976-EVIL

"976-EVIL" (1988, Robert Englund, New Line Cinema) is a film about two cousins who call a mysterious 'horror-scope' number which is actually operated by the devil to trick mortals into turning to the dark side.

Spike (Patrick O'Bryan) is a rebellious teen who likes to strut about in leather jackets, ride his motorcycle, date rocker chicks and play a lot of poker... badly. His little cousin, Hoax (Stephen Geoffreys, best known as Evil Ed from "Fright Night"), is little more nerdy, rides a scooter, wishes he was tougher and lives with his overbearing, fundamentalist Christian mother, Lucy (Sandy Dennis); who wears way too many wigs. Lucy lets her nephew live in a granny flat on her property, but she disapproves of his lifestyle while she also holds his inheritance money hostage.

Both Spike and Hoax come across the phone number and call it. Spike thinks it's all a big joke, and stops calling, but Hoax begins to work out what's going on and seizes the opportunity to pay back his bullies and get a girlfriend at the measly cost of his soul.

This film is in the 'just-bad' category. The scenes are long and drawn out and the action is extremely slow. There's just not enough horror in his horror film. The premise is promising, but there just wan't enough delivered to make it a good 'bad' film. Robert Englund directed this and one other film, "Killer Pad" in 2008. There's definitely a reason for this.

It's cheesy and 80s and has Stephen Geoffreys in it, usually that would check all the boxes for me, but this film is just not one I'd watch again.

[Image: New Line Cinema]

Hani

Fright Night (1985)

"Fright Night" (1985, Tom Holland, Columbia Pictures) is the original Fright Night.

In case you missed my review of the remake from 2011, I love the original Fright Night! I have to say, the remake's good though.

A nice, comedy vampire flick. Young Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) is convinced his sinisterly suave, fruit loving new next door neighbour, Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon), is a vampire. And he's right! The only problem is no one will believe him! See, he's such a big horror geek that everyone thinks he's finally flipped, a problem I can personally vouch for! His nightly viewings of 'Fright Night', hosted by Peter Vincent, a clever mash-up of Peter Cushing's and Vincent Price's names (Roddy McDowall), have gone to his head!

Jerry knows that Charley is aware of his true nature, and decides to threaten him.

Charley tries at first to convince his girlfriend, Amy Peterson (Amanda Bearse, who you may know as Marcy from 'Married with Children'), and his loser, horror-loving buddy, 'Evil' Ed Thompson (Stephen Geoffreys). Neither are convinced, but when it appears Charley is going to attempt to murder Mr. Dandridge, both jump in and pay Peter Vincent to 'prove' Jerry's not a vampire with faux holy water.

Unfortunately, Peter Vincent spies that Jerry is severly lacking in reflection during their visit and it takes some convincing to bring him back on board! That big scaredy cat!

Jerry kidnaps Amy in an attempt to make her a vampire; can Brewster and Vincent save her before it's too late?!

He also turns Ed into a vampire. Shame he didn't show him the ropes too.

A really 80s movie with some seriously messed up vampire faces and a wolf scene that is one of my favourite vampire deaths to this day (and that includes the bathroom scene from "The Lost Boys", ladies and gentlemen).

Poor ol' Evil Ed gets the short end of the stick, but Geoffreys is just brilliant in the part. And I still say his "You're so cool, Brewster!" is by far the better.

Really a worthwhile watch with lots of 80s gore (green goop, slime and extremely red blood). The soundtrack is not quite as good as "The Lost Boys", but then even now, not many are!

Sarandon's character is perfect. He's scary, creepy but there's something about him you just like. And again, no glitter!

If you've seen the remake and not the original, you are denying yourself a "dubious pleasure".  Now go get that DVD in your player!

[Picture: Columbia Pictures]

Hani