Demons (1985)

[Rottedfreak]

You may find this Italian Horror sleeper on Youtube, it's like a running zombie movie, basicaly the demon posessed hosts deteriorate Evil Dead/Exorcist style but are like the infected in 28 Days Later.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Love this movie... was a huge influence for Deadlands 2.

This is one I want to own on Blu-Ray

[MoonSylver]

Demons rules.That is all.;)

[krakenslayer]

Demons is a great, exciting 1980s cheesefest horror movie. An absolute action-packed blast, hugely entertaining. It is the Aliens of Italian zombie movies.

It also has an amazing 1980s rock, metal and pop soundtrack that really has something for everyone. Bands featured include: Billy Idol, Accept, Goblin (of Dawn of the Dead fame), Motley Crue, Pretty Maids, The Scorpions, Saxon, Go West, Rick Springfield and The Adventures. It seems all Dario Argento produced movies of this era had a badass rock n' roll soundtrack (Phenomena had Goblin, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Bill Wyman, Andi Sexgang and Frankie Goes To Hollywood).

[triste realtà]

It is Simonetti solo, not Goblin, but is still very good music.
I was just thinking of quotes from this movie: "Not me, Ripper! and Go ahead, baby pig", stuff like that.
I don't understand why nobody mentions the movie that this one is ripped off from: Night of the Demons.

[krakenslayer]

It is Simonetti solo, not Goblin, but is still very good music.
I was just thinking of quotes from this movie: "Not me, Ripper! and Go ahead, baby pig", stuff like that.
I don't understand why nobody mentions the movie that this one is ripped off from: Night of the Demons.

Yeah, I know, I just self-edited it to Goblin because Claudio Simonetti just doesn't have the same recognition value (which is a crime!).

And yeah, those punks were straight out of a movie like The Warriors. As for quotes:

Baby Pig: "Hey Hot Dawg, next time let's rip off a Ferrari, this heap's got no claaass."

Pimpin' Tony (lips out of sync): "SMASH EVERYTHING! SMASH EVERYTHING!"

(a woman is dying back stage while a movie character is killed on the cinema screen)
Wife: "Those screams sound real!"
Husband: "Relax, it's just the Dolby system."

Whore: "It's happening just like in the movie!"
Pimpin' Tony: "Aw that's a bunch of shit baby."

[rongravy]

Yeah, I bet the dvd has this and the sequel all together in one place. I think that's how I saw it at Blockbuster before. It is a pretty good movie.
Wonder if it'll ever get remade... rebooted... regurgitated...

[Kaos]

Demons is a personal fave. I watch it at least quarterly.

[capncnut]

Been a fan of Demons since it was released on video here in 1986. My mother introduced me to it. She saw it at her then boyfriend's house when my gran was looking after me over the weekend. I got home from school on the Monday and a rental copy was in my room with a note saying something like 'Brett, saw this on Sat and I think you will like it. See you when I get home, love Mum.'

Watched it about three times that night. :D

[clanglee]

Been a fan of Demons since it was released on video here in 1986. My mother introduced me to it. She saw it at her then boyfriend's house when my gran was looking after me over the weekend. I got home from school on the Monday and a rental copy was in my room with a note saying something like 'Brett, saw this on Sat and I think you will like it. See you when I get home, love Mum.'

Watched it about three times that night. :D

Horray for parents scarring their kids!!! My mom was the same way!:D

[SymphonicX]

Yeah I bought this from a cheap cheap shop on VHS, it had a slip on VHS cover, that's how cheap it was....When I watched it I was blown away! Proper fun movie and who can forget the dirt bike/sword scene...awesome.

Number 2 was good as well, but number 3 was embarassing...

[capncnut]

number 3 was embarassing...
Yeah, what the fuck was that all about? :stunned:

[Kaos]

I also forgot to mention that I saw it first run in a movie theater in 85.

