VIDEO REVIEW: Deep Red

VIDEO REVIEW: Tenebre

VIDEO REVIEW: Demons 2

VIDEO REVIEW: Suspiria

VIDEO REVIEW: Demons

REVIEW: Demons 2

Demons 2

Director: Lamberto Bava

Year 1986

Demons 2 is a tremendously outrageous sequel that takes all of the fun bits from the original Demons and lets it run wild within the confines of an apartment high-rise, resulting in bloody chaos. Imaginative and unhinged, the film moves at a break-neck pace as it showcases how truly entertaining Italian genre cinema can be. Taking the helm once again, Lamberto Bava religiously follows in the footsteps of his original hit as he sticks to formula and delivers a dangerous combination of blood, guts, and demonic mayhem, which seen through Bava's demented lens is sure to please any fan of this wild genre. Grotesquely sinister fun abounds in this most worthy and entertaining of follow-ups.

The film takes place in a ten story high-rise apartment building on a most horrific night, where mysteriously a demon manifests itself into the world of the living and begins to wreak havoc among the tenants, changing the every day citizens into flesh-ripping demons. One by one, the tenants are transformed into hellish ghouls, forcing the surviving apartment dwellers to fight for their very lives in the most hopeless of situations. Trapped in a ten story tomb and hunted by an army of demons, will anyone see the light of day again?

Demons 2 is a tricky beast, because there really isn't any central character to speak of within the cast. Sure we have our two most likely main characters in the form of George and Hannah, played by David Edwin Knight and Nancy Brilli, but frankly they are just one of a number of roles that are literally jumbled into this smorgasbord of chaos, and believe me chaos is the name of the game in this flick. Awash in a turbulent storm of blood and mayhem, Knight and Brilli do a commendable job in playing the role of the expectant newlyweds, but try as they may they can not break through the outrageous proceedings that Bava has in store for them, and this is not a bad thing. With demons on a rampage, who needs main characters to root for anyway?

What we do get within this chaotic formula is a chance to showcase a motley group of tenants as they try desperately to stay alive. Bobby Rhodes, a fan favorite from the original Demons, essentially reprises his role from the first film yet in name only. In the first movie Rhodes was a pimp named Tony and in the second entry he takes on the moniker of Hank, the badass gym instructor who specializes in demon slaying. Either way you look at it, the guy gives the same exceptionally outrageous performance which is truly legendary to behold. Over the top and out of control, it's not hard to see why Bobby Rhodes has a cult following.

Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni also does a great deal of heavy lifting among the diverse cast, as she is almost extensively under a great deal of prosthetics and makeup for much of the film. With her being the initial infected tenant of the complex, it gives the actress countless opportunities to really ham it up for the cameras as she delightfully goes on her demonic killing spree. You really have to give it up for Tassoni, because she goes all out in bringing this despicable creature to life. She is a true nightmare in the flesh, and her wacky gore-filled antics are a thing of frightening beauty. It's also interesting to note that a young Asia Argento makes an appearance as Ingrid Haller, a young girl trapped inside the demon-infested apartment high-rise. Argento does a great job with the morbid material and she looks as cute as a button.

As previously mentioned, the film is jam-packed with hectic moments which all morph together to make for one hell of a horror opus. Sometimes silly, but always entertaining, these raucous instances produce an unsettling atmosphere that just permeates the movie to its very core. What's interesting about this unparalleled tone is that it is not horrific in nature, but entertainingly demented in presentation. You'll never be truly scared during the run time of this flick, but you will find yourself feeling a great sense of unease at all that is going on. It is a sweeping amalgam of blood, guts, and terror, but it always has that playful aspect to it that always harkens back to the fun factor of the genre and era. I've always enjoyed this magical element that most Italian horror efforts of this time seem effortlessly able to capture, and Demons 2 just takes that approach and runs with it, as it makes you cringe and grin in unison.

Much of the enjoyment factor of the movie has a great deal to do with the practical effects on display and the wonderful creature designs for the various demons. Nasty and grotesque, the demons are as maleficent as they are decrepit and their proficiency at dealing out violent retribution to anyone that crosses their path is without equal. Blood splatters and wounds agape as these vile creatures search every nook and cranny of the complex for fresh meat to tear apart and the effects department do an excellent job in bringing it all to fruition. The transformations of the humans as they painfully morph into demons is a highlight of the film, though in my opinion it was done more feverishly in the original entry. Be that as it may, Demons 2 is an entertaining romp that never seems to wear out its welcome as it goes balls to the wall in its attempts to shock and awe its audience.

