Demons 2

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Dèmoni 2: L'incubo Ritorna

November 10th 2009 22:50

Arrrrgh! The Nightmare Returns! Lamberto Bava continued his assault on the American market with more and less of the same; more demonic chaos and mayhem, but less gore and style. Demons 2 (1986) is set almost exclusively within the confines of a high-rise apartment block in Rome - but Cronenberg’s Shivers (1975), this is not! - The demon energy released via a movie in a cinema in the first Demons (1985) movie is unleashed again, only this time from a movie playing on television, with the first demon pushing through the fabric of the screen - but Cronenberg’s Videodrome, this is not! - and into the apartment of disgruntled birthday girl Sally (Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni) who promptly turns into a maniacal taloned hellraiser and proceeds to kill as many of her annoying birthday guests as possible. Meanwhile her infected blood, and all the infected blood of those whom she scratches and rips, seeps through the floorboards and into apartments below, causing further spread of the demonic contagion.

Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni as Sally demonified

Whereas Demons was saturated in style, mood, tone and atmosphere, yet devoid of much logic, reasoning, rationale or sense, the sequel Demons 2 seems to have abandoned most of that gloriously vivid oneiric quality which is part and parcel with most of producer/co-writer Argento’s supernatural descents, yet retains the proverbial insanity. Some of the atmosphere is present, the occasional moment of inspired visual lunacy, but it’s as if American distributors instructed Bava to tone back the graphic gore and in its place Bava piled on the formaggio. Yup, Demons 2 is one hell of a cheesy flick, so ludicrously absurd one can only guffaw. This isn’t a scary movie, it’s silly, dripping ketchup, gherkin jelly and processed cheese all over the floor.

A demon is awakened ...

Several groups of people are targeted within the building; there’s Sally’s birthday bash, of course, then there’s the Haller family with young Ingrid (ten-year-old Asia Argento in her feature debut) who is transfixed by the horror movie on the small screen, there’s young Tommy (Marco Vivio), who later is transformed into Tommy the Child Demon (Davide Marotta), there’s a late night gym class being led by instructor Hank (Bobby Rhodes, who has returned from the first Demons, only this time playing a different character), there’s a woman (Anita Bartolucci) living alone with her dog, there’s visiting callgirl Mary (Virginia Bryant), and last, but not least, there’s handsome George (David Edwin Knight) and his beautiful pregnant wife Hannah (Nancy Brilli), such a sweet couple ...

... and breaks on through to the other side

There was an overwhelming dread as well as mystery that permeated the first movie, which is absent from Demons 2. The sequel acts perfunctorily, even pedestrian. The special make-up effects courtesy of Rosario Prestopino are okay, but not as convincing or as elaborate as in Demons, whilst animatronic transformation whiz Sergio Stivaletti’s work is also restrained. Why was this sequel, released only a year later, so notably different than the first, when most of the same filmmaking crew was on board? Both movies were around the same budget (Demons cost a few hundred grand more) and both movies were shot in a month.

Asia Argento as Ingrid

Demons 2 Nancy Brilli and Davide Marotta

Hannah (Nancy Brilli) is terrorised by Tommy (Davide Marotta)

The original ending was scrapped with Bava and Argento deciding a more upbeat ending was needed. The script had called for Hannah to become infected and her unborn baby to turn into a demon inside her and claw its way out of her womb and burst out her abdomen. Hmmmm, Alien (1979) anyone? The director and producer probably thought audiences in America wouldn’t tolerate such a lovely expectant mother being subjected to the most cruelest of horrors, after having survived the onslaught she already had (surely the panic and hysteria alone would’ve caused a miscarriage?!)

Demons 2 is not to be taken seriously, despite the movie taking itself seriously. With its cartoon excesses, sloppy American dubbing and risible characterisations the movie is best consumed along with big bottles of Coca Cola, and buckets of pure buttered popcorn. This is horror-cheese fodder for the very easily entertained; for those who prefer continental mayo on their hotdogs instead of mustard.

Here's the surprisingly cool trailer:

Demons 2 DVD, which includes the excellent An Eye For Horror Dario Argento doco featurette, is courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment, many thanks!

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

2 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by JohnDoe

November 12th 2009 20:48

Film & TV on DVD

Hi Bryn,

This is one from the past that I hardly remember...watched it on VHS at a sleepover party when i was in high school....seemed really lame then and judging from your review it doesn't seem time has been kind.

Comment by Bryn

November 12th 2009 23:09

Horrorphile

JD, nothing on the glorious deep trash art feast the first Demons is.

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