FRANCHISE KILLER: DEMONS

I remember being a kid and seeing these films at a very inappropriate age. It scared the crap out of me. That disturbing image of those pesky demons running down that hall was the stuff of nightmares. Cinematic experiences such as these have shaped me into the giant horror fan I am today. Add that to the fact that Demons 1 and 2 have two of the hottest guys ever seen in a horror movie. Not until I was older did I see the comedic value and sexuality of the films which makes me appreciate them that much more.Written by genre master Dario Argento and directed by the amazing Lamberto Bava the films have garnered and earned there well deserved place in the classics of genre cinema.

DEMONS
New World
1985 Color
88 Mins.
Horror
Urbano Babereni, Natasha Hovey, Karl Zinny, Fiore Argento and Fabiola Toledo star.
Written by Dario Argento
Directed by Lamberto Bava
N/R contains language, violence, gore, drug use, sexuality and nudity.

Nothing beats the first. Demons is a gruesome, entertaining, nightmarish, cheesefest masterpiece. Completely outrageous on every level and featuring  a trademark kick ass soundtrack. Demons tells the tale of a mysterious movie screening that goes awry. As unknowing patrons fill the seats of the seedy old school movie theater they soon find themselves in jeopardy as the demons on screen begin to infect the guests. Finding themselves barricaded in the theater they must try and survive the terrifying onslaught of goretastic proportions which include several trademark scenes such as the puss filled demon cut on a prostitute's cheek, a demon birthing sequence, decapitations and lots of flailing blood and guts. Nothing has as much power or is as memorable as the scene when the horde comes flailing down the hallway in slow motion with glowing eyes, razor sharp claws and hungry mouths. All of this fun leads up to the iconic finale as the sexy hero rides a motorcycle through the theater tearing apart the demonic beings. Every moment of this film makes this a classic and rightly so. *****/5

DEMONS 2
Imperial
1986 Color
92 Mins.
Horror
David Knight, Nancy Brilli, Coralini Cataldi-Tassoni, Bobby Rhodes and Asia Argento star.
Written by Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava
Directed by Lamberto Bava
N/R contains language, violence, gore drug use, sexuality and nudity.

Yes it's true Demons 2 is not as good as the original but it's still a great movie. This time setting the action in a similar way in an high rise apartment building. The curse begins to spread this time from a screening of the infamous movie on TV which bleeds into a birthday party. The effects have been upgraded and the film is even more outrageous. Although not as scary as the original the film does boast some of the most creative practical creature effects ever seen on film. Sure they don't hold up that well but a baby demon with wings ripping it's way out of a possessed dog's body is the stuff that fanboys dreams are made of. It all culminates with our sexy hero (even more studly this time) repelling down the side of the building while trying to save his pregnant wife whose going into labor all the while being attacked by the demon leader. Filled with amazing effects and some nightmarish sequences including a powerful redo of the original's hallway sequence. Demons 2 does the sequel thing right. It may not be a better film but it extends the mythology and has a damn fun time doing it! ****.5/5