Demons 2 is a sequel that truly gives its audience what it wants and that is demonic chaos on an unsettling level. Unrestrained to the point of bafflement, the movie saturates itself with vile moments, despicable scenarios and outlandish prospects, to the point that it all feels as if it will spill out onto the audience in a gore covered mess. In true chaotic form, the presence of David Edwin Knight, Nancy Brilli, Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni, Bobby Rhodes and even Asia Argento, are all lost within the confusion of this claustrophobic terror-dome, making for a film that is quite obscure and out of control. It is in this madness that the film really takes off, as it sweeps us up in the mayhem and puts us front and center, surrounded by the bedlam.

Truly rooted in that sinister Italian horror style, the film boasts a plentiful amount of gore thanks to its wonderful effects crew and makeup department. The demons are truly frightening with their demented eyes and puss spewing features, and the very nature in which they present themselves and dispense death is truly unruly and without remorse. If anything can be said about Demons 2 it's that it is without a doubt demonic, both in its visual flare and in its content. Ridiculously fun and wholly entertaining, this is without a doubt a roller coaster of a film. When it comes down to it, Demons 2 is an outstanding second stab at the genre, even if it doesn't attempt to mess with the formula or shake things up. If you've got a demonic itch to scratch, then look no further. Bava's got your hook-up. Demons 2 is.....

Nerd Alert!!!!

Asia Argento.... Cute as a button.

These new 3D TVs are crazy real!

Surprise! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

One of the most dramatic birthday entrances in history.

Could you be, the most beautiful demon in the world? Sing it Prince!

It's my party and I'll kill everyone if I want to.

Did someone have themselves a little accident?

Bad dog! Very bad dog!

Smash everything! SMASH EVERYTHING! AGAIN!

Even this crazy chick was shocked at how cool this movie was.

Shoot everything! SHOOT EVERYTHING!

I told you I don't want any of your damned Girl Scout Cookies! Beat it!

WTF?!?!?!

NOOOOOOO!

Looking good sweetheart.

Watch as a young Asia Argento is scarred for life.

Cheer up! It may be over, but at least we have the memories.

ALL THE COLORS: Inferno

REVIEW: Suspiria

Suspiria
Director: Dario Argento
Year 1977

Suspiria is a masterwork of violence and color, brought to us by the legendary italian filmmaker Dario Argento. The film follows a young and beautiful ballet dancer named Suzy Bannion, who arrives at a surreal dance school that harbors something truly unspeakable within its hallowed walls. Will Suzy discover the secret that has been the source of so many girl's deaths, or will she be the next victim of this damned place. Get ready for a heavy helping of eye candy that will make your retinas explode with delight.

Come on in to the ballet school of DEATH.

Upside-down opera is the coolest!

When it comes to Italian horror, Argento is the name of the game. Having established a respectable reputation for himself with his four prior giallo films, The Bird With the Crystal Plumage, The Cat o' Nine Tales,  Four Flies on Grey Velvet, and Deep Red, Argento decided to delve a little further into the horror genre with his ballet school haunting. Suspiria marked his first departure from the gloved killers and razor blade maniacs of his horror origins to a more visually expressive entry that would soon become his most hailed film and acclaimed accomplishment of his legacy.

By infusing the haunting melodies of his frequent musical collaborators, Goblin, the expressive and surreal kaleidoscopic color palette of reds, greens, and blues, and the other worldly location of a troubled ballet school, Argento was able to make a film that transcends the genre, opening up a whole new world for creative minds to express their wildest and bloodiest dreams.

The violence that Dario had subjected his audience to in his earlier films, would be brought to a feverish pitch as the masses lay witness to barbed wire tearing flesh, a savage hanging, and a stained glass laceration covered in candy coated colors that could warp the mind. His visual potency was as venomous as his content and none showcased this fact as expertly as Suspiria.

Suzy finds out that it's the Season of the Witch.

Probably one of the most creepiest sleep-overs in history.

With all of these superb elements ripe for the picking from the demented Italian director's mind, he would need an equally capable actress to tie the whole concept together. Charged with terror and overwhelmed by a tale of innocence lost, the story of Suspiria needed an actress that could carry some heavy and wholesome undertones, but at the same time be able to press forward when danger reared its ugly head. Jessica Harper fit the bill completely, taking on the role of Suzy Bannion with that kind of reckless abandon not seen but in only the most dedicated of scream queens.

