A Look Back At Robert Hammer’s ‘DON’T ANSWER THE PHONE’ (1980)

Don’t Answer the Phone! is a 1980 American psychological horror film co-written and directed by Robert Hammer. It was released 45 years ago in February. Have you revisited it recently?

Maybe it’s time…

Synopsis

Vietnam vet, amateur bodybuilder, and talented porno-photographer Kirk Smith is a crazed killer who stalks the streets of Los Angeles, strangles young women in lurid fashion, and sexually abuses their dead bodies.

This was directed and written by Robert Hammer and starred James Westmoreland as Lt. Chris McCabe and Ben Frank as Lt.Hatcher.

Have a look at the trailer!

Facts and Trivia

As i was researching this movie i found some fun facts that i would love to share with you guys.

• Released On “Leap Day” – February 29, 1980
• All the shots of the killer on the prowl on the streets of Los Angeles were filmed without permits.
• Nicholas Worth consulted a criminal psychologist to research his role as the killer, and improvised a lot of his dialogue.
• Flo Lawrence and James Westmoreland didn’t get along during the shooting of this film. As a direct result of this, Lawrence ate a bunch of onions and Westmoreland refused to shave on the day that their love scene was shot in order to make said love scene harder on one another to do.
• This film was inspired by a series of brutal murders that were committed in the 1970s in California by Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono Jr., who were known collectively as the Hillside Strangler.
• Pamela Jean Bryant, who plays the aspiring model “Sue Ellen” who Kirk Smith strangles after locking her in prisoner-transport shackles during a photo-session, appeared on a centerfold in Playboy.

 

Movie Quotes

• “Are you proud of me now? Do I measure up?”
• Lt. Chris McCabe: “It’s the strangler’s M. O., all right, but now we know that he uses a stocking from the previous victim.”                                                                                                                                                     Sgt. Hatcher: “Hey, that’s great! Now we got him on petty theft, along with murder!”
• Lisa: “Mom, Dad, the drugs are more important than you!”
• Lt. Chris McCabe: “Adios creep!”
• Sam Gluckman: “I want you to know something, officer. I wouldn’t print anything like this. I mean really… candles stuck in all her privates? That’s just sick.”

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for classic 80’s police drama and horror you have come to the right place. One of my favorite kills in this movie is when he kills a nurse at the beginning of the movie while she is dressing. If you want to start your old school horror journey, I would recommend this movie.

Happy 45th anniversary!