976-Evil - Blu-ray Review

[Michael Scott]

976-Evil

Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score: ​

​

Movie
Yup, it’s that time of year again. It’s not TECHNICALLY October yet, but yes, we’re in horror month! My favorite time of the year as we get all the goody scare fests of the summer as well as (hopefully) a handful of good catalog titles to tide us over until next year. I make NO bones about being an 80s horror fanatic, and I was literally FLOORED when I saw that Sony was coming out with this Blu-ray of Robert Englund’s (Freddy himself) 976-Evil. Not just because it’s a niche horror flick from the 80s, but because SONY, of all studios, was releasing it. For the last several years Sony has been content to let most of it’s catalog library lie dormant or get licensed out to Image entertainment or Twilight Time. The only time we get a blast from the past from Sony themselves seem to be with giant titles like Ghostbusters, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the like. For little known horror titles to make it out on a nice Blu-ray complete with the “Made for TV” edit included is something I never would have guessed they would have released in a 1000 years.

976-Evil is one of those retro movies that just OOOZES 80s charm. We’ve got the dial tone phone (complete with a dial tone that most people in today’s generation wouldn’t even recognize), as well as a slow burn buildup that culminates in a bloody third act. The film revolves around two cousins, Hoax (Stephen Jeffreys, best known for playing the best friend turned vampire in Fright Night) and Spike (Patrick O’Bryan). Hoax lives under the thumb of his controlling mother Lucy (Sandy Dennis), a holy roller Pentecostal type nutter who speaks in Bible versus while talking about taking a strap to her child. Spike is living with them after his parents death, but is the wild child of the pair. He rides a Harley, he drinks, he has sex, and gambles way too much. When Spike gets a hold of a little advertisement for a “horrorscope” he randomly calls in only to find out that his “horrorscope” actually comes true. Each time he calls in the horrorscope becomes more and more devilish, and soon the devil may care kind (yes, pun intended) gives it up.

Unfortunately, Hoax is a little more susceptible to the charms and promises of the voice on the other end of the line, for when he decides to call in, the frustrated youth goes ALL the way in. Being picked on by the school bullies, and being under the thumb of his domineering mother gives him all the incentive he needs to accept the ever increasing commands of the hellish phone service, until soon all that is left is a monster willing to do Satan’s bidding. Even his teacher and a private investigator can’t get their soon enough to stop Hoax from submitting to the dark side and going on a hellish murder rampage that explodes in the film’s 3rd act.

976-Evil is NOT a cult classic, but it is a fairly entertaining horror movie nonetheless. It uses a slow burn style of storytelling, allowing us to watch the two young boys and their differences. It’s interesting to note that Spike and Hoax are polar opposites at the beginning of the film. Hoax is straight laced and very meek, while Spike is willing to get into all types of mischief without blinking an eye. As the evil phone calls begin to probe deeper you get to see that what lies underneath each boy’s exterior is not what you would expect. Spike is essentially a good boy rebelling, and soon his kinder interior comes out as he’s pushed past his limits. However, Hoax is oppressed and frustrated, so his inner anger boils to the surface and allows him to turn into the ACTUAL monster that is under the veneer that is his everyday life.

You don’t go rooting for Hoax, but you do kind of understand where he’s coming from, as you watch him get beaten up in the locker room, or humiliated out in the school everyday. But when his final change from just grumbling teenager to pure evil happens, it’s a shocking bloodbath that actually pushed some boundaries for back in the 80s (although they did still shy away from animal cruelty and female deaths on screen if you notice).

Patrick O’Bryan was in a couple of films back in 80s, but then fizzled out after the sequel (yes, this actually had a sequel back in 1991), while Stephen has actually starred in quite a lot of B-grade horror and low budget films ever since the 80s. Both work well together, although Hoax is played much like Evil Ed from Fright Night, which feels oddly out of place here. But one of the best parts goes to Robert Picardo, who plays the owner of the 976 number in an under appreciated little performance




Rating:

Rated R by the MPAA




Video:

976-Evil doesn’t look to have been really restored in any major way, as the dirty old film looks a bit faded and with a few speckles here and there. The overall quality of the print is rather nice, with minimal grain and not a whole lot of print damage. The colors appear a bit faded, with a slightly washed out look to the picture, but primaries pop reasonably well and the detail has never been better. I used to never notice the rubber hands Hoax uses in his demon form, bu the Blu-ray shows off all sorts of details that I never saw before. The prosthetics, the little bits of dirt from when he takes a dive on his bike, and the rough look of the pavement when Spike leans down to pick change off the street before almost getting run over. Blacks are decent, but again, a bit washed out. A solid image, with a few flaws that are inherent to old 80s films and films that aren’t completely remastered.





