976-evil (1988)

[bruce holecheck]

And today's surprise announcement is...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Horror Has a Brand New Number

976-EVIL
Debuts on Blu-ray™ For the First Time October 3

Includes All-New Commentary with Director Robert Englund and an Alternate Version with 12 Extra Minutes of Footage

CULVER CITY, Calif. (July 14, 2017) – “Out of the darkness and into light, comes your Horrorscope on this dark and stormy night.” Director Robert “Freddy Krueger” Englund dials up a gothic tale of high-tech horror in 976-EVIL, debuting on Blu-ray™ for the first time October 3 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Presented in its original aspect ratio and remastered for high definition, 976-EVIL includes an all-new commentary track for the film by Robert Englund, along with his wife, Nancy Booth Englund, who was the set decorator on the film. In addition, bonus materials on the release include an alternate home video version of the film featuring 12 extra minutes of footage. Starring Stephen Geoffreys (Fright Night), Jim Metzler (L.A. Confidential), Pat O’Bryan (No Holds Barred) and Academy Award® winner Sandy Dennis (Best Supporting Actress, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966), 976-EVIL is the number to dial to receive supernatural powers and turn into satanic killers. Hoax (Geoffreys) uses the powers the number gives him to exact revenge against everyone who has wronged him, inadvertently allowing his soul to be slowly taken over by Satan.

Synopsis:
Director Robert “Freddy Krueger” Englund dials up a gothic tale of high-tech horror in 976-EVIL. High school underdog Hoax Wilmoth (Stephen Geoffreys, Fright Night) fills up the idle hours in his seedy little hometown fending off the local leather-jacketed thugs, avoiding his overbearing mother (Sandy Dennis) and dreaming of a date with trailer park temptress Suzie (Lezlie Deane). But, his quietly desperate life takes a terrifying turn when his cousin introduces him to an unusual new hobby – phoning in for his Horrorscope. Hoax is hooked-up with a compellingly hideous demonic force that slowly begins to overtake his entire life and now there’s more than just a phone bill to pay for anyone who ever dared cross “the neighborhood nerd”.

Directed by Robert Englund and written by Rhet Topham and Brian Helgeland, 976-EVIL was produced by Lisa M. Hansen and executive produced by Paul Hertzberg.

Bonus Features on Blu-ray Include:

ALL-NEW: Commentary with Director Robert Englund and Set Decorator Nancy Booth Englund
Alternate home video version of the film with 12 extra minutes of footage
976-EVIL has a run time of approximately 92 minutes and is rated R for adult situations/language, nudity, violence.

Academy Award® is the registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

# # #
ABOUT SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company. SPE is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., which is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group includes film labels Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, and Sony Pictures Classics.

[WesReviews]

Wow... did NOT see this coming.

[Joseph Goodman]

Sony trying to do something similar to Lionsgate's Vestron line, what with the battered VHS box art? I'm all for it.

[BluAtreyu]

Wow - Great news to end the week! Day one for me. Keep this up, Sony!

Does this mean the Vestron method is considered a success?

[Worship.my.wreck]

Thank you! Was hoping this one would get released soon. Maybe Vestron will release 976-Evil 2 aswell.

[WesReviews]

Bet anything we'll be getting Happy Birthday to Me and When a Stranger Calls as part of this line, sometime in the future.

[Worship.my.wreck]

Originally Posted by WesReviews

Bet anything we'll be getting Happy Birthday to Me and When a Stranger Calls as part of this line, sometime in the future.

Are we sure this is a new line? Could just be a random catalog release for Halloween.

[surfinhank]

Um, yea... this is obviously a mistake. Sony only does MOD releases now. Right, Sony?!

[WesReviews]

Originally Posted by Worship.my.wreck

Are we sure this is a new line? Could just be a random catalog release for Halloween.

Nothing official, but by using the old Columbia Home Video logo, it sure seems like they're creating a brand catered to collectors, ala Vestron.

[asabreed]

Whoa. A ton of potential here if this "line" becomes something.

Potentially cheaper prices than the Vestron line also?

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by WesReviews

Nothing official, but by using the old Columbia Home Video logo, it sure seems like they're creating a brand catered to collectors, ala Vestron.

Certainly looks like it. Perhaps they're testing the waters with a couple titles!

[The Snowy Owl]

SO stoked for this release! Getting this right when it drops!

[Mb37985]

Candyman next please!

[WesReviews]

Not really a complaint, but it would have been cool if the cover art included the red border that their VHS releases had...

[The Snowy Owl]

Hopefully a preorder shows up soon,

[Catastrophe]

976-Evil....

On Blu-ray...

and it's NOT part of the Sony Choice Collection...

*goes to check the thermometer in Hell*

[Optimus-Prime-Rox]

Could Sony do a new Fright Night Bluray as part of this line?

[GasmaskAvenger]

Holy Shit!

Hoping Vestron does one for the sequel.

[klauswhereareyou]

I'll get this...maybe Sony finally woke up to the fact that no one wants to buy that Choice Collection trash (not the films that are in the Choice Collection, but the fact that they're overpriced BD-Rs).

[The Snowy Owl]

So they charge high prices to burn you a disc? That's lame.