Directed by Robert Englund

Starring Stephen Geoffreys and Jim Meltzer

Taking a brief break from the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series Robert "Freddy Krueger" Englund found enough time to direct this effective and suspenseful low-budget feature about Satan worship and a 976 "horrorscope" line that seduces—then destroys—those who call it.

Geoffreys, who was great as a troubled teen vampire in "Fright Night," stars as a town wimp who is seduced by the phone line into slaughtering some local bullies. He eventually metamorphosizes into a demon with spock ears. The make-up sucks, but it doesn't ruin the movie.

Sure, the same concept was done before—quite ineffectively in "Evil Speak" and much more effectively in "Carrie"—but Englund made a pretty effective horror film on a low budget. Like "Carrie," the film has religious overtones.

Followed by "976-EVIL 2."