Her timid yet brave portrayal of Suzy Bannion is both endearing and inspirational, allowing us to come along with her on her journey to discover the mystery behind her fellow dance student's disappearances. She makes the role her own, blurring the line between reality and fiction, forcing us to believe that what she is going through on the screen is all but real, even if the fantastical elements of the film are so ingloriously depicted. It's the fact that the film is so fictitious, yet authentic, that makes it such an enjoyable ride and haunting experience.

You want me to pee in here?

Why so blue Suzy?

The location of the ballet school is also an added feature of the film that amps up the surreal. The architecture that's found throughout the location is just frankly beautiful and the cinematography by Luciano Tovoli is a sight for sore eyes. The mixture of colors and the relation to each spectrum of light that comes across the screen to its subject matter is amazing. There's a delicate symbolism to the choices of color, helping to convey an emotion or produce the desired atmosphere for a given scene. It's visually wonderful to behold as all the colors of the rainbow light up the dark, pressing us onward through this fairytale infused story.

It's a dark tale indeed, relishing in the shadows of the expansive mansion setting and thriving on the harsh color palette of the time period. Both day and night are filled with expressive colors, brought on by the exquisitely imagined look of the interior design of the school's many vibrant painted rooms with the abrasive lighting of the night time shots. It gets so overwhelming and lavish that you'd have sworn that the film was something out of a dream. A dream with nightmarish visions, consoled by heavenly hues. In my memory, I've never seen a more atmospheric film that goes for the jugular when it comes to reinventing the color scheme of a movie.

Can anyone tell me where the bathroom is?

Now that's one fancy peacock!

As a very nontraditional horror film, Suspiria goes above and beyond the normal thought process that a film of its kind would typically do. Like the over abundance of color and surrealistic elements I've already mentioned, the basic plot of the movie is something of a unique beast itself. In its most simplistic terms, Suspiria is a story about witches, but you'd be hard pressed to find the iconic imagery that comes to mind when you hear the word witch. There are no pointy hats, broom riding, black cauldrons, or stake burnings in this world, instead we're given a more modern take on the popular archetypes of one of Halloween's favorite characters.

Blending elements from some of his previous works, Argento brings a cold and chilling sense of qualities that mirror his giallo work. There are moments of sheer fright like when a hairy, disfigured, and clawed hand bursts through a woman's window to tear out her throat in the opening moments of the film or one of the most excruciating turn of events when a woman finds herself trapped in a barb wired filled room with no way to get out. These are both nontraditional moments for a film about witches, almost feeling more at home in a slasher type film or modern day torture porn flick, but this re-imagining of the genre, if you will, works.

The central element, in my opinion, that brings it all together though is the aforementioned music provided by the Italian rock band and frequent Argento collaborator, Goblin. It's probably the most haunting soundtrack that has ever come out of the horror scene, mixing whispering vocals with beautiful melodic piano tunes to create a soundscape that literally brings the imagery of witchcraft and witches to the forefront. Matching the surreal visuals sprung from Argento's mind, the music captures the perfect feel and tone of the piece, providing the linking elements from the old depictions of witchcraft to Argento's new and modern re-imagining. Suspiria really is a perfect storm of cinematic elements.

Oh it's you. What are you so happy about? I think you better drop it!

The one thing about going to ballet school I never could stomach...
All the damn witches.

Suspiria is one of the most beautifully realized horror films to ever come out of Italian cinema, let alone in the horror world as a whole. Proving that horror movies can not only stimulate a great abundance of fear in people, but also visually compel the viewer as well, Argento gave the genre a boost of credibility that fellow Italian filmmaker Mario Bava had previously done for horror. The nontraditional narrative of witchcraft within a ballet school and mixing that with a fairytale story of Alice in Wonderland proportions, have merged into a happy union of surrealistic cinematic qualities that still have the same potency today as they did during their initial release. The vibrant colors and Goblin's outstanding original soundtrack only helped to drive that notion home, that this is a film made to stand the test of time, engaging the viewer in an atmospheric world that feels wholly realized.

If you haven't seen this movie then you owe it to yourself to view it as soon as possible. It really has earned its iconic status and is every bit as enjoyable as it sounds. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys the surreal side of cinema, the one with a demented edge and a visually vibrant eye.

5 out of 5 stars     Dario Argento's Visually Violent Masterpiece!