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This sequel has the survivor from the first tracking down a serial killer who is apparently using the 976-evil line to gain demonic powers. The thing is with this story is he isn't really becoming demonic as the character in the first film was. Yeah he shows signs of it but it isn't the same kind of way. More or less he uses astral projection. Almost a different story with the 976-Evil name on it. For straight to video it isn't bad really. Its true claim to fame for horror fans is one scene that steals the movie.That being one of the characters is zapped into the TV and is put into a situation that begins as Its a Wonderful Life and turns into Night of the Living Dead. Such a clever combination and it works so well. Its an idea that's good and executed well but belongs in a better movie. Other than that you have a few car explosions and people being ran over and a few death scenes. Also has a fairly interesting ending which especially at that time you didn't see a lot. Acting wise its your standard low budget actors and nobody is really "phoning " it in. There are also a couple of cameos and a sign to a play that most horror fans will get and understand. So its not great but its not bad either. The wonder life/living dead scene is a show stealer but the movie is average at best.

The possessing 976-EVIL phone line is back. This time, murderer Teacher must finish what he started.. whatever it is.

With visions, astral projection, a helpful out-of-town biker "romance" and more.. or less.

Sadly, this isn't gory or interesting enough to be something worth recommending. There's basically no plot aside from the crazy teacher killing people and being weirdly in love with the main actress. But nothing he does or happens further his agenda in that direction. So it feels very underwritten. Yet the ending wasn't at all what I expected, which was a nice surprise.

Debbie James is quite a charming actress, and it has more than a few very interesting visual effects and ideas. So it is not a total loss.

976-Evil 2 (1991) is a far better film than the first movie. The film-makers didn't try to be serious with the subject matter and the players seem to be enjoying themselves. Shot on the cheap, the sequel follows Spike and his attempts to stop the evil behind that darn 976-EVIL. He's still tooling around on his motorcycle looking like a rebel without a clue. But this time around he has one. It's up to him to stop the madness. A little worse for wear (Spike's sporting a five o'clock shadow that comes and goes) but he's all clad in black leather and looking to kick some demonic butt!

Like I said, a very entertaining movie. Unlike the first film the black humor works. The villain in this movie is real creepy and funny as well. The film's direction flows along at a reasonable pace (thanks to the ever reliable Jim Wynorski) and the blood flows. I'm glad they stopped after this one. I probably couldn't take another sequel.

Recommended.

B

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976-Evil (1989) was directed by none other than Robert "Freddy Kreuger" Englund, but sadly was a bit of a mess. This sequel, even worse.

It tells the story of an evil horoscope line that possesses its victims and is behind a notorious serial killer and............stuff.

The plot is hard to follow because not only does it not make a vast amount of sense but it simply isn't very good.

With a cameo appearance by Brigitte Nielsen it has one of those distinctly average casts, and to rise above mediocre it required considerably better. From the plot to the cast to the sfx it's a mess that makes the original look like a work of art.

Even fans of the original will likely not like this because it distances itself so much from the first film despite having the same leading man.

Awful awful stuff.

The Good:

Erm....

The Bad:

Looks ugly

Plot is a mess

Gracious be, what a story. A wicked teacher(Rene Assa)takes advantage of powers obtained from his phone calls to Satan. Some creative murder scenes and a fun watch with a party crowd. Debbie James is nice in the looks department, but light in acting skills. Patrick O'Bryan seems miscast as the biker hero. Also in the cast is Philip McKeon.

Either I've never seen the first 976-Evil or it's been so long that I've forgotten all about it, but this matters not, for Part 2 is directed by Jim Wynorski whose preferred film-making route is to prioritise gratuitous tits and ass over plot progression. It might not be all that sophisticated, but hot women being chased around in their panties is never boring in my book and, sure enough, within minutes, a busty blonde gets her kit off to take a shower and is attacked by a serial killer who offs her in a manner that doesn't use up too much of the budget. Things look set for some seriously trashy entertainment.