[capncnut]

I also forgot to mention that I saw it first run in a movie theater in 85.
I hope you stayed long enough to see the bit after the cast credits, Ron. :D

[Kaos]

I hope you stayed long enough to see the bit after the cast credits, Ron. :D

Indeed, I did. Oddly enough they treated the movie like it was porn. No one under 17 was supposed to be admitted. The movie is great fun, but a pseudo pre-NC17 rating? Hardly.

[slickwilly13]

Which one was part 3? The Church or The Orgre?

[SymphonicX]

The Ogre...

[darth los]

Yeah, what the fuck was that all about? :stunned:

It seems as if once films like this get into the third installment, it definitely delves into WTF territory. (ROTLD 3, AMRY of DARKNESS) ( Love Bruce Campbell by the way).

:cool:

[krakenslayer]

It seems as if once films like this get into the third installment, it definitely delves into WTF territory. (ROTLD 3, AMRY of DARKNESS) ( Love Bruce Campbell by the way).

:cool:

The Ogre wasn't a true sequel, though. It was really just an example of Italian renamed sequel-itis - in this case, the distributors took an unrelated movie by Lamberto Bava (the script was titled simply Ogre), one that conveniently happened to be vaguely within the same genre, and forced him to slap the title of his most successful franchise on the front of it, in order to make it more bankable.

[MinionZombie]

I'm sure you'll all club me with a broken chair when I say this, but - I've not seen any of the Demons movies.

Had a look at the trailers on YouTube though, and they do look good - apparently the 3-disc R2 DVD box set is the one you want, but I can't find it readily available at the moment.

You know what could really do with a special edition treatment - the Critters movies. There's a 4-disc box set out, but it's only the movies. I mean wtf is that about?!

[triste realtà]

Demons III was supposed to be The Church (La Chiesa). I think it was producers or distributors decision to call The Ogre Demons III. I still haven't seen Demons II but am thinking about getting it now.

The Ogre makes me laugh because it's a House by Cemetery ripoff and the interviewer asks Lamberto why he chose Paolo Malco and he answers because he was an actor in Italy that was the right age to play the father, acting like it was a stupid question, but you could tell the interviewer was hinting that the script is close to being the same as House. In the commentary for Demons he is asked what the inspiration for Demons is and he answers anything but Night of the Demons. I suppose they can't outright say which movie was ripped off because it could cause a lawsuit. Like when Ovidio Assonitis says he only read the Exorcist book but never saw the movie.

---------- Post added at 06:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:41 PM ----------

Or they are in denial about which movie they totally ripped the fuck off. I made that reply before I saw the second page of the thread somehow.

I think that Demons box set is horrendous in terms of transfers and sound. Anchor Bay recently retransferred it for R1 and they are awesome (I and II).

[krakenslayer]

Demons III was supposed to be The Church (La Chiesa). I think it was producers or distributors decision to call The Ogre Demons III. I still haven't seen Demons II but am thinking about getting it now.


La Chiesa came about as a result of the writers meeting together to plan a new Demons movie which soon morphed into a completely unrelated story. According to Michele Soavi, they decided to do something less "schlocky" and more "sophisticated" and the Demons (i.e. the zombie-like characters) were dropped from the movie.

It was also released under the Demons 3 title in some territories though, although the plot has no more in common with Lamberto Bava's films than The Ogre does. There were also further unofficially-retitled "Demons" movies including parts 4 (La Setta/The Sect), five (La maschera del demonio/Black Sunday 1989), and six (Luigi Cozzi's Il gatto nero). Dellamorte Dellamore/Cemetary Man has, according to IMDB, even been released as Demons '95! :lol:

Demons 1 is still the best I've seen, by far (still to see La Chiesa and La Setta, though), even Demons 2 was pretty damn dull by comparison.

[DjfunkmasterG]

I want DEMONS on Blu-Ray. I loved that movie and still do. Not such a huge fan of Demons II

[Kaos]

Demons II was a bit odd. Using the same actors in different roles except for Bobby Rhodes (the pimp). He seemed to be written and acted as the same character in the first even though he was "demonized" in the first.

