I can remember seeing posters for Demons before it was released in my local video shop, then when it was released I talked my Dad into renting out the VHS tape for me. I was blown away! A mysterious, half masked man (played by Michele Soavi, an Italian horror director) hands out tickets for a free movie screening at a Berlin cinema/theatre. On show is a horror film, four kids discover the tomb of Nostradamus, one becomes demonically possessed and brutally murders the others. This spills out into the audience, who find themselves trapped within the theatre whilst they gradually turn into murderous demons.
I adore this movie, quite possibly my favourite Italian horror film of the great 1980's. The film within a film worked brilliantly, the gory action is relentless and the pounding Claudio Simonetti soundtrack is accompanied by artists such as Go West, Billy Idol, Accept and Saxon. A real treat for the ears. I have just watched it on Blu-ray for the first time and it looked stunning, much use is made of colour in a similar manner to the likes of Dario Argento's "Suspiria" (Argento produced Demons, Lamberto Bava - son of the great Maria- directed). The special effects are fantastic, courtesy in part of Italian effects wizard Sergio Stivaletti, and films such as Evil Dead, American Werewolf in London and Dawn of the Dead sprang to mind. One of my favourite horror movies of the 1980's, one of the standout decades in horror cinematic history. Highly recommended.
Review of Demons
