Search - Demons on DVD

Keith A. (Keefer522)
Reviewed on 10/6/2013...

Italian horror maestros Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava collaborated on this stylish-but-nonsensical gore fest. Horror film viewers at a newly-reopened German movie palace suddenly have to fight for their lives when the flesh-eating murderous evil in the movie creeps off the screen and starts possessing members of the audience.

As usual with Italian horror flicks, the gore flows hot and heavy... on the other hand, the dialogue is awkward, the acting is stilted (at best), the dubbing sucks and the story barely makes a lick of sense... but the action moves so fast & furious that you won't even notice.

As an added bonus for metal nerds, now-classic tracks by Saxon, Accept, Motley Crue and Pretty Maids are heard during pivotal moments.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Jefferson N. from BLAIRSVILLE, GA
Reviewed on 1/18/2010...

This classic collaboration between Italian director/producer Dario Argento and director Lamberto Bava is truly a joy to behold if you're a gorehound or a horror movie fan. The plot is simple and yet deep at the same time. A movie theater is giving out tickets and a young college student and her friend attend. Inside, we are introduced to a cast of victims who all attend the cheesy movie only to find that something evil is happening. The curse of the film reaches out and begins to infect the moviegoers with it's demonic spell, turning them into slavering, psychotic demon-zombies. And every one that dies becomes another member of this legion of the damned. Can the survivors find a way out of the theater and warn the world of an impending plague...or will they die trapped like rats?

This movie is truly awesome because we get to see plenty of horror cliches to laugh at and at the same time get to see gore by the boatload. The story itself is also funny, but at the same time there seems to be more going on. In the commentary, the director Lamberto Bava doesn't really seem to remember any deep context, but you can almost feel it there in spite of itself. It's like the movie within the movie has reached out beyond it's creators and wants to assert itself as a classic, even though the creators seem to feel it was just another film. Perhaps the fact that Dario Argento was a bit more hands on in this movie than in some of the others he produced later adds to the ambiance of this movie, since he was at his height of creativity at this time. In some capacity, he might as well have BEEN the director on this one as much as he worked on it.

If you're an Argento fan, you have to see this movie. If you're an Italian horror fan, you have to see this movie. And if you just want to see some gory action, you have to see this movie. One of the best from both creators.

A great horror movie!

John Lindsey | Socorro, New Mexico USA. | 08/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Set in Berlin, a new theater has opened which is showing a realistic violent horror movie about demons and the occult then suddenly some of the audiences transform into demons literally and ripping almost everyone to shreds, only some humans must defend themselves and find a way out.

A well made, original and entertaining horror action fantasy from director Lamberto Bava ( Director of " Blade in the Dark" and "Shock") and produced by legendary Italian horror maestro Dario Argento ( of "Suspiria" fame) loaded with great make-up effects, gore, action, a decent story and a nice twist in the end makes this a definite must see movie for fans of the genre. The DVD is quite good in picture and sound with fine extras especially the commentary by Lamberto Bava.

Also recommended: "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Demons 2", "Cemetery Man", " The Church", " The Last Action Hero", " New Nightmare", "Day of the Dead", " 28 Days Later", " The Evil Dead", "Dawn of the Dead ( both 1978 and 2004 versions)", " Night of the Living Dead", " Cannibal Ferox", " Phenomena", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre part 2", " The Toxic Avenger", "Re-Animator", " Videodrome", " Suspiria", " Inferno", " Evil Dead 2", "Freddy Vs. Jason", " A Nighmare on Elm Street"," Hellraiser", " Hell of the Living Dead", "City of the Living Dead", " House By The Cemetery", " Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend", "Rabid Grannies", "Riki-Oh The Story of Ricky", "Blood Diner", and " The Beyond"."

Italian Horror in All Gory Glory

Sal Paradise | Washington, DC | 11/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw this film alongside Beyond by Fulci, and at the time I got the films confused only that Demons was even more horrifying since it takes place in a movie theater and I was in a movie theater when I saw it and subsequently Beyond for the second time. That being said the film is highly recommended for gore afficiandos and films of italian horror. The sequels to this film which I have not seen, received poor reviews. Much like the sequels to Fulci's Zombi were not very good. Yes there's gore in this film but there's at least a bit of story. Great for a drunken weekend with buddies who have similar interests."

Scary

Emily R. Jarrell | Newport News, VA United States | 07/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I rate this as one of the scariest and here's why. Years ago, when it was new and playing at the theater I saw it and let me tell you, seeing this film in a darkened theater is one terrifying experience. Perhaps because the demons were terrorizing the victims in a theater, I don't know, but it was beyond creepy and I still remember being scared out of mind to this day."