Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

It's about what you would expect from a 1980s European horror movie. The movie is dubbed, the acting is bad and there are continuity problems that are pretty funny. One scene, a girl has a pony tail and a second later she doesn't. There is another scene where a dead person has their eyes open and then the next time you see the person a moment later, the eyes have closed (not because they were supposed to, but an obvious blooper). The dub acting was so bad, whoever was talking for the black guy reminded me a lot of Robert Downey Jr.'s character on Tropic Thunder. Maybe it was him! The gore itself is not a splatter fest like the comment on the cover of the movie suggests. It is basically typical of what you would see on a zombie movie like Night of the Living Dead. Maybe it was shocking in its day, but it is very tame by today's standards. I'd say that the movie is overall ok, it is enjoyable and the demons look cool, but that is about as best as it gets.

When I first viewed Demons in the late 80's on VHS, I thought it was pretty scary and none of the styles or acting seemed out of time or place. Now, twenty years later, this movie is caught in an 80s time capsule which is actually what gives it it's charm. Demons is more adventure and suspense with gory horror elements and plenty of goofy characters. It could be the Love Boat of gorefests (though set in a weird Germanic theater and redhead replacing hostess Julie).

As with most classic Italian scream fests, the colors and lighting and general style stand out over the plot. You want acting? Forget it, between the dubbing and cartoony characters there's nary a fine actor in sight but that's another element that gives Demons it's comic book/giallo charm. And, the Demons' green vomit/drool, lit eyes and teeth replacement just enhance the overall gory effects.

if you're in the mood for stylish Euro grindhouse, this is the demonic movie within a movie for you. Maybe have some fine Italian wine and creamy green dip with it for culinary enhancement.