REVIEW: ‘Demons’ and ‘Demons 2’ in gore-filled glory on Blu-ray
Image courtesy of film studio / Provided with permission.
The Italian horror films of the 1980s are not everyone’s cup of blood-filled tea. For starters, the gore can be a little difficult to handle, and the dubbing and acting are sometimes worthy of one or two eye rolls. That said, there are many gems within this subgenre of snarling cinematic delights.
Case in point: Lamberto Bava’s classic Demons and its equally impressive sequel, Demons 2. The two horror flicks are now available in a limited edition Blu-ray set, and there are many extras to keep shrieking fans happy for days.
First off, the transfers look beautiful. These are 4K restorations of the original 35mm prints, and the colors pop off the screen, which is important because the lighting and setting of these giallo films is key to their appreciation. Think of Dario Argento’s Suspiria without the color-scape. The same can be said of Demons and Demons 2, which actually includes a producing credit for Argento.
Of the special features, they are magnificent. There are physical movie tickets inside the Blu-ray packaging that mirror props from each film, and there’s even a new poster for Demons with artwork by Wes Benscoter. There’s also reversible cover art that is scary good.
On disc one, fans can enjoy three versions of Demons: the full-length original cut in English, the full-length original cut in Italian and the shorter U.S. version with different dubbing and sound effects (the original cut is still preferred). There’s also new audio commentary by Bava, special effects artist Sergio Stivaletti, legendary composer Claudio Simonetti and actress Geretta Geretta. Another commentary track on the original movie is also provided, this one by two movie critics. Other goodies: an interview with Argento, a visual essay on Argento’s career, an interview with Simonetti, an interview with Ottaviano Dell’Acqua and some trailers.
Disc two, featuring the sequel, has a commentary by a film critic, a feature with Bava, an interview with Stivaletti, an interview with composer Simon Boswell and a visual essay on the use of space and technology in both films.
And, in case fans were wondering, both films have withstood the test of time. The original movie is a simple, but effecting experiment in meta-horror. The occupants of a movie palace called the Metropol must run for their lives when a contagion sparks a demon apocalypse in the venue. Unfortunately there’s no way out, so the audience members need to take refuge in the different parts of the movie theater, finding refuge amongst the chairs, in the balcony and even behind the screen. Demons 2 continues the onslaught, but this time the meta-horror deals with television and how this demonic plague can wreak havoc in individual homes.
Bava is a master behind the camera as he depicts this carnage. Yes, it’s exploitative and gory, but the special effects are mesmerizingly realized. The message behind the film can be a little lost behind the blood and snarling mouths, but there’s something there about moviemaking, viruses, survival and the real-life horrors that can emerge in a place of fantasy.
Demons and Demons 2 are back.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Demons and Demons 2 are now available in a limited edition two-disc Blu-ray set. Click here for more information.
