Skip to main content

Plot

This underrated teen-revenge horror film starring Stephen Geoffreys (Fright Night) was the directorial debut of Robert Englund, best known as Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. Geoffreys plays Hoax, a picked-on nerd who lives with his religious-nut mother Lucy (the marvelous Sandy Dennis). One day Hoax calls a 976-line for a "Horrorscope," and the demonic voice at the other end starts giving him wicked advice. Before long, he has killed his brother's girlfriend with tarantulas, slashed the face of a teen tough with his newly-sprouted talons, and gutted several of his tormentors. Only a well-meaning journalist and a sexy schoolmarm can stop the now-demonic Hoax before he sends the whole neighborhood straight to Hell. Granted, the screenplay is rather confused and slow-moving, but Geoffreys and Dennis are great, the effects work by Kevin Yagher is skillful, and this is one of the few teen-horror films with characters that are actually interesting. Look for Robert Picardo (The Howling) in a fun cameo as the diabolical Mark Darke. After a brief stint as a teen star, Geoffreys went on to appear in gay porn films as "Sam Ritter."
MPAA Rating:
R
Genre(s):
Horror,Thriller
Run Time:
92min.
Theatrical Release Date:
05/04/2003
DVD Release Date:
08/13/2002
Distributor(s):
New Line Cinema
Director(s):
Themes:
Deal With the Devil,Demonic Possession
Tone:
Humorous,Creepy,Lurid,Menacing,Silly
Keywords:
Satanism,demon,demonic-possession,murder,nerd,obsession,outsider,recording,reporter,revenge,teenagers,telephone,wish-fulfillment
Country of Origin:
USA (03-24-1989)
Language:
English
Netflix

Netflix - Try for Free

Instantly watch TV episodes and movies via the Internet on your computer or TV. 1 month FREE!

Facebook Activity