Year: 1980
Runtime: 85 min
Language: English
Director: Emmett Alston
As midnight approaches across the nation, a psychotic killer begins targeting New Year's Eve celebrations in each time zone. A radio DJ, Roz Kelly, receives disturbing phone calls from the perpetrator, who seems to be reveling in the rising death toll. With every chilling call, Roz must confront not only the escalating danger but also a terrifying connection to the unfolding events, as her own life hangs in the balance.
Warning: spoilers below!
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As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, DJ Diane Sullivan, popularly known as “Blaze,” was electrifying a Hollywood hotel with her countdown celebration, captivating the nation’s audience through a simulcast on local radio. Just as the excitement peaked, a chilling phone call from an individual claiming to be Evil intruded, shaking her composure. With an eerie voice and malicious intent, he revealed his plan to eliminate one “naughty girl” in each U.S. time zone, culminating with Diane herself as the final victim at midnight Pacific Time.
While Diane’s son, Derek, made an appearance in the studio, his presence went largely unnoticed as his mother focused on her broadcast. Unbeknownst to everyone, Derek would soon become a key player in the unfolding chaos of the night.
As the festivities continued, the studio team intensified security measures to ensure a safe celebration. Unfortunately, their precautions were futile as a series of brutal murders erupted across Los Angeles, leaving a shocking path of destruction. The first victim, a nurse, was discovered dead at a sanitarium right after midnight in the Eastern Time Zone, followed closely by two women found lifeless near a liquor store in the Central Time Zone. The killer, with a disturbing penchant for documenting his crimes using a radio/cassette recorder, would call in to taunt Diane with each new murder, heightening the tension and fear gripping the night.
As the clock inched closer to midnight in the Mountain Time Zone, the killer’s desperate hunt for his next victim escalated. Oblivious to the wrath he would soon attract from a gang of bikers, he led them on a frantic chase through a drive-in theater. After brutally dispatching one of the bikers and commandeering a couple’s vehicle, his sights were set on a new target. However, an unsuspecting girl miraculously managed to escape from the backseat, leaving the killer scrambling for his next prey.
While law enforcement closed in on the hotel, Richard, disguised as his past persona, stealthily infiltrated the premises. This cunning mastermind turned out to be Diane’s husband, harboring deep resentment toward her and other women in his life whom he felt had wronged him. With a malevolent glint in his eye, Richard executed a twisted revenge against Diane, rendering her unconscious before launching into a furious tirade of scorn.
Reveling in his cruel machinations, Richard’s true intentions were laid bare as he hacked the elevator system with plans to chain Diane to the machinery, subjecting her to a horrifying descent. However, the police quickly caught up to him, their presence alerted by a mysterious source. A tense standoff ensued, punctuated by gunfire that ultimately damaged the controls of the elevator, halting its descent and sparing Diane from a horrific fate.
With his plans thwarted, Richard retreated to the rooftop, donning the mask that had previously allowed him to navigate the hotel invisibly. Cornered by the police, he faced the inevitable consequences of his actions, ultimately opting for a bleak plunge into oblivion as his only escape route.
As the authorities attended to Diane’s injuries, Derek, unbeknownst to many, was piloting the very ambulance dispatched to rescue her. Having seized his father’s mask and violently murdered the true driver, this once-innocent bystander now found himself enmeshed in a dark scheme as the ambulance disappeared into the night, leaving Diane’s fate hauntingly uncertain.
Amidst the turmoil, a radio announcer in Honolulu can be heard announcing the arrival of midnight in the Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone, an event that, though seemingly benign, serves to deepen the ominous ambiance enveloping the hotel.
Last Updated: November 19, 2024 at 11:44
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Festive celebrations are shattered by a race-against-time threat.If you liked the high-tension, festive terror of New Year's Evil, explore more movies where a holiday becomes a ticking clock for survival. This thread features similar thrillers and horror films that exploit celebratory settings for maximum suspense and anxiety.
Stories in this thread typically unfold during a major holiday, with the antagonist using the event's timeline—like midnight on New Year's or Christmas Eve—as a catalyst for their actions. The plot is driven by a relentless pace as protagonists must thwart the threat before the symbolic deadline, intertwining festive iconography with fear.
Movies are grouped here for their shared use of a holiday setting to amplify tension and dread. They feature a fast pace, high intensity, and a bleak tone, often involving a cat-and-mouse game where the public nature of the celebration adds to the oppressive atmosphere.
Where broadcasters become the target of a manipulative killer's game.Fans of New Year's Evil will find similar chilling tales in this thread, featuring movies where a killer uses phone calls or broadcasts to torment a media personality. Discover thrillers that explore the psychological horror of being a public target.
The narrative pattern follows a public figure who receives threatening communications from an unseen antagonist, blurring the line between their professional and personal life. The story escalates through a series of taunts and threats, forcing the protagonist into a high-stakes psychological battle with their tormentor, often revealing a personal connection.
These films are linked by their core premise of media-centric terror, creating a specific breed of suspense. They share a heavy emotional weight, a tense tone, and often explore themes of obsession and public vulnerability, making the fear feel intensely personal and claustrophobic.
Don't stop at just watching — explore New Year's Evil in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what New Year's Evil is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of New Year's Evil with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape New Year's Evil. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about New Year's Evil: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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