Dial Help
Italy 1989. Director: Ruggero Deodato
Cast: Charlotte Lewis, Marcello Modugno, William Berger

It was about time, as they say. And they should. It only took eleven years for Ruggero Deodato's cult film to be released onto video in Sweden. It's equally hard to believe, and you probably won't, but Dial Help is one of Deodato's most accomplished movies and it is definitely a relief after the disappointing Off Balance. Succeeding mainly because it's consequently true to its own weird logic (or lack of it). Surprisingly enough, one must say, considering its unusual plot (by Argento stalwart Franco Ferrini) which is beyond any sense. A telephone exchange which is possessed and terrorises top model Charlotte Lewis (from Polanski's Pirates). Poor Charlotte is because of this subconsciously led to take a bath, all dressed up in sexy underwear, in something alarmingly yellow and by this point into the movie you just know you love it, no matter what follows. What follows is that Deodato then lets his heroine run through desert Rome streets and empty subway stations, chased by a obsessed telephone signal in love, and he don't seem to be too busy explaining anything about anything. We just have to buy it. But he do keep the tempo on highest gear through out, with mostly excellent special effects, making Dial Help his best film of the '80s, well worth a second look.

© The Inzomniac's Movie Madness Review.