Sadly, from thereon in, Wynorski unwisely changes tack, with shoddy effects and terrible storytelling taking precedence over bare female flesh, any subsequent busty women keeping their clothes on.

The rest of the film is packed full of the kind of random weirdness that proliferated many a cheapo horror of the late 80s/early 90s: there's a kitchen full of malevolent appliances; the bad guy practises astral projection (an art taught to him by Brigitte Nielsen); the hero pulls a fully loaded machine gun from a wall to shoot-up a talking stuffed pig's head (!?!); and the heroine's best friend Paula (Leslie Ryan) is sucked into her TV, where she is attacked by zombies from Christmas classic It's A Wonderful Life (I kid you not!). While this might sound like a lot of crazy fun, the crap acting, Wynorski's uninspired direction, and the sheer inanity of the script (if indeed there was a script) make it a painful experience.

2.5 out of 10, very generously rounded up to 3 for IMDb.

I remember watching this one some time back and I can't say as it really struck me, but since it appeared on one side of a double header along with Home Sweet Home, I was happy to see it again. I've never seen the original and it'll likely be some time before I do since it was cut in the UK (sadly where I live) and even in the US the DVD release is apparently missing footage from the original release. 976 Evil 2 goes for a supernatural slasher vibe, we have a school principal by the name of Stefan Grubek granted dark powers by the nefarious 976 line and its "horrorscopes". Locked up on suspicions of murder, he uses the power of astral projection to exit the confines of his cell and avenge himself on those who sent him down, as well as tormenting the pretty policemans daughter that is our heroine. Director Jim Wynorski gets things off to a storming start, tits and a taut chase scene ending in inspired, verging on operatic murder. Its an Italian style flourish and very nearly brilliant, if the grue were upped just a couple of degrees it surely would be. Still a memorable opening that gets the film off on just the right footing. It stays there too, with a bustling pace and exciting chain of events, though the film often traverses cheesy territory, there's real gusto and commitment to it, we get evil chat on the telephone, a decaying and delightfully hammy villain, supernatural slaying and one whoop making sequence of a possessed kitchen going on the offensive. Rene Assa wigs out in fine fashion as Grubek, oozing arrogant malevolence he is quite splendidly hissable, while on the side of the angels Patrick O'Bryan returns from the original and does perfectly well going through typical "cool guy with leather jacket and motorcycle" motions, Debbie James is a perfectly cute heroine and we get a pleasingly barmy little cameo from Brigitte Nielsen. Regrettably the film doesn't move up through the exploitation gears after its splendid opening, we get no more nudity and it's a shame, though as I recall Wynorski always had a thing for falsies so it might not be such a bad thing that he doesn't indulge here. More unfortunately, there ain't much gore here, and a couple of the killings are off screen too. Sure, Grubeks increasingly grody visage makes up a little for this, but still I would have liked a little more blood in this party. Also the ending is a bit weak and the final moments don't really come off. Still, for the most part this is a kinda neat little film, worth a watch for fans of cheesy late 80's supernatural horror trash.

I have to say this movie surprised me in that it was very well produced and directed. This movie is much better than the original 976-evil movie, the acting is better, the script is better and the characters are more believeable. Now let me talk a little bit about the main character in the movie, her name is Debbie James and wow what a hottie! She is a former Miss Teen USA and a former Miss USA finalist. She is also a former Miss Colorado. Her acting isn't bad either in this movie and she is the main character. I wish Debbie james would appear in more movies (she only has had minor roles in a few subsequent movies) but at least we get to see her as the main character in this interesting movie, which is certainly worth renting and even buying. I give this movie 8 out of 10 stars!

After being bestowed with demonic powers following a phone call to Hell, a psychotic teacher begins a rampage of death and destruction in a small town, forcing a teen and her boyfriend to fight him off so that they can get away.

