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976-EVIL (1988)

• Director: Robert Englund
• Cast: Stephen Geoffreys, Patrick O’Bryan, Jim Metzler
• Film: 92mins | USA | Subtitles | Intermission
• Event: Doors 1:30pm | Intro + Film 2pm – 5pm [18+]
• Followed by a social at Someday: 5pm – 7pm
• PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER START TIME FOR THIS EVENT

Calling a premium horoscope hotline turns hometown teenagers into satanic killers.

“ONE NUMBER FOR HELL!”

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues our 12^th sensational season — SATANIC PANIC! — with Robert Englund’s (Freddy Kruger from A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET) directorial debut, a gothic tale of ‘high-tech horror’, 976-EVIL (1988). Followed by a BAR TRASH social at Someday across the street.

The ‘Satanic Panic’ of the 1980s sought to blame societal shifts on the widespread worshipping of Satan, imagining demonic cults cavorting behind closed doors and sensing the Devil’s corrupting influence in everything from Heavy Metal lyrics, to fantasy RPGs, and Saturday morning cartoons. There was a peculiar fascination with the ‘dangers’ of high tech as advanced telecommunications and home computers started to connect young people with the wider world, making them more susceptible to Satan’s seductive power. This inevitably led to a cycle of sci-fi and horror films…

In 976-EVIL, high school underdog Hoax (Stephen Geoffreys, FRIGHT NIGHT) is stuck in his humdrum hometown life, fending off leather-jacketed bullies, avoiding his overbearing mother (Sandy Dennis), and dreaming of a date with trailer park temptress Suzie (Lezlie Deane). But when his cousin Spike (Patrick O’Bryan) introduces him to a new-fangled technology — premium phone lines — his life takes a sudden turn for the Satanic, hooking him up with a hideous demonic force. Now there’s more than just a phone bill to pay for anyone who crosses the neighbourhood nerd!

With a great screenplay by Brian Helgeland (LA CONFIDENTIAL) and stunning practical effects by Kevin Yagher (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET), our screening of 976-EVIL is also a celebration of a ‘fallen’ queer icon, Stephen Geoffreys. Finding a unique solution to career longevity, Geoffreys worked his way from Tony Award nominee to cult film stardom in queer horror classic FRIGHT NIGHT through a series of hardcore adventures (VIRTUAL STUD, LEATHER AFTER MIDNIGHT and HUNK HOTEL) before finding his way back to low-budget horror. One of horror cinema’s true demon twinks.

You’re invited to join TOKEN HOMO after the screening across the road at Someday for a social [5pm to 7pm].

Polite notice: We are projecting the original theatrical release version of 976-EVIL with subtitles from the best available digital source.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets £8 / £5 for PH members. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for updates. More info at tokenhomo.com ///