Attack of the Demons Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Attack of the Demons Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 28, 2023

2019’s “Attack of the Demons” is an animated production, with director Eric Power using cardstock art to create a loving ode to monster movies. The picture resembles “South Park,” but it carries a much different energy, with Power endeavoring to transfer the concerns and attitudes of twentysomethings to genre entertainment, joined by screenwriter Andreas Petersen. “Attack of the Demons” looks great, with a wonderful homegrown vibe to the effort, which keeps Power busy cooking up terrific visuals for the feature. As a monster-killing genre exercise, there’s not much momentum to the film, which isn’t the most pulse-pounding or humorous offering of horror. Still, there’s fun to be had with all of the art and carnage, as Power and Petersen clearly have great affection for the premise, working to build up some insanity while retaining a drier sense of humor and heart.

A Halloween festival is happening in the small mountain town of Barrington, and there’s a lot going on for the community. Natalie (voiced by Katie Maguire) has joined her boyfriend and his pal on a trip to see a showcase of indie bands, with the woman eager to catch a performance from her favorite group, Teek. Jeff (Andreas Petersen) is a die-hard fan of video games, taking a tour of Barrington’s arcade offerings while questing to complete his rare game bucket list. And Kevin (Thomas Petersen) is a local living with his grandmother, eager to catch a rare screening of a horror film during the festivities, shocked to run into old classmates Natalie and Jeff, taking time to catch up with them. The trio go their separate ways for the night, but soon reunite when Barrington becomes infested with demons, watching as these horrible creatures are created through exposure to tainted bodily fluids, eager to spread their disease. Overwhelmed by the outbreak, Kevin, Jeff, and Natalie search for safety, finding shelter with Jeff’s weird survivalist uncle, Rolfe (Petersen), while monster hunter Stuart (August Sargenti) tries to work with ancient text to battle the surge of evil.

“Attack of the Demons” picks Halloween as a day of horror for the characters, who’ve come to town to celebrate various areas of expertise, with Kevin the lone local, gearing up to catch a rare 35mm print of the cult giallo offering, “The Grotesque Mirror” (the popularity of this event is perhaps the biggest laugh in the picture). Kevin soon bumps into Jeff, who’s obsessed with video games, trying to track down rare machines to play to help satisfy his completist mentality, and he’s the one to approach Natalie, who’s stuck with music critics, looking for her own mental release with the Teek concert. The gang reunites and awkwardly works through memories and small talk, but a bond is soon formed when danger comes to Barrington.

“Attack of the Demons” explores the rise of evil, with illness spreading through the community via internal goo, transforming innocent folks into skin-shredding ghouls that fuse together to create more macabre enemies. The outbreak starts slowly, but gradually takes down human and animal life, with Jeff, Kevin, and Natalie coming to understand the danger they’re in after pursuing their entertainment adventures, and the screenplay transforms from a mild character study and geeky comedy into a survival picture. The trio are on the run, trying to dodge demonic creations and figure out if any survivors remain, and there’s a decent sense of urgency to the mission, especially with Kevin, who has his grandmother to check on. An extra layer of mystery forms with the arrival of Stuart, a member of a special order dedicated to the battle against evil, but he’s not great with incantations, fumbling his heroic efforts. Stuart’s subplot is amusing, and he’s eventually in charge of exposition, providing some explanation concerning the outbreak in Barrington when he reaches Kevin, Jeff, and Natalie, who are suddenly tasked with the care of a special red crystal while processing the amazing, destructive power of a demon king.

Attack of the Demons Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation handles the inherent flatness of "Attack of the Demons" with inviting colors, exploring varied hues on characters and town tours, while the amplified reds and greens on demon activity is distinct. Animation detail is acceptable, examining the homemade vibe of the feature and its paper-based creation. Delineation is satisfactory. Unfortunately, banding is a common sight during the viewing experience, and periodic posterization is also found.

Attack of the Demons Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix secures sharp dialogue exchanges, handling mild conversations and more heated survival challenges with clarity. Scoring is crisp, often with distinct synth and acoustic guitar moods, and more active electropop selections handle with welcome fullness. Sound effects are also appreciable.

Attack of the Demons Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Eric Power and writer Andreas Petersen.

• Commentary #2 features writers MaryBeth McAndrews and Terry Mesnard.

• Commentary #3 features comedian Lucas Taughn.

• "Demons for Days" (11:19, HD) is the making-of for "Attack of the Demons," with the journey beginning in 2011, when director Eric Power wanted to expand his horizons as an animator and storyteller. This energy was channeled into 2013's "Path of Blood," which eventually led to a meeting with screenwriter Andreas Petersen, with the pair collaborating on the early form of "Attack of the Demons." Armed with proof-of-concept work and a budget, the team struck out with financing and outside interest, forced to limit monetary and scheduling demands, with Power handling all the animation himself. Petersen pops up to explore his professional duties, involved with voice casting and even performance. The featurette goes into post-production, which kept Power supremely busy, working to a film festival premiere date, finally putting the finishing touches on a decade-long creative journey.

• Proof of Concept Trailer (1:42, HD) is offered.

• "Demonic Commercials" (9:21, HD) compile a collection of ads and public service announcements created for "Attack of the Demons" to give the feature more of a Halloween movie marathon feel.

• Music Video (2:09, HD) features "Sleeping Trees" from the band Teek.

• And a Trailer (1:32, HD) is included.

Attack of the Demons Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Attack of the Demons" doesn't have a budget or big studio polish, but Power delivers a visually interesting understanding of genre activity and animation creativity, with the artfulness of the cardstock creation delightful, going from Halloween horrors to the real thing when the demons break out. Voice acting doesn't come from seasoned performers, but twentysomething personalities and responses to threat are palatable without becoming truly dramatic. Complications for the gang arrive later in the adventure, with Uncle Rolfe a demented survivalist with access to a maze of mines, giving Petersen a chance to play with gaming activity and a grander sense of scope for the demon outbreak, which puts the pals to the test as mass destruction comes for them. "Attack of the Demons" has the potential to be a wild ride, but Power and Petersen aren't all that interested in really playing up the chaos of the premise. Instead, they go deadpan, aiming to deal with quirks and strangeness with a milder comedic rhythm, making it a more specialized viewing experience for genre and animation fans.