976-EVIL

Robert Englund -- certainly no stranger to the horror genre after countless appearances as razor-gloved chop-o-holic Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street films -- makes his directorial debut with this rather blasé occult thriller, which plays like a silly male version of Carrie. Fright Night's Stephen Geoffreys stars as Hoax, a nerdy, persecuted mama's boy who stumbles across a "Horrorscope" phone hotline after discovering its uncanny ability to make his cousin Spike's wishes come true. Seeing a possible way of avenging himself on his tormentors, Hoax begins calling the number as well and soon finds himself unable to go through life without its otherworldly suggestions... until he begins to transform into an agent of the demonic forces behind the mysterious phone line. Englund's direction is serviceable, but the bland script and silly performances are beyond repair. The video version is several minutes longer than the theatrical cut; most of the additional footage appears to be no more than bland exposition.