976-EVIL is a 1988 American supernatural horror film directed by actor Robert Englund in his directorial debut, and co-written by Brian Helgeland. It stars Stephen Geoffreys, Patrick O'Bryan, Jim Metzler, Maria Rubell, and Sandy Dennis. The film's title refers to the 976 telephone exchange, a now mostly defunct premium-rate telephone number system that was popular in the late 1980s but has since been superseded by area code 900.
A sequel, 976-EVIL 2: The Astral Factor, was followed released in 1991 in Italy and 1992 in United States.
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Plot
Cousins Leonard "Spike" Johnson and Hoax Arthur Wilmoth are teenagers who live with Hoax's overtly religious and domineering mother, Lucy Wilmoth. 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 succeed romantically (both of which Spike does effortlessly).
Both boys stumble upon 976-EVIL, which, on the surface, is just a novelty phone line that offers creepy-themed fortunes for a few dollars. However, the line is actually used by Satan to subtly corrupt mortals 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.
