Synopsis
...He'll Know You're Alone!
A Vietnam veteran that spends his days photographing pretty girls, and his nights strangling them, sets sights on the patients of a radio psychiatrist.
1980 Directed by Robert Hammer
A Vietnam veteran that spends his days photographing pretty girls, and his nights strangling them, sets sights on the patients of a radio psychiatrist.
Todesschrei per Telefon, 恐怖的电话, Todesschrei am Telefon, Brigade anti-viol, No respondas al teléfono, Не отвечай по телефону!, 别接电话, Nie podnoś słuchawki, Morte al telefono
Made on a dime by a first time filmmaker, and shot without permits along the streets and at various locations in Los Angeles in the Spring of 1979, this grubby little exploitation flick's shelf life seemingly and surprisingly continues to this day (considering it's netted a ridiculous amount of different home video releases over the years in the U.S. alone, the latest in 2017).
It's many detractors will point to the flea-bitten production values (actually, on that end it was a bit better than I expected), the chuckle-worthy performances...which range from rickety to wooden to gloriously over the top (Nicholas Worth, take a bow), and rampant misogyny (true, but a redundant charge when one chooses to watch a 70's exploitation…
Picked this up during the VinSyn sale and they did an absolutely brilliant job as always! The last time I saw this was a dirty VHS rip and it honestly looks like a whole different film! Like I thought it was much darker visually than it actually is!
As for the movie itself, my feelings haven’t changed. This is a silly, fun, and occasionally quite effective thriller. Nicholas Worth deserves some kind of award for his work as the killer and I say “some kind” because I truly can’t decide if he’s giving the greatest performance or the worst performance I’ve ever seen. Either way, it really makes the whole thing something special.
Also, is it entirely inappropriate to find a killer referring to himself as “daddy” when he ties up and strangles his victims? Asking for myself.
Sleazy, mean spirited exploitation jam with a nifty soundtrack and an effective Frank Zito-esque deranged psychopath performance from Nicholas Worth. This well known Don’t-sploitation jam worked better for me this time around despite its flaws, which honestly surprised me but I think that comes courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome’s nice looking Blu-ray—with that being said I don’t think I’ll be revisiting this anytime soon.
Honestly, this was better than I ever expected it to be. It’s also better than it probably has any right to be. I don’t know what it is about movies with “Don’t” in the title but I always seem to dig them. Maybe it’s just my generally enjoyment of anything “wrong”. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been prone to do anything I’m told not to. Who knows?
A crazy veteran is killing women in Los Angeles and taunting a radio psychologist with each attack. I’m pretty sure I liked this because it falls directly into “so bad it’s good” territory. It’s sleazy, it’s cheesy, and it has absolutely no redeeming value. That all adds up to a pretty good time...for…
A deranged Vietnam vet with deep-seated daddy issues goes on a strangling spree across LA, while taunting a radio psychologist after every one of his murders. This was one scuzzy, mean-spirited picture! Really reminds me of Maniac in a lot of ways. The seedy LA setting shares a lot in common with NYC, with plenty of shots on the streets and not a permit in sight. The unrelenting viciousness of each and every kill is enough to make your skin crawl, and the standout performance by Nicholas Worth, oozing so much raw repulsiveness but with a certain charm makes for one compelling sicko. He's no Joe Spinell of course, but then who is...
This is how I like my 80s slashers. Straight to the point, mean spirited, bleak and uncomfortable.
A disturbed Vietnam vet/photographer is murdering young women in Los Angeles. While he is carrying out these horrendous acts he is also harassing an on air radio host/therapist.
Will the radio host be able to talk the killer into giving up some clues? Will the police be able to catch him?? Nicholas Worth plays a killer that has a lot more depth than most slashers. A burly, creepy, manipulative and intimidating character who really accomplishes a portrayal of a psychopath.
The score in this film is great and is a mixture of sporadic synths, tense drones and funky 70s rock.
