Demons (1985)

A group of random people are invited to a screening of a mysterious movie, only to find themselves trapped in the theater with ravenous demons.

Director:

Lamberto Bava

Writers:

Dardano Sacchetti (original story), Dario Argento (screenplay)

Stars:

Urbano Barberini, Natasha Hovey, Karl Zinny

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Urbano Barberini	...	George
Natasha Hovey	...	Cheryl
Karl Zinny	...	Ken
Fiore Argento	...	Hannah
Paola Cozzo	...	Kathy
Fabiola Toledo	...	Carmen
Nicoletta Elmi	...	Ingrid, the usherette
Stelio Candelli	...	Frank
Nicole Tessier	...	Ruth
Geretta Geretta	...	Rosemary (as Geretta Giancarlo)
Bobby Rhodes	...	Tony
Guido Baldi	...	Tommy
Bettina Ciampolini	...	Nina
Giuseppe Mauro Cruciano	...	Hot Dog (as Giuseppe Cruciano)
Sally Day	...	Liz

Storyline

Art imitating art is the basis of this demonic tale of a group of invited guests who are granted a free lunch in the form of a screening of a horror film that brings naturalism to life. Baited and penned in, this walled-in feeling quickly turns to screams and fear as those who are dead lust after the flesh of those living. The free lunch has turned full circle in the cinema of hell and it is only a question of time before the demons from the abyss are asking for second portions.

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Plot Keywords:

survival horror | movie theatre | zombie | demonic possession | film projector | 

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Taglines:

They will make cemeteries their cathedrals and the cities will be your tombs.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

30 May 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Demons

Filming Locations:

Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$1,800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DACFILM Rome

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (Europe) Mono (US version)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the cinema (Metropol) can be seen as a building in the first Silent Hill video game.

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Goofs

At the end scene during the motorcycle chase, Nina's demonic character is not wearing any demonic makeup.

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Quotes

Tony the Pimp: They won't get me, that's for sure.

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Alternate Versions

The 1999 re-issue of "Demons" on videocassette and DVD from Anchor Bay's "Dario Argento Collection" feature the original Dolby Stereo mix for the first time in the U.S.

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Connections

Referenced in Entrei em Pânico ao Saber o que Vocês Fizeram na Sexta-feira 13 do Verão Passado Parte 2 - A Hora da Volta da Vingança dos Jogos Mortais de Halloween (2011)

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Soundtracks

White Wedding
Written and performed by Billy Idol
Courtesy of Chrysalis

User Reviews

This gory horror film is entertaining for fans of the genre.

Sereval people are invited to join the opening of a new movie theater is been renovated from an old Gothic structure. Cheryl (Natasha Hovey) and her best friend-Hannah (Fiore Argento) decide to skip class to be there for the opening night. When a prostitute (Geretta Giancarlo) tries a demon prop mask from the new film and it cuts her face. When Cheryl and Hannah become friends with two young guys:George (Urbano Barberini) and Ken (Karl Zinny), while watching the movie. When the Prostitute watches the film, her cut is eventually starts to fester, turning her into a green-drooling demon. She kills and then can transforms people by scratching with her nails. The movie theater is unexpectedly blocked from the inside, not letting people get out. While sereval survivors are trying to get out of the movie theater before it is too late.

Directed by Lamberto Bava (A Blade in the Dark, Delirium, Frozen Terror) made an amusing gory horror film with some strong visual style and a heavy metal soundtrack. Although the film is badly dubbed in English, too bad... The DVD (From "Anchor Bay Entertainment") doesn't have the original Italian dubbing. The story is extremely thin but it has some good moments (The film within a film is the highlight).

DVD has an clean non-anamorphic Widescreen (1.66:1) transfer and an fine-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The DVD has an audio commentary track by the filmmakers, a short behind the scenes featurette and the original theatrical trailer. The film has become an international hit that spawned a sequel (Made by the same director) and a non-related sequel in 1989 titled "The Church". This film is written by Dario Argento (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Creepers, Deep Red), director:Bava and Franco Ferrini (Sleepless, The Stendhal's Syndrome, Two Evil Eyes) . From a story by Dardano Sacchetti. Argento also produced this film. (*** ½/*****).