Audio:

Sony has really gone all out on the audio. At least in terms of options. Instead of doing the typical “main audio track in lossless, the rest in lossy), Sony has given us a 5.1 and 2.0 stereo track in English DTS-HD MA, and also a German, Spanish and French Mono track in lossless Mono DTS-HD MA as well, so whichever track you choose they’ve got you covered with lossless audio. The 5.1 mix is fairly dynamic considering the age and budget of the film, and I have no major complaints. Dialog is well placed, and even though it sometimes gets a teensy bit muffled and has a few crackles to it, is moderately active and bombastic at times. The LFE adds punch in the final act, or to accentuate the deep throb of a Harley motor, and the surrounds get a moderate amount of activity. It’s a simple 80s track and everything is done well, but nothing ever EXCEPTIONAL due to the low budget and condition of the source material.








Extras:

• Commentary with Director Robert Englund and Set Decorator Nancy Booth Englund
• Alternate home video version of the film with 12 extra minutes of footage

Final Score: ​

Robert Englund’s 976-Evil is a nice character driven gore fest that seems wildly different from the jump scare films of today. The movie has a nice balance of character moments and pure out blood soaked slasher elements, making for a fascinating watch. The movie does come across as weakly acted (like most 80s horror flicks) and a little dated, but I really enjoyed going back in time to watch this largely forgotten horror film from my childhood. Sony is not big on giving us nice catalog titles, and this one comes with a great looking slipcover, AND the “made for TV” edit of the film with 12+ extra minutes of extended footage. What makes it kind of neat is the fact that the extended TV cut is in a low res “workprint” state, framed in 4x3 and given a dolby digital 2.0 track. I know it’s not intentional, but it brings me back to the days of sneaking my brother’s old VHS tape from their room and watching it in the downstairs den late at night. Good for a fun, nostalgic watch.




Technical Specifications:

Starring: Stephen Geoffreys, Patrick O'Bryan, Sandy Dennis
Directed by: Robert Englund
Written by: Brian Helgeland, Rhet Topham
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 AVC
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, English DTS-HD MA 2.0, French, Spanish, German DTS-HD MA Mono
Studio: Sony
Rated: R
Runtime: 92 Minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: October 3rd, 2017

Image

• Michael Scott
• May 11, 2017

Recommendation: Fun, Nostalgic Watch

 

[tripplej]

Thanks for the review. I can't remember if I saw this one or not.. It has been many years.. Will add it to my watch list.

 

[Todd Anderson]

The fact that this flick has "976" in the title is hysterical. So many American cultural elements from the 1980s can still be appreciated (or, at the minimum, understood) by younger generations today. But I'm guessing 976 wouldn't mean anything.

The trailer is hysterical (in a cheesy kind of way)!

Nice review. Love the enthusiasm for horror!

 

[Michael Scott]

lol, the 976 number brought back memories for sure. It's actually a pretty good flick too. the ending is DAAAAAARK considering they play some of the first half for giggles. I'm still waiting for Asere to chime in

 

[Asere]

Thanks for the review. I remember watching this movie but its been so long that I do not remember much. I will have to buy this one and look at it as a fun nostalgic watch like you said Michael.
$19.99 isn't so bad

 

[Michael Scott]

it has its weaknesses, but the ending is disturbingly dark and ends so satisfactorily that you can't help but grin

 

[Asere]

it has its weaknesses, but the ending is disturbingly dark and ends so satisfactorily that you can't help but grin

That's what I love about this season Halloween. Time for some scary fun 80's movies like 976. Sleepaway Camp is on my list I own the DVD set.

 

[Michael Scott]

yup, and Vestron Video is releasing Slaughter High soon too

 

[Todd Anderson]

That's what I love about this season Halloween. Time for some scary fun 80's movies like 976. Sleepaway Camp is on my list I own the DVD set.

You must have a great horror collection... between you and Mike... awesome!

Do you have a VHS collection?

 

[Michael Scott]

just a small tiny collection

 

[Asere]

You must have a great horror collection... between you and Mike... awesome!

Do you have a VHS collection?

I have a large collection. It, Evil Dead 1 and 2, The Stuff, Lady in White, gosh I can't really remember how many others but a large collection that's stashed away in a bin.

 

[Asere]

I am receiving my 976 Evil copy today and also a movie called Triangle. I hear it is good and has great bass too.

 

[Asere]

Watched 976 Evil the other night. I had forgotten how cheesy the effects are but for sure a fun watch.

 

[Michael Scott]

haha, yeah It's cheesy as all get out, but pure 80s awesome cheese

 

[Asere]

haha, yeah It's cheesy as all get out, but pure 80s awesome cheese

Have you seen Don't Hang Up?
I saw it on Amazon Prime and it is pretty good. A copycat of Scream but interesting indeed with good bass.

 

[Michael Scott]

no, I haven't see it yet. I have prime, so I'll add it to my list