Todesschrei am Telefon

Okay-at-best psycho on the loose pic is pretty standard fare with few if any surprises. James Westmoreland does a serviceable job in the lead as a composed detective hunting a certified nut-job who's strangling (and then some) vulnerable women and phoning in his conquests to a local psychiatrist's (Gerrish) radio programme.

Worth is hyper-maniacal in the antagonist role, his hulking appearance fulfilling the intimidation quotient well, whilst a few familiar faces (Haze, Frank et al) round out a capable cast. Contrary to other reviewer's remarks, I personally didn't have a problem with Westmoreland's performance nor did I think Worth was especially remarkable in his characterisation; they and the rest of the cast manage with some fairly drab dialogue padding out what is essentially, a paper thin plot (if you excised the pointless scene fillers, DATP would barely make theatrical length).

DATP just seems like a run of the mill slasher pic with all the typical elements, including nudity, sadism, nurse stalking, PTSD, some occasional light humour (check out the brothel scene which was a laugh) and every other cliché you've ever seen in films of the ilk. A pretty good example of where the title attracts attention that the film itself can't sustain. Very average.

Rating: No stars out of 5

How (Original) can Don't Answer the Phone! Be. For one the producers, executives, actors and directors look pretty embarrising. The film looks like it borrows lines and plots for When A Stranger Calls, Black Christmas and Friday the 13th. There really isn't any much of a difference. I think it had to much nudity and violence to be this bad. A great film like When A Stranger Calls was more suspensful and a classic than this without to much nudity. There actully is a rating in my purpose:

A BOMB!

Avoid this one.

Don't buy the DVD. It has been heavily cut. If you have previously seen this movie, the DVD will seriously disappoint you. Check your local video store for the original VHS tape if you want to your own copy of this film.

If you haven't seen this movie, rent it. It only appeals to a small group. It is standard fare of the late 70s to early 80's horror movies. Mindless killer terrorizes town (Hollywood). Police can't buy a clue.

If you are a hopeless misogynist, this is the film for you. If you enjoy seeing women abused, tormented, tortured, humiliated and finally strangled, with the camera right in their face so that you won't miss one single second of their fear and pain, then run right out and rent this movie. If you like cheap, porno movie soundtracks, complete with the early 70s wocka-ch-wocka riff, you'll love this film. If you admire poker faced heroines, whose facial expression NEVER CHANGES whether she's having sex, trying to save a suicidal girl or fending off a serial killer, then this film is a must-see.

This film could have been good. Maybe not great, but at least halfway decent. But that's what happens when you swap subtlety for unrelenting, in-your-face sadism: you get crap. Believe it or not, I do not NEED to see EVERY SINGLE VICTIM die a brutal, agonizing death. I'm perfectly happy with crime scene photos or an after-the-fact discovery of the body. I don't enjoy watching people being terrorized, crying while their clothes are ripped off and/or screaming in fear as they're slapped and called derogatory names while their incredibly disgusting assailant grins and laughs.

You know a movie is bad when the only halfway decent performance comes from the guy playing the killer. The rest of the cast are much like mannequins from the worlds seediest department store: they never come to life and aren't at all interesting. The entire movie appears to have been shot through the eyes of a nasty, dirty old man who never bathes and whose only girlfriend was inflatable. It's shamelessly filthy, ugly and cheap. A better title might have been: "Don't Waste Your Time."

Don't Answer the Phone is yet another film from the late 70s and early 80s about a psychotic, demented, socially awkward killer who brutalizes women because of his "problems" - whatever those problems might be. This time around we have a muscular, fat Vietnam vet who was never good enough for his father butcher pretty girls just after they have stripped from their little clothing. Nicolas Worth plays the wheezing, maniacal killer with a bizarre almost interesting quality. He is not a good actor yet is able to hold your attention throughout. I wish I could say something pleasant about the rest of the cast, but none of the rest are very competent. The police detectives who are looking for Worth - one which falls in love with the pretty radio psychiatrist that can shed light on the killer's identity - were particularly bad. The girls are pretty but the misogynistic flair devoted to their deaths is particularly degrading and unpleasant. The film is at least not overtly gory and had me interested until the end. The story was compelling enough and Worth is worth a look if nothing else.