The only thing…
Maniac Monday
(While a woman snorts cocaine off a bald man's bandaged head)
"Hey! Do you wanna live to fuck again?"
Woman in question comically shrugs her shoulders. "Eh"
Yikes, Maniac Monday makes it's grimy return with this sleazy, dirty, film.
Worth gives a truly gonzo performance. It's right up there with Spinell in Maniac (80) and Harry Reems in Forced Entry (73)
Watching an interview with Worth on the gorgeous Vinegar Syndrome blu, I'm shocked by how suave and well spoken, he is. It's the same reaction I had when I first heard an interview with Tom (Manhunter) Noonan.
I think the late, great, Nicholas Worth puts it best in his interview. "I look back on it now.....it's hideous... It really is."
Recommended for fans of SLEAZY cinema.
VHS HELL #73
60
“My name is Cathy, and my little boy wraps his toys up in ropes and chains and throws them against the wall. He also cut up his goldfish with scissors, and he threatened to do the same thing to his little sister. Do you think I should do something about his behavior?”
Great, if somewhat generic killer flick in the same vein as Manhunter or Maniac. Pretty enjoyable but the Vinegar Syndrome restoration really makes it shine. Honestly they’re artists. Half of these movies don’t deserve to look so good, but here they are looking fucking stunning, so there’s really no reason not to watch them. There’s some pretty great dialogue in this, especially when hookers, psychics, or pimps are involved. Lots of cheese and sleaze.
“Hey, who the hell you callin’ dumb, asshole-breath!?”
Tbh, even with the phone in psychiatrist, I'm not sure if the title 100% works? This movie hates literally everyone which works with my current post holiday grouchiness where I laughed far more than I was comfortable with.
Unlikable west coast Maniac and, as an added bonus, time travel in Xtra Grime-O-Vision.
Actually this didn't differ much from the mindless detective novels I regularly consume during the summers as between questions, I often have an excess of free time (but a minimal amount of brain or emotional energy I can safely expend).
letterboxd.com/zombifan/list/my-hooptober-8-my-homework/
Hooptober...potpourri
"He'll know you're alone!"
Don't Answer the Phone...1980
Directed by...Robert Hammer
Starring...Nicholas Worth, Ben Frank, Flo Lawrence, James Westmoreland
You'll need a bath after watching this sleazy greasy, slasher.
Beefy, sweaty psychopath Nicholas Worth stalks all the pretty ladies, posing as a photographer, then strangles them to death, then calls into a radio talk show to gloat about his evil deeds.
James Westmoreland is the cop hot on his heels.
It's a voyeuristic psycho sexual character study of a deranged Vietnam vet who uses religious beliefs as an excuse for killing.
Made to cash in on the real life hillside stranger case that was ongoing at the time of the films release, this is a slight step above other exploitation films of the time.
Filmed mostly with out permits in the seedy parts of LA, a must watch for fans of "trash" cinema.
Currently available for free on the Plex app.
I mistakenly thought this was a Slasher, but it’s really more of a Serial Killer Thriller and a pretty lame one at that. There’s some nudity and kinkiness here but it’s all rather tame and uninventive.
The plot is really only rudimentary with a lot of water cooler psychology thrown around. It's very uneventful and for a thriller the lack of any real tension is a naturally a major issue. A movie like that can get by with an exaggerated style, elaborate kills and excessive sleaze. But this one has to little of all that to really stand out. At times I got the feeling this wanted to be the next Taxi Driver but yeah… well… it’s not. There’s some "hokey" fun to be had here at certain parts but this sure as hell isn’t a forgotten classic.
Look up "Siskel & Ebert Dog of the Week" in the dictionary and you'll find the poster for this movie.
I made myself laugh by telling myself this was the White Elephant Art version of The Hollywood Strangler Meets the Skid Row Slasher. Strong Alex Jones vibes from leading man Nicholas Worth.
"Years after its initial release, the film's mainstream critical reputation continues to be abysmal." - Wikipedia