Don't Answer the Phone! (Robert Hammer, 1980)

[Vaughan]

amazon.co.uk: Don't Answer the Phone! (USA BCI Uncut version)

Well, I've had this one for a while, if I recall correctly it was recommended by CJ. I don't think I'd ever seen it before. Further, since this disc makes a big deal about it being uncut, I confess I have no idea what was missing previously.

Regardless of that, let me say that I was quite surprised by it. For a start this is a reasonably nasty bit of cheese. Sometimes high doses of cheese in a film render it sterile as far as the nastiness goes - especially when they employ over-the-top gore. This film though is full of stranglings, and that doesn't require lots of blood. Instead, we get some rather prolonged attacks that are legitimatelly cringeworthy even after all this time.

So what's the cheese? Well, frankly, the acting is terrible - the lighting awful - the sets non-existant (I guess they just shot in whatever places they could find?) the camera work amateur.... I mean everything about it felt cheesy. But then the killer would come on, and his performance was so earnest you couldn't help but be affected.

The plot? There's a killer and he's killing people. The cops have to catch him. That's about it. The killer is revealed in the opening frames of the film, so there is no mystery element.

I saw one extra (though there's a commentary) which was an interview with Nicholas Worth, who plays the killer. He says he saw the film as a "Tits and Ass" movie only, and just wanted to give it his best shot (he had a stage background). He's actually quite convincing in a "Oh my God that's over-the-top" way - and yes, there's plenty of topless nudity.

All in all, this is a good slice of nasty, imo. The kills are decently handled, even if most of the major parts are cast from amatuer stock.

Worthy.

[Wayne]

Am I right in thinking that is the Reg-1 version you have. I quite fancy the ABUK DTS reg-2 version. Worried about what might be cut and if i could live with the cuts.
Any advice anyone.DVD Compare say that the Reg-2 has no cuts (reinstated) but uses a shorter version that has 5mins missing.

[Vaughan]

Yes, it's the R1. Everything I have read says AVOID the R2 release, hence I went for that. Apparently the R2 release was the "TV version". I suspect the use of the "C" word is gone, for instance....

[Angel]

I compared the cut version (ABUK) against the uncut version (R1) and the cuts add up to less than 3m.

The cuts made to the AB disc look like they were made by a former BBFC examiner as they are exactly the type of cuts that the BBFC would have made if the film had been submitted to them in the 80's. Basically they were to remove all instances of sexualised violence as well as a few moments of non sexualised violence.

1st murder at 4m shortened the strangulation by 3s. Forcible breast exposure also removed.

2nd murder at 18m in the bedroom removed shots of him tying her hands behind her back and shots of him turning her over to face him. These cuts were to eliminate sight of nudity (this being the reason for all the cuts). Subsequent sight of forcible breast exposure and brief topless shot just prior to him pouring candle wax on her breasts also removed. Shots of him pouring candlewax over her breasts allowed to remain. About 40s cut here

Just prior to this the scene showing the woman sitting in from of her mirror touching her(clothed)breasts as the killer watches from window was removed.

3rd murder at 29m This involves the handcuffed woman. In the uncut version her death involves a great deal of nudity. In the ABUK version because no nudity was deemed acceptable, the scene ends abruptly as he grab at her jacket, which meant that her death/strangulation was completely removed. 27s cut here.

5th/6th murder at 76m. This scene suffered extensive cuts. All sight of nudity involving the first victim was removed, all that is left is close ups of her strangulation. In the uncut version her roommate enters the scene but in the AB disc all sight of her being grabbed and then strangled has been completely removed. About 50s cut here.

One BBFC cut was waived for this disc where the killer is seen putting a coin into a stocking prior to him strangling her. At 43m.

[Wayne]

Thanks for that, good info. Reg-1 it is then.

[Randolph Carter]

I watched this one yesterday and it was way better than I expected. If you ask me it's worth watching for Nicholas Worth's amazing performance alone. He sure is a strong, menacing, crazy s.o.b. of a killer, and it's a good thing that director Hammer doesn't show what he does to his victims ("Was she sexually assaulted?" - "Every orifice she's got."). The (many) killings are still very strong, nasty and unpleasant. This would make a good double feature with "10 to Midnight", I guess.