I watch it less frequently than the original, but it gets tossed in every once in awhile.

[capncnut]

I prefer the soundtrack to Demons II over the original for some strange reason.

[darth los]

Demons II was a bit odd. Using the same actors in different roles except for Bobby Rhodes (the pimp). He seemed to be written and acted as the same character in the first even though he was "demonized" in the first.

I watch it less frequently than the original, but it gets tossed in every once in awhile.

I agree. It was kinda wierd. However, there is a precedent...kinda.

In ROTLD 2 they did basically the same thing with the same characters.

:cool:

[EvilNed]

I've seen Demons, Demons 2, La Chiesa and La Setta and they're all good. La Setta features a pelican raping a woman, tho. It's odd, yes.

[fulci fan]

Night of the Demons sucks. Plain and simple. Demons, however, is a cinematic masterpiece and is better than any American film out there. I would say that Demons is on the top five of Lamberto Bava's films. I think that Sergio Stivaletti did a beautiful job on the effects (as always). What I like about Demons is that you feel like such a bad ass when watching it because you think: "I could be that guy.". :evil:

[capncnut]

Demons, however, is a cinematic masterpiece and is better than any American film out there.
While I love Demons and wont knock it, this quote is a prime example of sheer fanboy lunacy. I could name a hundred, if not more, American films that absolutely splash Demons to the four winds.

Perhaps you should've put an IMO on the end of it, chap. ;)

[Hopegiver]

I'm sure you'll all club me with a broken chair when I say this, but - I've not seen any of the Demons movies.




Because I don't have veteran status here on HPotD, I wouldn't presume to raise a chair to you....but yeah you should be clubbed by someone ;-)

Just kidding, I think so many living dead fans like "Demons" because it was a well written story with Argento at the screenplay helm.

[clanglee]

Night of the Demons sucks. Plain and simple. Demons, however, is a cinematic masterpiece and is better than any American film out there. I would say that Demons is on the top five of Lamberto Bava's films. I think that Sergio Stivaletti did a beautiful job on the effects (as always). What I like about Demons is that you feel like such a bad ass when watching it because you think: "I could be that guy.". :evil:

Woah Woah Woah. . . Night of the Demons was pretty freaking awesome IMO. . . not as good as Demons maybe, but still a pretty great example of 80's horror. Now as far as Demons being a masterpiece and "better than any American film out there" . . .. . . .well sir. . . . .
http://www.filmsquish.com/guts/files/images/Dawn%20of%20the%20Dead1.jpg
My friends here tend to disagree. :D

[fulci fan]

haha. Yeah, but I never think of Romero's "Dead" films as American films for some reason (even though they are). I guess because they are so different from every other American horror film.

[MikePizzoff]

Just saw this last night for the first time ever. Awesome awesome awesome!!! I need to have this in my collection - perfect movie for watching with friends. The soundtrack kicks ass, too! Claudio Simonetti did a great job with the score, then ya got Billy Idol, Crue, Accept, and Saxon!

Anybody ever see the sequel? Any good?

[krakenslayer]

Just saw this last night for the first time ever. Awesome awesome awesome!!! I need to have this in my collection - perfect movie for watching with friends. The soundtrack kicks ass, too! Claudio Simonetti did a great job with the score, then ya got Billy Idol, Crue, Accept, and Saxon!

Anybody ever see the sequel? Any good?

Correct on all counts; the first Demons movie absolutely rocks. The sequel, I'm sad to say, fails in almost every area the original excelled.

Where Demons had memorable characters, Demons 2 had instantly forgettable drones; there Demons had exciting action, Demons 2 just had people running, screaming and dying in various boring ways without even putting up a fight; where Demons had an amazing soundtrack by Simonetti (not to mention Billy Idol, Motley Crue, Accept, Go West and Saxon), Demons 2 had a dull soundtrack by Simon Boswell.

[MinionZombie]

I've still got to see Demons, and quite want too as well, but the Demons 1 & 2 box set is hard to find these days, otherwise I'd have to import it and that's a pain in the arse.