Not nearly as bad as it could've been, but this one was actually pretty enjoyable at times. One of the better aspects here is the fact that the supernaturally-powered teacher here is allowed to do a lot of rather inventive and innovative gags and sequences, from the psychic flashes and images to the large house filled with all sorts of different everyday items being used for malicious purposes during the lengthy action set-piece, and finally the big action scene here was the possessed-truck chase along the highway which is a cool highlight, amongst other rather fun, inventive sequences that really serve a nice calling here with its gore and inventiveness. There's still a couple flaws here, with the cheesy nature of the overall plot, lovelorn teens in the leading roles being forced to do everything themselves as the adults are utterly clueless about it all, and a rather pedestrian pace that leaves it feeling a little slow to get going. Though only the cheese is enough to bring it down, it's still not as bad as it could've been.

Rated R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, and Nudity.

Okay. Although I doubt anyone has ever accused the original 976-EVIL of being a great film, the "phone line from hell" concept was at least original and the whole thing was entertaining despite being totally absurd in every way. Unfortunately, this film underplays its main asset - the evil phone line thing - and introduces a stupid and unlikeable villain, an evil teacher who's possessed by the phone line or something and who runs around slashing up teens while spouting one-liners that fall embarrassingly flat. Apparently the folks responsible for the film's story and script (amazing that all four of them couldn't come up with something better than this) didn't appreciate that if anything about the original worked, it was the ridiculous concept and the darkly humorous satire on religion and high school bullying. Here, all of that is either misused or underused. Instead you have a slasher film that hits all the bases (sex, mild gore, homework) while failing to actually succeed at anything. The acting gets a D-, the script qualifies for special ed, and the director needs a good old-fashioned spanking for ruining such an awesome concept.

If there's anything effective about this movie, it's the scene that combines It's a Wonderful Life with Night of the Living Dead. It's truly as awesome as it sounds. Otherwise, seriously, pass on this.

Slightly better sequel finds that evil telephone line still in business. It seduces a teacher at first and then turns him into a full blooded killer. Lots of grisly memorable death scenes and a wicked twist of an ending are what make this entry better. Sure it is rather poorly done, but this film is a lot of fun and moves along at a nice pace. Rated R.

"976- Evil II" is an unnecessary and probably unwanted sequel to the original "976-Evil", which is only notable for being one of two films directed by Mr Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund.

Unfortunately the superior directorial pedigree of b-movie legend Jim Wynorski can't rescue "976-Evil II" from chronic sequelitis. The original at least had the novel premise of a "haunted" telephone line that allowed mortals to make their Faustian deals from the comfort of their living room.

The sequel doesn't really need this idea, but shoehorns it in awkwardly here and there to create some kind of spurious relationship to the (pretty average) original.

"976-Evil II" is really more interested in making a third-rate Freddy Krueger rip off out of its villain, who is nowhere near as memorable as that famous screen bogey-man. He is apparently an evil teacher who is capable of astral projection (?) and uses it to kill people who he calls first. Or something.

It's not explained very well, and leaves you with two disparate plot threads: the evil hotline (which I can't remember anybody actually calling... I guess the teacher must have?) and the evil teacher bogey-man who is a completely underwhelming villain with unexplained motives and methods.

Perhaps the only thing notable about "976-Evil II" is the fact that it begins with a girl taking a shower with her underwear clearly still on. If the actress didn't want to show full-frontal nudity, why didn't Wynorski just shoot her from the waist up?

Saw this sequel and while not incredibly terrible, it was inferior to 976-Evil. There are aspects of the plot here that are better, but there is a cheapness to the whole thing too. One can tell that they did not have the budget they had in the first film. There was also way too much that was established in the first film that is ignored during this one. It is a sequel, it does use the same phone service and Spike does return; however, Spike seems like a totally different character now (though he is played by the same actor) and the whole thing just seems a bit generic in a way.

