Dial: Help

Hot on the heels of 'E-M-S' DVD's release of Ruggero Deodato's 'Body Count' comes another of the old boy's often ignored gems...'Dial Help' (aka 'Minaccia D'Amore'). Whilst the 'Body Count' release was sparse in content but lovely in presentation 'E-M-S' up the quality level this time round with an all round excellent package...

'I think my telephone is trying to kill me!' Jenny (Charlotte Lewis, 'Dial: Help')

Plotwise, 'Dial: Help' is perhaps a little ludicrous but at the same time still very enjoyable. The film opens with beautiful young English model Jenny (played by the stunning Charlotte Lewis) in Italy on a public phone to her agent to arrange some modelling work. When she is cut off from the call she frantically redials the number to continue the conversation but she misdials the number and is connected to a mysterious abandoned Samaritan call centre that seems to be possessed by the spirits of hundreds of dead suicide victims that had previously used the service!!? Not thinking much of it young Jenny goes about her business but soon after she starts receiving similarly bizarre phone calls elsewhere, some of which lead to violent mishaps for her colleagues (and even her pet fish!) Things start to go from bad to worse when the spirits on the telephone line grow attached to Jenny and they become sexually possessive of her and won't let her go. Can Jenny stop the evil energies or will she succumb to their twisted path...

Yes I know, after reading that brief synopsis you'll be wondering what the hell is going on? Surely a film that sounds that bloody off kilter truly couldn't work but it does and there are many reasons for this...Firstly, bad plot/script aside Deodato's direction is at times just beautiful with some righteously gorgeous drifting crane shots and set pieces that will have fans of the Italian genre scene grin with pleasure. Claudio Simonetti is also present to provide the films score which at times is indeed some of his best work and kicks off in great style from the films opening titles with an excellent guitar heavy riff that you'll be humming for a long time after the films done. Finally, Charlotte Lewis is nothing short of beautiful here and ideally cast in the role of Jenny. And if the fact Lewis is in the film in the first place isn't enough then just check out the scene where she slips into black basque and stockings to roll around in the bath in a frenzy of sexual tension - simply stunning! Gore fans will also find some moments of entertainment also and whilst the death scenes are few and far between when they do kick in (backed with Simonetti's rocking theme) you'll find plenty to cheer about - my own personal favourite being a scene where we see an old chap's heart pacemaker explode (wahey!)

So if you have the stamina to leave your sense of plot disbelief elsewhere then 'Dial: Help' should provide a very welcome change in your Italian genre front, but what of the disc from 'E-M-S' DVD?

Well I'm pleased to say that this is indeed a right cracker! I've had this film on VHS for some time now and had some reservations about the muffled audio on the print but 'S-M-S' seem to have tweaked things here and whilst there is still some minor audio muffle at times it's a major improvement on any previous releases. The image is virtually perfect presented in 1:1.50 ratio and pin sharp throughout, the print also is the original Italian print with 'Minaccia D'Amore' showing as the onscreen title (and not 'Dial: Help') and looks as good as it ever will.

There are also some very nice extra features that round the package off very nicely indeed. First off there are some cool text pages with interviews (in German) with Deodato and lead William Berger as well as Bios for Deodato, Simonetti and Lewis. Next up is the films theatrical trailer and rounding things off is a massive stills gallery that contains the films entire soundtrack which is a major bonus for fans of Simonetti's top notch music. There's also six bonus trailers for other 'S-M-S' releases (middle of the road genre stuff).

'Dial: Help' may be one hell of a dumb ass film plotwise but still manages to deliver the goods when it comes to genre fun and this DVD from 'E-M-S' is a gorgeous package. Far more entertaining than stuff like Deodato's 'Cut and Run'...check it out!

Review by Alan Simpson