Looks like a cool movie, mind.

[MikePizzoff]

Damn. Thanks, Kraken. I guess I'll leave my Demons 2 experience go as far as the trailer for it.

"Did you bring the popcorn?"
"Shut up, bitch!"

[krakenslayer]

Damn. Thanks, Kraken. I guess I'll leave my Demons 2 experience go as far as the trailer for it.

"Did you bring the popcorn?"
"Shut up, bitch!"

Don't get me wrong, I guess there is enough gore and weirdness to make it worth a one-off watch. Just make sure you're prepared for an inferior sequel and that should help limit the disappointment.

[MinionZombie]

Don't get me wrong, I guess there is enough gore and weirdness to make it worth a one-off watch. Just make sure you're prepared for an inferior sequel and that should help limit the disappointment.
Would you say Demons 2 is to Demons 1, what Zombi 3 ("Zombie Flesh Eaters 2") is to Zombi 2 ("Zombie Flesh Eaters")?

[krakenslayer]

Would you say Demons 2 is to Demons 1, what Zombi 3 ("Zombie Flesh Eaters 2") is to Zombi 2 ("Zombie Flesh Eaters")?

It's not as much of a massive shift in tone and content as that. It still feels like it goes for a similar atmosphere, but just falls flat. It just delivers a lot less than its predecessor.

It's more like what Creepshow 2 is to Creepshow 1.

[Minerva_Zombi]

i disagree. demons 2 is still a pretty damn good movie. alot of good effects. and as far as demons 1 having memorable characters?....c'mon... the effects in demons 2 are better than 1. its only missing white punks on dope. lol

[krakenslayer]

i disagree. demons 2 is still a pretty damn good movie. alot of good effects. and as far as demons 1 having memorable characters?....c'mon... the effects in demons 2 are better than 1. its only missing white punks on dope. lol

LOL :lol:

It's missing a lot more than that, though:

Demons 2 has no rousing heavy metal fight sequences, no post apocalyptic imagery, no nail-biting finale, no noirish neon cinematography, no larger-than-life characters... nor does it really have anything that makes it a unique movie in its own right. It's just people dying in an apartment complex, while trying to escape.

Even its connection to the first movie was convoluted and confusing. The obvious route to go down would have been following on from the Armageddon scenario of the first, but instead we're forced from the start to accept that that was all taken care of and no one even mentions it except in the movie-within-a-movie playing on TV (in what looks like a far better sequel to Demons than the actual film itself).

[fulci fan]

It's not as much of a massive shift in tone and content as that. It still feels like it goes for a similar atmosphere, but just falls flat. It just delivers a lot less than its predecessor.

It's more like what Creepshow 2 is to Creepshow 1.


Big Time.

[DjfunkmasterG]

I am personally not a huge fan of Demons 2, I enjoy it, but prefer Demons 1 and will usually pull Demons from the DVD shelf to watch on a regular basis, however it has been two or three years since I watched Demons 2.

[Minerva_Zombi]

LOL :lol:

It's missing a lot more than that, though:

Demons 2 has no rousing heavy metal fight sequences, no post apocalyptic imagery, no nail-biting finale, no noirish neon cinematography, no larger-than-life characters... nor does it really have anything that makes it a unique movie in its own right. It's just people dying in an apartment complex, while trying to escape.

Even its connection to the first movie was convoluted and confusing. The obvious route to go down would have been following on from the Armageddon scenario of the first, but instead we're forced from the start to accept that that was all taken care of and no one even mentions it except in the movie-within-a-movie playing on TV (in what looks like a far better sequel to Demons than the actual film itself).

These in my opinion are upgrades. lol.

And as far as "larger than life" characters in demons 1? C'mon... be serious. lol

[paranoid101]

After reading this thread, I had forgotten how good the film was.

So this dropped through the letter box today.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8827/p1000473p.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/p1000473p.jpg/)

Ive no idea which version this is lol, its got a running time of 88 minutes which is 2 minutes longer than the Directors cut and is from 2006 Blackhorse Entertainment.

