976 EVIL

US, 1988, 94 minutes, Colour.
Patrick O' Bryan, Sandy Dennis, Stephen Geoffreys, Jim Metzler.
Directed by Robert Englund.

976 Evil is yet another variation on the horror theme of the power of evil possessing a young man and his wreaking vengeance on family and those who persecuted him. The film is one of obnoxious people doing fairly obnoxious things. It was directed by actor Robert Englund, better known as Freddie Kruger in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. The film is full of special effects, especially in the finale when the hero is possessed by the evil and the house turns into a house of hell. The film has a reasonably strong cast with Steven Geoffreys (fraternity vacation style comedies as well as Fright Night) as the unprepossessing student who succumbs to the power of evil. Sandy Dennis does a kind of Baby Jane role as his mother. The plot owes a great deal to Carrie.

1. The popularity of this kind of youth horror in the '80s? Evil possession? Wreaking of vengeance?

2. The small town locations, school, homes, streets and cafes, the theatre? The special effects, make up, violence? Musical score?

3. The title, the focus on the phone, the phone system and the tapes, the Master of Darkness? The technology of today blending with perennial horror?

4. The focus on Hoax, the dominance of his mother, her religious background? At school, being persecuted by the others? His friendship with his cousin and sending him messages? Spying on him? Sex preoccupation? Wanting to go on the motor bike? Awkward and gawky? At school? The irony of ringing the number? The hearing of his fortune? Watching Susan, taking the pants, going out with her? The attack by the others? His being taken possession of? The murder of Susan with the spiders? The violence against his mother after she took the phone? Wreaking violence on the members of the gang, the ugliness of the violence? Confrontation with Marty and Angela, with Spike? Turning the house into a hell? His death? The Master of Darkness putting his photo in the file?

5. Spike as hero, slovenly, about town, playing cards, casual with Susan? Sexual relationship? With the boys playing poker? Their sexy cards? Relationship with Hoax, friendly with him? With his mother? The experience of Susan's death, violence, the final confrontation with Hoax, trying to persuade him about the bike trip, throwing him into hell?

6. Susan, relationship with Spike, friendly with Hoax, going home, cooking the meal, the spiders and her death?

7. The members of the card-playing group, their crudity, attitudes towards Hoax? The violence of his clawing them like Freddie Kruger? The severed hand? The violent killings?

8. Marty and the investigation of Aunt Lucy, the fish falling from the sky, Armageddon, the religious background, the police, questions? Angela as teacher? Their involved in the horror house? Saved?

9. Aunt Lucy and her religious mania, slovenly, bossing her son about? The religious icons? The paraphernalia? The fish falling from the sky? Her severity with her son? Her death? The cats?

10. The blend of telephones, the weedy young man trying to get revenge? The religious motives? The special effects and youth horror?