An orphaned boy at a military academy in SoCal (Clint Howard) is harassed, so he uses a computer in the dark basement of the citadel to conjure up evil power for succor.

The curious title of "Evilspeak" (1981) was derived from the phrase "computer-speak," obviously because the kid uses an old computer to work his black magic. The flick attempts to be the male version of "Carrie" (1976) just switching from telekinetic powers to devilish witchcraft. Unfortunately, it lacks the coherence, weightiness and power of that 70's horror hit.

There's something about the storytelling that holds it back. The basic plot of a youthful outcast getting even with his/her tormentors is a surefire foundation, but the way it's told is not very compelling, which I suppose isn't helped by the muddled diabolic gobbledygook and the hint of cheesy bemusement.

The stunning Lynn Hancock stands out in the feminine department as a secretary at the school, Miss Friedemeyer. Lynn experimented with acting a handful of times in 1980-1982 before leaving the profession for other pastures. A few other notable lasses appear during a beauty contest for the cadets.

The movie officially runs 1 hour, 37 minutes, but there are several cuts of the film available. It was shot at Saint Anthony Seminary in Santa Barbara, California, as well as Chatworth, which is about 55 miles east in northwestern Los Angeles.

GRADE: C.

The clumsy military cadet Stanley Coopersmith (Clint Howard) is orphan and completely outcast in the West Andover Academy. He is frequently abused and humiliated by four despicable mates, and has a bad treatment from his teachers, the coach, the colonel and even from the local reverend. When Coopersmith finds a book of black mass that belonged to the evil medieval Father Esteban, he uses a computer to conjure Satan and revenge his harassers.

The first point that calls the attention in "Evilspeak" is the terrible and messy screenplay, with a Spanish priest from the Middle Ages banished from the church in the beginning of the story, and an American Academy located where this priest used to celebrate his black masses. The second negative point to highlight is the despicable characters: with the exception of the cooker Jake and the black friend of Coopersmith, every character is nasty. Sarge, Reverend Jameson, the Coach, Colonel Kincaid, Miss Friedemeyer and of course the annoying quartet, they are "prepared" to die in the blood shed in the end of the story. Last but not the least, and as mentioned in the title of another review, the lead role for Clint Howard defines the quality and level of this forgettable flick. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Mensageiro de Satanás" ("Messenger of Satan")

That is unless you're getting a quarter each time that someone screeches Clint Howard's character's name. But the drinking game, just don't, although a few glasses of wine (red, of course) might help in getting through this disgusting "Carrie" rip-off.

Strange computer (DOS era) effects and late 60's style music (done to a Gregorian chant) that sounds like the opening credits from the movie version of "Sweet Charity" adds to the repulsive nature of this badly written, unfunny and offensive view of teen revenge, seen coming from the much bullied Howard who doesn't have the charm here to be sweetly nerdy. Certainly, most of the staff and students at this military academy are genuinely repulsive, and there is the urge to see them get what they deserve. But then there's sweet Heywood Nelson of "What's Happening" as Howard's one defender, basically a carbon copy of Amy Irving's "Carrie" character, sadly completely wasted.

There's gratuitous nudity with the presence of the sadistic secretary who gets a quick comeuppance for stealing the satanistic book that Howard found and dropped accidentally, seemingly entranced stupidly by the colorful pentagram on the cover. This is of course followed by nearly 20 minutes of non-stop gore, mostly with hideously laughable special effects. Everytime a head flies off a neck, I surpressed the urge to go "wee!", although I did that in the opening prologue setting up the satanic existence of the book brought over from Spain. It's also appropriate that the sounds right before the credits rolled seemed to be gas being passed. There are so many inconsequential moments in this film that it could have easily been cut by 20 minutes minus the pep rally and the secretary bathing. I'm sure the carnivorous hogs had better taste than what they were forced to eat here, the epitome of a tomaine addled brain able to come up with such muck.