The story has a Dean or a principal being arrested for a rash of killings and a kill at the beginning of the film. I say Dean or principal due to the fact the school they show seems like a high school, but they seem to infer it is a college. Lockers and nurses who yammer that you should be in class seem more out of high school to me. Well, Spike is headed for the town, determined to stop the killings and the strange 976 number...remember when they revealed the operator dude at the end of the first film was in on it? Well, if you did, you remember more than the writers of this one as this aspect is ignored completely. Instead, the dean or whatever, uses astral projection to kill those that try to persecute him.

The film misses the mark, more so than the first film. It basically needs more work than did the first one to make it better. I liked the idea behind it, but I would have preferred they followed a bit more of the story of the first film. Astral projection killer, somewhat cool. Multiple off screen deaths...not so cool. I do believe the off screen death count was higher than the on screen one. They did some good things, but this sequel seems almost rushed despite four years in between films, it does seem cheaper and to many issues with the story tying it with the first film. That "It's a Wonderful Life" meets "Night of the Living Dead" kill was pretty cool though.

I recently rewatched 976-Evil II (1991) on a random streaming site. The storyline follows Spike from the first 976-Evil in a college town plagued by a serial killer who strikes through phone calls. Can he stop satanic demons once again?

Directed by Jim Wynorski (The Lost Empire), the film stars Patrick O'Bryan (No Holds Barred), René Assa (Deep Cover), George 'Buck' Flower (Back to the Future), Leslie Ryan (Night of the Creeps), and Philip McKeon (Alice).

While lacking the magic of the first film, it maintains a strong 80s feel despite its 1991 release. The attire, dialogue, and interactions exude a distinctly 80s vibe. The movie includes classic horror nudity scenes, featuring a great topless opening sequence. However, the storyline feels less compelling and somewhat forced, lacking full development. The possessed professor could have been more menacing, and the calls seemed a bit cheesy. The ending is straightforward and fairly cliché, but there are enjoyable horror scenes, such as the kitchen attack on Spike.

In conclusion, 976-Evil II is a somewhat average addition to the horror genre, with enough redeeming elements to entice diehard horror fans, yet not enough to sufficiently stand out. I would score this a 5/10 and recommend seeing it once.

Horror sequels are a curious breed. Often, they struggle to capture the essence of what made their predecessors successful, or they amplify the wrong elements in a misguided attempt to outdo the original. "976-Evil II" (1991) is one such film-a movie that exists in the shadow of its predecessor but ends up being a fascinatingly chaotic and campy ride. Directed by Jim Wynorski, a prolific filmmaker known for his exploitation films, this sequel dials into a horror subgenre that revels in its own absurdity, delivering a mixed bag of supernatural thrills, low-budget effects, and unintentional comedy.

Plot Overview

"976-Evil II" follows the cursed phone line concept from the original film but takes it in an entirely different, and somewhat nonsensical, direction. The story centers around Robin (Debbie James), a college student who starts experiencing terrifying visions after answering a call from the demonic hotline. Enter Grubeck (Rene Assa), a sadistic college dean who gains the ability to astral project and commit murders thanks to the satanic power of the 976-evil hotline. As Robin teams up with Spike (Patrick O'Bryan), a returning character from the first film, they must confront Grubeck's ghostly rampage before he completes his sinister plans.

Aesthetics and Direction: Wynorski's direction is a testament to the "more is more" philosophy that dominated low-budget horror in the early 90s. The film is a hodgepodge of horror tropes, from possession and slasher elements to outlandish supernatural occurrences. The effects are a particular highlight (or lowlight, depending on your perspective)-with Grubeck's ability to astral project leading to a series of bizarre death scenes that feel more like a fever dream than a cohesive narrative.

One particularly memorable scene involves a victim being trapped inside a television, forced to live through a warped version of "It's a Wonderful Life" that ends in her brutal demise. It's moments like these where the film's absurdity reaches a peak, offering a glimpse into the kind of surreal horror that can only come from a director unafraid to push the boundaries of good taste.

Visually, "976-Evil II" is drenched in neon lighting, fog machines, and quick cuts, creating a disorienting atmosphere that mirrors the disjointed nature of the plot.

