Demons has always been a horror film for horror fans. Produced by terror-maestro Dario Argento and directed by Lamberto Bava, Demons sits in the annals of the genre as a cult classic on account of its simplicity, over-the-top use of gore and its distinctively 80s metal soundtrack. It’s a loud, proud, brash slice of Euro-horror and manages to tread the line between chilling horror and tongue-in-cheek comedy to a degree far greater than its contemporary splatter flicks can.
Demons kicks off in Berlin as a girl is pursued by a creepy guy who offers her a ticket to a free screening at a seedy picture house. Naturally taking up the offer, it’s not long before she and the other patrons are fighting for their lives as they’re attacked by a horde of bloodthirsty demons. And that’s pretty much all you need to know as from then on it’s a stomach-churning display of ferocious bloodletting. Sadly the sequel lacks the charm and simplicity of its predecessor but it’s still nice to have it included in the set.
Arrow has buffed up the picture brilliantly. The colours aren’t overdone (which is actually a bit of a shame as it arguably could have added to the retro look of the film) and the transfer handles pacy action well. There’s a spot of grain throughout but it’s not enough to detract from the overall viewing experience.
As for the audio, the snarls, screams and sloshes of blood and pus sound pretty clear considering it’s neither lossless nor in surround, while that iconic metal soundtrack rings through clearly as well. In terms of extras, there’s a ton of content that sees the team waxing lyrical about their beastly baby, there’s also some material that focuses on their other works that, while interesting, feels a tad superfluous to the set. However, the main highlight is the Demons 3 comic book that’s spread over the two discs. Capping off the trilogy and brushing the slew of unofficial sequels under the rug, it’s a neat feature that’ll leave fans satisfied after their 26 year wait.
Overall verdict: The wait is finally over as Demons is released on Blu-ray with claret soaked aplomb. The cult classic and its passable sequel are presented beautifully in HD with a host of extras and a fancy steelbook to top it off. What more could you want?
Special Features:
Collector’s Booklet
The audio recollections of director Lamberto Bava, Special Make-Up Creations Artist Sergio Stivaletti and Journalist Loris Curci
The audio recollections of the cast and crew, featuring Lamberto Bava, Sergio Stivaletti, Geretta Geretta and Claudio Simonetti
Dario’s Demon Days: Producer Dario Argento discusses the inception of Demons
Defining an Era in Music: Composer Claudio Simonetti on the Demons Soundtrack
Luigi Cozzi’s Top Italian Terrors: Cozzi discusses the highpoints of Spaghetti Splatter
The audio recollections of director Lamberto Bava, Mechanical Creations & Transformation Artist Sergio Stivaletti and Journalist Loris Curci
Creating Creature Carnage: Extensive Interview with makeup man Sergio Stivaletti
Bava to Bava: Luigi Cozzi tracks the history of the Italian horror film from Riccardo Freda and Mario Bava to the end of the golden age with Michele Soavi and Lamberto Bava as well as considering recent Italian horror films.
Reviewer: Jordan Brown