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 | demon | movie theatre | 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

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

Lamberto Bava cites this as his personal favorite of the films he has directed.

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Goofs

When the girl is running from the masked man through the supposedly empty train station, two men are seen smoking behind a pillar.

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Quotes

Nina: [showing Ripper a photo] This was me, I was only one year old.
Ripper: Already selling your twat, eh?
Nina: FUCK YOU!

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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

References Tenebrae (1982)

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Soundtracks

We Close Our Eyes
Written by Peter Cox and Richard Drummie
Performed by Go West
Courtesy of Chrysalis

User Reviews

Argento fun!!!

Michele Soavi as the man with the half human half metal face!!! Fun times. The plot is filled with holes, like why do some people take so long to turn when others it takes seconds, and what was up with thee usherette being so menacing..she did squat. Over 30 or so people get trapped inside a really creepy theater after they are all given free movie tickets. When a very annoying prostitute puts on a demonic mask on display in the lobby, within fifteen minutes later she has pus bubbles exploding from her face, and is attacking her other prostitute friends. One by one people are transformed, as gory as any italian horror movie can get. The direction is actually really good and Lamberto Bava goes all out on colors and angles (which horror italian director doesn't)and the soundtrack goes well with the eighties look. I also really had fun times with the 4 punks snorting coke outside the theatre, but they really added nothing to the plot and at times just seem to be there to fill time, without a doubt though the gore is the highlight of this flick. Throats getting ripped open, scalps getting teared off, puke and pus splatter continuously,a huge tongue sliding out one of the demons mouth, demons getting hacked with a sword, the most gruesome scene is definitely the blind man getting his empty eye sockets gouged out..HARSH. The characters are so hard to tell apart and we don't evn see some of the patrons faces. I don't remember any characters really except the coolest "pimp" Tony, the sexy usherette, the four punks and the "GEORGE" character (mainly only cause i recognized him from OPERA), but this movie obviously isn't meant for character development.

So all in all I give Demons **1/2 out of **** It's really cool, but only worth watching for cool visuals, soundtrack, and gore.