**Performances:** The acting in "976-Evil II" is a mixed bag, with some performances adding to the film's campy charm while others fall flat. Rene Assa as Grubeck chews the scenery with relish, delivering lines with a menacing glee that makes his character's descent into madness all the more entertaining. His performance is one of the film's saving graces, providing a villain who is both ridiculous and genuinely unsettling.

Debbie James, as the film's final girl, brings a certain vulnerability to Robin, though her character is often overshadowed by the over-the-top events surrounding her. Patrick O'Bryan reprises his role as Spike, but his character feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out protagonist. He's the link to the original film, yet he spends most of the movie reacting to the insanity around him rather than driving the plot forward.

The tone is where the movie truly sets itself apart from its predecessor. While the original "976-Evil" (1988), directed by Robert Englund of Freddy Krueger fame, had a darker and more serious approach to its horror, the sequel veers into outright camp. This shift in tone makes "976-Evil II" feel less like a continuation and more like a parody of the original. The film's blend of horror and humor doesn't always work, leading to moments that are more confusing than scary. However, for fans of B-movies, this tonal inconsistency can be part of the film's appeal.

Cultural Impact and Legacy: In the grand scheme of horror cinema, "976-Evil II" is a footnote-an oddity that's more likely to be found in a midnight movie marathon than in any serious discussion of the genre. Yet, it's precisely this obscurity that gives the film its cult status. Like many low-budget horror sequels of its time, "976-Evil II" appeals to a niche audience who revel in its absurdity, its flaws, and its unapologetic embrace of the ridiculous.

The film also serves as a reminder of the creative risks taken by directors like Wynorski, who were willing to push the boundaries of what horror could be, even if the results were often more laughable than terrifying. In a way, "976-Evil II" is a celebration of the excesses of early 90s horror, a time when filmmakers were experimenting with new ideas, technologies, and ways to shock audiences-no matter how bizarre the outcome.

Conclusion: "976-Evil II" is not a good film by traditional standards. It's poorly paced, questionably acted, and the plot is a disjointed mess. But that's exactly what makes it such a fascinating watch. For fans of schlocky, so-bad-it's-good cinema, this sequel offers a treasure trove of outrageous moments and unintentional comedy that's hard to find in today's more polished horror fare.

If you're looking for a coherent, genuinely scary movie, "976-Evil II" will disappoint. But if you're in the mood for a surreal, campy trip through the wild world of early 90s horror, this film might just be your perfect midnight dial-in. Whether you love it or hate it, "976-Evil II" is a film that demands to be seen-if only to be believed.

The fiendish mastermind behind the 976-Evil number is at it again, and this time he's got a demented college dean, Mr. Grubeck (Rene Assa) doing his bidding. Grubeck is arrested after a witness is able to pinpoint him as a killer, but no jail is going to keep Grubeck from doing his homicidal duties. You see, he's now given the power of astral projection. So his spirit can be out and about murdering people while his body catches some z's in his prison cell. But opposing him is Spike (Pat O'Bryan), who fans of the first film know has been through all this before. Spike hooks up with Robin (Debbie James), a stunning college student, and together they set out to stop Grubeck. Overall, a decent sequel to a decent first film, "976-Evil II" is rough going for a while, but greatly improves once it comes up with its major set piece which ingeniously melds "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Night of the Living Dead". Too bad the rest of the movie isn't that clever. Still, it does deliver one pretty good runaway car sequence, and the climactic action boasts one Hell of an impressive explosion. The makeup effects are fairly effective, although other visual effects are so bad as to be laughable - in a good way, for this viewer. Director Jim Wynorski serves up a generous serving of both cheese and crud in a movie that is reasonably amusing for what it is. O'Bryan manages to keep a straight face while working overtime to project a sense of "cool". Bubbly blonde James, a former Miss Teen USA and Miss Colorado and Miss USA finalist, is appealing and acts her little heart out as the gal who segues from potential victim to heroine. Wynorski works with some of his regulars, such as Paul Coufos, super sexy Monique Gabrielle, and the very funny Ace Mask, and other familiar faces include Rod McCary, Karen Mayo-Chandler, Mindy Seeger, ever hilarious George "Buck" Flower in a somewhat more substantial part than usual, and Brigitte Nielsen in a special guest appearance as the seductive proprietress of a bookstore specializing in the occult. Chuck Cirino's music score is great and there are even some songs credited to the actor Vincent D'Onofrio! A heads up for people who like in jokes: pay attention and you'll see the names Joe Bob Briggs and Roger Corman (Roger "Gorman", actually), who was Wynorski's boss for many years, on a poster. This could be best described as the kind of movie that does have its moments. One has to give Wynorski credit, as he sticks some eye candy with Mayo- Chandler right near the beginning of the movie. The ending is one of those deals where people will either appreciate it or be annoyed by it. At least it's not a predictable one. Six out of 10.

