336:). While Spike is the neighborhood motorcycle bad boy, Hoax is an introverted nerd. Even though Spike genuinely cares for his cousin and protects him from bullies, Hoax is filled with resentment that he cannot stand up for himself or get the girl he wants (both of which Spike does effortlessly).
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Hoax to cause death and destruction, culminating in an opening to Hell appearing before their house. Spike confronts Hoax, but is quickly overpowered. In a desperate last ploy, he calls earnestly to his cousin, reminding him of the plans they had to take a vacation that summer.
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Hoax's fleeting soul resurfaces briefly, and realizes his horrible mistake and embraces Spike, begging for help. Spike, realizing Hoax is lost and cannot be separated from the demonic presence, betrays his cousin and throws him into the pit of
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gave the film 6/10 stars and remarked that it "could've been great stuff", but "loses its touch in its second half, relying on unsatisfying murders and "ho-hum" effects to pad it up though."
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into his bidding. Spike loses interest in the line quickly, but Hoax soon discovers the true nature of the line and uses it to get revenge on everyone who has wronged him.
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received a negative critical reception and currently has an approval rating of 15% on review aggregator website
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versions of the film are uncut and contain footage previously unseen in its original theatrical release.
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on
October 3, 2017. It was released on UK Blu-ray by Eureka Entertainment on October 19, 2020.
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system that was popular in the late 1980s, but has since been superseded by
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The film's title refers to the 976 telephone exchange, a now mostly defunct
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was released in 1992, with
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however defended the film, calling it "underrated". John Fallon of
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Both boys stumble upon 976-EVIL, which on the surface is just a
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version are the theatrical cut. Both versions were released on
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Soon Hoax's spirit is almost entirely consumed by Satan, who
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The film was released theatrically in the United States by
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in March 1989. It grossed $ 2,955,917 at the box office.
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for a few dollars. However, the line is actually used by
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This article is about the film. For
Deftones song, see
607:"Reviews/Film; Gruesome Toll for Teen-Age Phone Calls"
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885:Films with screenplays by Brian Helgeland
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530:in 2002. The DVD version as well as the
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507:The film was released on home video by
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711:Harrington, Richard (25 March 1989).
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467:Roxanne Rogers as Angel, The Waitress
660:"Review: "976-Evil" Makes A Miscall"
343:phone line that gives creepy-themed
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860:American supernatural horror films
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579:A direct-to-video sequel entitled
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461:Demetre Phillips as Sergeant Bell
324:Cousins Leonard "Spike" Johnson (
880:Films directed by Robert Englund
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509:RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video
850:1980s supernatural horror films
404:Maria Rubell as Angela Martinez
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582:976-EVIL II: The Astral Factor
470:Joanna Keyes as Suzie's Mother
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925:English-language horror films
915:Films about spirit possession
890:Prediction in popular culture
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559:wrote "From start to finish,
488:Mindy Seeger as Female Victim
485:John Currie Slade as John Doe
310:premium-rate telephone number
900:1989 directorial debut films
870:1980s English-language films
855:American films about revenge
476:Bert Hinchman as The Coroner
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905:American exploitation films
563:is a sorry, wrong number."
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425:Gunther Jenson as "Airhead"
328:) and Hoax Arthur Wilmoth (
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183:Horrorscope Productions
383:as Hoax Arthur Wilmoth
920:1980s American films
875:Films about bullying
464:Don Bajema as Deputy
410:as Aunt Lucy Wilmoth
301:, Maria Rubell, and
285:, and co-written by
865:CineTel Films films
738:Firsching, Robert.
718:The Washington Post
556:The Washington Post
277:is a 1988 American
612:The New York Times
603:Bernstein, Richard
542:Critical reception
482:as Female Operator
351:to subtly corrupt
845:1988 horror films
740:"976-Evil (1988)"
685:"976-Evil (1989)"
605:(25 March 1989).
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664:Top 10 Films
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458:as Mr. Selby
456:Greg Collins
450:Paul Willson
440:as Mark Dark
429:Jim Thiebaud
408:Sandy Dennis
393:Lezlie Deane
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281:directed by
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238:Running time
158:Steve Rucker
154:Thomas Chase
134:Paul Elliott
121:Sandy Dennis
112:Maria Rubell
21:Diamond Eyes
399:Jim Metzler
299:Jim Metzler
289:. It stars
108:Jim Metzler
75:Produced by
62:Rhet Topham
46:Directed by
840:1988 films
834:Categories
779:2020-04-02
724:2020-04-02
669:5 November
644:2011-03-29
633:"976-EVIL"
618:2020-04-02
589:References
414:J.J. Cohen
263:Box office
242:92 minutes
225:1989-03-24
214:1988-12-09
168:Production
56:Written by
773:JoBlo.com
569:JoBlo.com
517:LaserDisc
446:as Virgil
431:as "Rags"
416:as Marcus
360:possesses
229: (US)
218: (UK)
170:companies
140:Edited by
820:976-EVIL
814:AllMovie
809:976-EVIL
798:976-EVIL
745:AllMovie
696:30 March
565:AllMovie
561:976-EVIL
547:976-EVIL
395:as Suzie
345:fortunes
274:976-EVIL
255:Language
148:Music by
96:Starring
29:976-EVIL
751:20 June
536:Blu-ray
532:Crackle
496:Release
422:as Jeff
353:mortals
341:novelty
258:English
247:Country
223: (
212: (
575:Sequel
515:, and
349:Satan
803:IMDb
753:2012
698:2021
671:2021
375:Cast
369:Hell
320:Plot
823:at
812:at
801:at
526:by
524:DVD
513:VHS
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
