You are here:
976-EVIL

976-EVIL

1988

R

Director

Robert Englund

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

A bullied unpopular high school student named Hoax finds an ad for 976-EVIL, a number that provides daily 'horrorscopes'. But when he calls the number he gains demonic powers, which he uses to seek vengeance against those who bullied him.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.7/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks any evidence of non-cisnormative identities. The narrative focuses entirely on the protagonist's struggle with bullying and his acquisition of supernatural power.

Gender Representation

Limited

The story centers on a male protagonist's journey from victimhood to empowerment. There is no indication of diverse female agency or the subversion of gendered power dynamics.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Minimal

The cast composition and ethnic diversity of the high school setting remain unconfirmed. There is no evidence of race-bent casting or a non-Anglo-Saxon majority.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The use of demonic elements to facilitate social retribution suggests a narrative of moral relativism. This approach disrupts conventional depictions of justice and authority through situational ethics.

Disability Representation

Fair

The protagonist's status as an unpopular, bullied student serves as cinematic shorthand for social marginalization. However, there is no specific depiction of a diagnosed or visible disability.

Strengths

  • Explores themes of empowerment for a socially marginalized protagonist.
  • Uses supernatural elements to disrupt established social hierarchies and peer bullying.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks documented intersectional complexity or diverse identity representation.
  • Relies on tropes of social marginalization without providing specific agency for disabled characters.
  • Fails to include diverse female agency or subvert gendered power dynamics.

AI Analysis

976-EVIL follows a traditional late-80s vengeance fantasy framework. It centers on a marginalized protagonist, Hoax, who uses demonic powers to disrupt the social hierarchy of his high school. While the film explores themes of empowerment for an outsider, it stays within established genre tropes. The narrative lacks intersectional complexity. It focuses on a singular arc of social retribution rather than exploring diverse identities or nuanced social dynamics. The themes of justice are handled through a lens of supernatural agency rather than progressive representation.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.