[MinionZombie]

After reading this thread, I had forgotten how good the film was.

So this dropped through the letter box today.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8827/p1000473p.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/p1000473p.jpg/)

Ive no idea which version this is lol, its got a running time of 88 minutes which is 2 minutes longer than the Directors cut and is from 2006 Blackhorse Entertainment.
Where'd you nab that from? It's quite hard to find in the UK it seems.

Naturally I'll avoid the Divid 2000 release, as it's cut by 42 seconds (other releases on R2 appear to be uncut).

[paranoid101]

Got it on Play.com from Play trade for £2.99

[krakenslayer]

Where'd you nab that from? It's quite hard to find in the UK it seems.

Naturally I'll avoid the Divid 2000 release, as it's cut by 42 seconds (other releases on R2 appear to be uncut).

I have the Divid 2000 release (got it off a bargain rack in Blockbuster in about 2002) and you'll be surprised to hear that it is, in fact, completely uncut, in spite of what the BBFC archive says - it looks like Divid accepted the cuts for an 18 rating but then sneaked it out uncut anyways :lol:

[MinionZombie]

I have the Divid 2000 release (got it off a bargain rack in Blockbuster in about 2002) and you'll be surprised to hear that it is, in fact, completely uncut, in spite of what the BBFC archive says - it looks like Divid accepted the cuts for an 18 rating but then sneaked it out uncut anyways :lol:
:lol: Really? Nice.

Class act. :thumbsup:

[paranoid101]

Lol I can't even find my version on the BBFC website

Plus my running time seems longer than all those listed.

[MinionZombie]

Lol I can't even find my version on the BBFC website

Plus my running time seems longer than all those listed.
Aye, I didn't see it referenced on DVDCompare.net either.

Was your DVD sealed and in good nick? I'm always so wary about buying from 'preferred merchants' or whatever they're called on all these various websites.

[paranoid101]

Just played it and its the Divid 2000 one just repackaged lol.

Oh well only £3.00 so no harm done

[krakenslayer]

After reading this thread, I had forgotten how good the film was.

So this dropped through the letter box today.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8827/p1000473p.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/p1000473p.jpg/)

Ive no idea which version this is lol, its got a running time of 88 minutes which is 2 minutes longer than the Directors cut and is from 2006 Blackhorse Entertainment.

According to IMDB, 88 minutes is the official running time of this movie. Slightly shorter running times, such as those noted on previous releases, are usually a sign of NTSC to PAL transfer.

I've explained this elsewhere on the forum, but basically PAL (the European standard video format) runs at 25 frames per second whereas NTSC (the North American standard format) runs slower at 24 frames per second. Obviously if you show a film at 25 frames a second it ends sooner than if you play it at 24 frames per second, hence the PAL version will have a shorter running time whilst still containing exactly the same film with exactly the same number of frames.

Did you get 88 minutes from the DVD case? If so, Blackhorse Entertainment are probably just quoting the "official" NTSC/film-footage runtime.

If it's showing up as 88 minutes on your player, then that's weird. Either the distributor put an NTSC version on a R2 disc (which is odd, considering it's a UK release, but most modern players can deal with either PAL or NTSC anyway), or your player is doing something weird and forcing the film to run at 24 fps.

---------- Post added at 03:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:52 PM ----------


Just played it and its the Divid 2000 one just repackaged lol.

Oh well only £3.00 so no harm done

Did it have the full razor-on-nipple scene? Including the blood and the girl's reaction shots?

[paranoid101]

According to IMDB, 88 minutes is the official running time of this movie. Slightly shorter running times, such as those noted on previous releases, are usually a sign of NTSC to PAL transfer.

I've explained this elsewhere on the forum, but basically PAL (the European standard video format) runs at 25 frames per second whereas NTSC (the North American standard format) runs slower at 24 frames per second. Obviously if you show a film at 25 frames a second it ends sooner than if you play it at 24 frames per second, hence the PAL version will have a shorter running time whilst still containing exactly the same film with exactly the same number of frames.

