line in the script that I always enjoy is Hoax referring to his cousins girlfriend as a “dirty jezebel whore.” Aside from that, the rest of the script is pretty poor.
The effects are ridiculous looking. After Hoax is taken over by evil, he starts to look like a geriatric pervert. As he continues to spiral downward, Hoax begins to look more and more like a ninety year old balding man who hasnt clipped his fingernails in a decade. Theres nothing threatening about his appearance. When Hoax gets overtaken by evil, his whole body flashes blue. It looks like something out of the music video for “Take on Me.”
The film is full of continuity issues. For example, Hoax is in the biology lab, dissecting a frog, and takes his glove off. Later on, his glove is back on, with no explanation.
The ending is anything but satisfying. After investing 90-minute of my time, I dont want to feel like Ive wasted it. Unfortunately, thats precisely how I feel every time the credits roll on 976-Evil.
I suppose 976-Evil is worth a look for the die hard 80s horror fan. Its one of those movies that Ive watched quite a few times, but I have never considered it a good movie. I just watch it because its there. If I never watched it again, I dont know that there would be any great loss. But, I will inevitably find myself bored, without anything on television, and putting it in to pass 90 minutes. If you havent seen it and you find that theres nothing on TV and youre tired of all the movies in your library, check it out. But, dont say I didnt warn you.