Spike (Pat O'Bryan) survives the events of the first film and now roams the countryside on his motorcycle. Why? We're not completely sure, but he does end up in a town where a college Dean has been abusing the 976- EVIL hot line and killing young girls. He is arrested but uses Astral Projection to leave his cell and continue to stalk Robin (Debbie James), the sheriff's daughter who has teamed up with Spike. This sequel is a strange creature. It makes an effort to connect with the first film, but feels completely like a random horror script they forced the 976 concept onto. Director Jim Wynorski handles it well enough and gets bonus points for some really WTF? moments (the biggest one being George "Buck" Flower getting obliterated by a semi). Crazed stunt coordinator Spiro Razatos delivers two pretty spectacular car crash bits. One of them (a girl in a runaway, possessed car) features a few shots where I think the actress really feared for her life and Wynorski has recycled this footage many times. The film's biggest plus is a genuinely creative bit where a character is zapped into a mash up of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (both in public domain at the time). And you thought James Stewart was never in a Wynorski film. Bridgette Nielsen has a small cameo as a Satanic book shop owner and Philip McKeon of ALICE fame is a deputy.

This is a Darn Good Movie that I Would have never Expected to be so Good. I first got Interested in the Series upon Learning that the Guy who Plays the Infamous "Freddy" Directed Part One. I Was looking to rent the Original, but could only found the Sequel, and was left with no other Choice. I didn't Expect Much, and got much more than I Would have ever Thought.

What Makes this Movie such a Masterpiece is really hard to put into Words. I would say it is mostly the Originality and the Obvious effort put into the Script to try to do the best with a VERY low budget. In Addition; Very good Acting, Good Video and Sound Quality, Good Murders, and a Remarkable Sense of Suspense.

Why would someone Not like this movie? They lack a sense of love for Horror Movies and/or Put this Movie in with a bad Attitude (If you Say You'll Hate this Movie, you most Likely will). I can also say that This Movie is for a Certain group that not everyone is in, and other user comments prove this! Reading the Plot Summary and Viewing the Trailer should really help you Decide before renting.

I give this Film 10 out of 10.

People who enjoyed this movie might like: Puppet Master, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Child's Play, Scream 2, The Dead Next Door, Bloody Murder, Phantasm, The Dead hate the Living, Castle Freak, Bad Channels, House and Haunted Hill, and I Know what you did last summer. For more Recommendations, Check the other Movies I Have commented on by Clicking on my Name above this Comment Section.

A seemingly harmless telephone service endows an evil teacher with powers from beyond the grave.

Remember once upon a time when Jim Wynorski made good movies? You know, like "Chopping Mall". This might actually count as being from that era, or at least the tail end of it. (Wynorski himself claims this film is better than the original. I will let viewers be the judge of that.)

Certainly, this film is miles ahead of his current stuff. The budget looks ten times larger, the effects are better... heck, I am still having trouble believing that Wynorski made this. Where the heck did he go wrong? (My assumption is that he went wrong when he found more money could be made when productions get cheaper -- and he just decided to stop caring about making the cheap look good.)