Did you get 88 minutes from the DVD case? If so, Blackhorse Entertainment are probably just quoting the "official" NTSC/film-footage runtime.

If it's showing up as 88 minutes on your player, then that's weird. Either the distributor put an NTSC version on a R2 disc (which is odd, considering it's a UK release, but most modern players can deal with either PAL or NTSC anyway), or your player is doing something weird and forcing the film to run at 24 fps.

---------- Post added at 03:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:52 PM ----------



Did it have the full razor-on-nipple scene? Including the blood and the girl's reaction shots?

No idea on the nipple scene, only watched the start and flicked through.

Whats the difference between the Divid 2000 and the directors cut? I wondering if ive been had lol

[krakenslayer]

No idea on the nipple scene, only watched the start and flicked through.

Whats the difference between the Divid 2000 and the directors cut? I wondering if ive been had lol

The original theatrical version is the Directors Cut, as far as I know. Censorship differences aside, there is only one version of this movie, despite what the box art may suggest.

The full and complete version was actually passed uncut in the UK in 2004 (although, as I said, it was available anyway as some copies of the Divid release were uncensored).

[ironsheik7]

No idea on the nipple scene, only watched the start and flicked through.

Whats the difference between the Divid 2000 and the directors cut? I wondering if ive been had lol

WRONG !!

Just because a dvd shows a nipple doesn't mean its the exact original movie. nudity has nothing to do with anything. And no the dvd version is not the exact same movie as was shown in theaters. I should know, I have owned 3 copies of demons on vhs over the years. The first I bought from a video store named "Home Town Video" that went out of business. The second from 'Powers Video Store' that went out of business and the third I bought online for $50. Just because a dvd says uncut doesn't mean jack squat.
Some of the sound effects, original dialogue, music and yes even gore scenes do not appear in Demons uncut dvd. One example is when they are watching the movie in the theater and the women in the tent screams the name "Margery". in the original vhs she screamed the name Patrick. In the original vhs when the demon strangled the man and woman making out with the rope their was some scary sound effects added, that are not heard on the dvd.
Also when the 2 guys are pushing on the door trying to stop the demon from getting to them, that was changed as well, the music was turned way down in the dvd version as in to hear the demon growl. In the original the music is blasting louder and it gives a more fearful pulse pounding affect then it does with lowered music volume.The dialogue with the punks in the car is changed some to. As well as the music is gone when the demon pokes out the guys eyes. Also in the original the female punk nina after getting her breast sliced with a razor says You're a prick, Piggy.

The original dialogue goes as follows for the vhs release that is not heard in dvd release.

Nina: [cocaine is everywhere] Huh! This stuff's everywhere! It's even in my panties.
Ripper: Clean it up! I said all of it! Get every gram!
Baby Pig: [to Nina] Here. Let me help you.
[Baby Pig slowly collects it with razor slowly, then accidentally cuts Nina's chest]
Nina: Ow! You're a prick, Piggy.
Baby Pig: Must be all the shit in the air that's making you so nice.

Another part was when the punks setting outside the movie theater here noise from inside.
In the original one punk says what is that ? The other responds its count dracula, then they laugh. In the dvd version he doesn't respond its count dracula, he responds by saying it is the coke in your ear. also they added a sound affect because the sound affect heard when the 2 cops are chasing the punks and the old blind demon walks out is not in the original either.

Demons 2 on dvd is the complete opposite of the mess up of part 1 on dvd. Demons 2 is the exact version as the vhs but with extra gore. But Demons 1 they redo some of the dialogue,
re dubbed some of the punks voices , cut out some gore and edit some of the special affects sounds and rock music. Both my original vhs tapes messed up from being played so much. And my third is barley playable wish I had a way to put it onto dvd but I do not.

[slickwilly13]

Now that I think of it, I do recall hearing a diffrent soundtrack on a VHS version compared to the DVD. At least during certain scenes. I thought it was my imagination.