976-EVIL (1988)

Director:

Robert Englund

Writers:

Brian Helgeland (writer)
Rhet Topham (writer)

Release Date:

22 March 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Now, horror has a brand new number.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Teenkill | Hand Cut Off | Fish | Disembodied Hand | Cat

Cast

Robert Picardo	...	Mark Dark
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
Darren E. Burrows	...	Jeff (as Darren Burrows)
Greg Collins	...	Mr. Selby
Joanna Keyes	...	Suzie's Mother
Gunther Jenson	...	Airhead (as Gunther Jensen)
J.J. Johnston	...	Virgil
John Slade	...	John Doe (as Jon Slade)
Demetre Phillips	...	Sergeant Bell
Don Bajema	...	Deputy
Wendy J. Cooke	...	Gang Girl (as Wendy Cooke)
Jim Thiebaud	...	Rags
Tom McFadden	...	Minister
Larry Turk	...	Operator #1
Cynthia Szigeti	...	Female Operator
Christopher Metas	...	Cashier
Roxanne Rogers	...	Waitress
Bert Hinchman	...	Coroner
Nay K. Dorsey	...	Paramedic #1 (as Nay Dorsey)
Jim Landis	...	Paramedic #2
Ed Corbett	...	Santa Claus
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Boutin	...	Wife (uncredited)
Nick Dongarra	...	Husband (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Englund

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Brian Helgeland		writer
Rhet Topham		writer

Produced by
Lisa M. Hansen	....	producer
Paul Hertzberg	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Thomas Chase
Steve Rucker

Cinematography by
Paul Elliott

Film Editing by
Stephen R. Myers

Production Design by
David Brian Miller

Set Decoration by
Nancy Booth

Makeup Department
Grant Arndt	....	special makeup effects assistant: Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.
Howard Berger	....	shop supervisor: Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.
Gino Crognale	....	special makeup effects assistant: Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.
Robert Kurtzman	....	on-set makeup applicator: Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.
Rick Lalonde	....	special makeup effects assistant: Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.
Larry Odien	....	special makeup effects assistant: Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.
Zandra Platzek	....	special makeup effects assistant: Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.
Christopher Swift	....	special makeup effects assistant: Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.
Kevin Yagher	....	make-up effects creator: Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.

Production Management
Rick Blumenthal	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Oswald	....	second assistant director
Jeff Shiffman	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Chris Buchinsky	....	storyboard artist
Michael A. Clark	....	construction coordinator
Robyn Jacobs	....	propmaker
Jim Landis	....	assistant property master
Lyndell Wolff	....	construction coordinator
Peter Flynn	....	propmaker (uncredited)

Sound Department
Patrick Bietz	....	sound editor
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Post	....	supervising sound editor
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cathy McKelvey	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Hal Miles	....	animatronic supervisor
James M. Navarra	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Tim Donahue	....	visual effects art director: Introvision
William Mesa	....	visual effects supervisor
Marcus Tate	....	visual effects cameraman

Stunts
Kenny Bates	....	stunts
Lynn Salvatori	....	stunt double
Jack West	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Buchinsky	....	still photographer
Kenny S. Christiansen	....	best boy electric
Doug Weinmann	....	electrician

Music Department
Kennard Ramsey	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Patrick Avedissian	....	production assistant
Michael Curtis	....	production assistant
Helen Pinkston	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Cinetel Films
• Horrorscope Productions

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1989) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Medusa Pictures (1993) (UK) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (1993) (UK) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (video)

Special Effects

• Introvision International
• Kevin Yagher Productions (make-up effects)

Also Known As:

Dial the Devil (USA) (working title)
Horrorscope (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Norway:18 (video premiere) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Cinetel Films

Trivia:

When Hoax casts the spell that makes spiders come out of Suzie's TV dinner, there's a box of snack cakes behind the TV dinner called "Devil Twins".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Hoax gets sick dissecting the frog he removes the surgical glove from his right hand. Then in the mirror in the bathroom it's back as he pulls out his hair, then when he's attacking the thug it's gone and then when he cuts off another thugs hand it's back.

Quotes:

Hoax: [possessed Hoax produces two ripped-out hearts] Would it be...possible...to open with a pair of hearts?

Movie Connections:

References The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Soundtrack:

The Only Thing I Really Need

A teenage outcast exacts a creepy and gory revenge after dialing a satanic phone service that grants its callers supernatural powers.

Much better than you may have heard, though it requires a great deal of patience. The first half is pretty slow, but not completely without merit because it showcases the comedic talents of the gifted Sandy Dennis who is a riot as the taunted teen's overprotective, religious fanatic mother. Dennis takes the Piper Laurie role in CARRIE even further, but this time plays the role for laughs, and she's absolutely magnificent every minute she's on the screen. She comes across in this film as an even more out-of-control Shelley Winters(another great actress). The second half however is what viewers will most likely remember about the film because it features some very wacky and crudely effective special effects. The FX are pretty good too for such a low-budget effort and all. Besides Dennis, the top acting honors go to Stephen Geoffreys who is just about perfect as the terrorized teen who turns the tables on his tormentors. Generally speaking, audiences and critics alike have been much too harsh on this nifty little flick. Actor Robert Englund, who had played nightmare-invading/teen throat-slashing Freddy Krueger in the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET movies for several years, was a perfect choice to direct this scary/funny movie. I don't care what anyone says, good job Robert!!!!! Yes, CARRIE is a masterpiece of horror, but if you wan't to see a more humerous take on the same theme, then 976-EVIL is the way to go.