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.....
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| Nerd Alert!!!! |
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| Asia Argento.... Cute as a button. |
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| These new 3D TVs are crazy real! |
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| Surprise! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! |
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| One of the most dramatic birthday entrances in history. |
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| Could you be, the most beautiful demon in the world? Sing it Prince! |
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| It's my party and I'll kill everyone if I want to. |
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| Did someone have themselves a little accident? |
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| Bad dog! Very bad dog! |
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| Smash everything! SMASH EVERYTHING! AGAIN! |
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| Even this crazy chick was shocked at how cool this movie was. |
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| Shoot everything! SHOOT EVERYTHING! |
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| I told you I don't want any of your damned Girl Scout Cookies! Beat it! |
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| WTF?!?!?! |
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| NOOOOOOO! |
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| Looking good sweetheart. |
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| Watch as a young Asia Argento is scarred for life. |
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| Cheer up! It may be over, but at least we have the memories. |
