Day 151: "Coopersmith, What the devil do you think you're doing?!?"

1981's Evilspeak is another one of those mythical movies that I remember wanting to see from my youth.  I was just getting into the horror genre, and in an issue of Fangoria magazine were stills from Evilspeak.  Military school? A social leper? AN APPLE II COMPUTER USED TO SUMMON SATAN?!?!!  The internet wasn't even an idea then, how was this possible?!?  I had to see this.  Well, time passed as did this movie from my memory.  Tooling around Neflix one evening, I rediscovered its existence; and no pesky parental no-nos to hamper my viewing pleasure.  Seriously, look at that poster and tell me that this could NOT be awesome.  Unlike Metalstorm: the Destruction of Jared Syn, Evilspeak was everything I could have hoped for.  This was so cheesy and stupid I couldn't help but have fun.  The story centers around a socially awkward orphan who, for reasons unknown to anybody, is placed into a military academy.  From his arrival he is bullied and tortured, eventually discovering a Satanic chapel in the basement of the school's Catholic chapel.  He discovers a treasure trove of Satanic literature and rites, eventually dragging one of the school Apple II computers to the candlelit(!) chapel to help with the translations and performance of a Black Mass.  SO STUPID, but so fun!!

Clint Howard has not had a role as good as abused Stanley Coopersmith before or since this movie.  He was the poster child for the dorky teen, and pulls it off very well.  Except when he's possessed in the climax, then he's just....creepy.  Not in the intended way either.  Anyone who grew up in the 80's will recognize some of the other talent as well; Heywood Nelson (Hey, hey, hey) of What's Happening fame is here, as is a very young, and slim, Don Stark; Donna's dad from That 70's Show.

Do not watch this expecting art, just watch it for the campy 80's horror movie that it is.  You'll have a lot of fun.  Almost forgot, there is one disturbing scene here, animal lovers be warned.  Past that: sit back, grab a bag of corn, and have some fun.  7.5/10.

See you tomorrow, and GO WATCH A MOVIE!!