Demons

Metropol Mayhem!

Demons (Demoni) is directed by Lamberto Bava and Bava co-writes the screenplay with Dario Argento, Dardano Sacchetti and Franco Ferrini. It stars Urbano Barberini, Natasha Hovey, Karl Zinny, Paola Cozzo, Fiore Argento and Geretta Giancarlo. Music is by Claudio Simonetti and cinematography by Gianlorenzo Battaglia.

A wonderfully nutty spiced Spaghetti Horror, plot has a group of people trapped in a Berlin movie theatre that suddenly comes under attack by ravenous demons.

It could reasonably be argued that Bava's movie has some cheeky narrative depth underneath the gloop and schlock, this is after all purposely set in a movie theatre and features a film that basically becomes real, sort of. But really it's a pic that's set up for like minded horror buffs to feast upon, to jump head first into its feverish horror comic book glee.

The script is as poor as the dubbing is, with a roll call of cardboard cut out characters and loose end scenarios jettisoned in readiness for the next plasmatic explosive sequence. Yet the care free abandon of the gruesome killings on show, and the rapid pace of it all, ensures it's a fun packed ride.

Even the musical score is schizo as it ranges from typical 1980s synth plods to heavy metal thunder - joyous. 7/10

The Italian horror movies of the 80s was a genre in itself, could be violent giallos, or supernatural horror, or cannibal movies, at the time we were really both horrified but also mesmerised. With a simple story, Argento (story) and Bava (director) have people going to see a movie about demons and the demons come to life. But it's done well as a woman gets her face scratched by a mask and the same thing happens in the movie, several times what happens in reality also happens in the movie. Chaos enues fast as mre and more people are contaminated, and the heroes (and other characters we like too) try to save their lives. A lot of gore scenes (practical effects) are in this movie, not hesitationg to cut heads or limbs and spread liters of blood (either red or green or yellow). When you're into the movie it's a great thrill ride and the 88 minutes go fast.