Demons 4K UHD Review
“Demons” is an enjoyable Italian horror film.
Written by Dario Argento (who also produced), Lamberto Bava, Franco Ferrini, and Dardano Sacchetti, 1985’s “Demons” begins with a college student (Cheryl) being given a ticket to the new Metropol theater by a strange looking masked man. Rather than go to class, Cheryl and her friend Kathy head to the theater for what they assume is a free film screening. The screening isn’t exactly full but there’s a fair amount of patrons including 2 college guys (George and Ken) who hit on Cheryl and Kathy, a blind man and his guide, and a pimp (Tony) and his 2 prostitutes. Rosemary (one of the prostitutes) puts on a demon mask that is on display in the lobby. It is later revealed that anyone who wears the mask becomes a demon themselves. As the screening for the horror movie begins, all hell soon breaks loose in the theater as the demonic Rosemary begins to attack the movie theater patrons and turn others into demons. Worse still, the cast of characters find that they are trapped inside the theater and are desperately looking for a way out. Outside of the theater, 4 drugged up punk thieves escaping the police wind up breaking into the theater, but let out a demon in the process. Soon, the demon pandemic begins to spread everywhere.
Directed by Lamberto Bava, “Demons” is an entertaining albeit flawed Italian horror movie. Fueled by an 80’s rock soundtrack (Billy Idol, Motley Crue, Saxon, etc.) and an energetic score by Claudio Simonetti, “Demons” starts off strong in the first half-hour with the movie theater setting, the horror movie within a horror movie, and the beginning of the demon chaos complete with blood (red and green), exploding pustules, and a whole lot of death.
“Demons” loses a bit of steam in the middle act. The central problem is that the story bides its time until the explosive finale. Moreover, there’s no real main character within the middle part of the movie. The movie begins and ends with Cheryl as she is the audience’s way into the story, but she fades out of the narrative a lot as the demon carnage takes center stage. Characterization is definitely not the movie’s strong suit.
If you can look past those shortcomings though, you’ll find yourself engrossed by this horror-rock ride. Anytime you have a horror movie set in a theater, it’s always at least worth your time. “Demons” certainly is.
Note: Viewers have the option of playing 3 versions- International English, Italian and US English.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.66:1 2160p. How does it look? Remastered in 4K from the original camera negative in Dolby Vision, this print will blow you away with rich colors and a more refined picture. 100% worth the upgrade.
Audio Track: English 5.1 and English 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How do they sound? The uncompressed 5.1 track is nothing short of lively (the score is especially potent). The 2.0 track is also quality, but lacks the depth of the 5.1 track. Note: An Uncompressed 2.0 Mono track is also included for the U.S. theatrical cut.
Extras:
* 2 commentary tracks. One by Kat Ellinger and Heather Drain and another by Claudio Simonetti, Geretta Geretta, Lamberto Bava and Sergio Stivaletti.
* Italian, International English and US theatrical trailers
* A Metropol ticket with transfer details
* Synapse Films 2024 product catalogue.
* “Produced By Dario Argento”- A 27 minute visual essay by author/critic Michael Mackenzie who talks about director Dario Argento and his producer credits.
* Archival extras- Stivaletti Q&A, “Dario’s Demon Days” (Dario Argento interview), “Defining An Era In Music” (Claudio Simonetti interview), “Splatter Spaghetti Style” (Luigi Cozzi interview), “Carnage At The Cinema” (Lamberto Bava interview), “Dario And The Demons” (another Dario Argento interview), “Monstrous Memories” (another Luigi Cozzi interview), “Profondo Jones” (interview with author Alan Jones), and “Splatter Stunt Rock” (an interview with stuntman Ottaviano Dell’Acqua).
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