Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Demonoid: Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 26, 2015

1980’s “Demonoid” is about a severed hand that kills. For some, the review ends there, scratching a B-movie sweet spot that promises exquisite horror and camp. The feature isn’t completely unleashed, but writer/director Alfredo Zacarias certainly strives to give viewers a sufficiently berserk ride, filling the feature with violence, action, and the central image of a roving hand on the hunt for fresh victims. As bottom-shelf insanity, “Demonoid” is tremendously entertaining and bluntly bizarre, with Zacarias orchestrating a chase picture that touches on marital unrest, spiritual challenges, and Satanic omnipresence, while star Samantha Eggar classes up the joint with a semi-committed performance, selling the oddity of an unstoppable hand and its determination to possess all those who come into contact with it.

In Mexico, Mark (Roy Jenson) is trying to turn a silver mine into a viable business, but the locals fear the location’s evil energy. Mark’s wife, Jennifer (Samantha Eggar), has little patience for hesitation, traveling deep into the mine with her husband, where they accidentally discover a secret satanic temple that was once home to human sacrifice with emphasis on left hands, also known as “The Devil’s Hand.” Returning from the depths with silver coffin that contains the remains of the last victim’s hand, Mark and Jennifer return to their everyday life to assess the discovery. However, once the cursed paw reanimates, it possesses anyone it encounters, working through Mark, police office Matson (Lew Saunders), and plastic surgeon Dr. Rivkin (Narciso Busquets) before it targets Jennifer. Looking for a way to stop the hand’s wrath, Jennifer turns to Father Cunningham (Stuart Whitman) for help, hoping a man of God will be able to destroy the hellacious invader once and for all.

Establishing the picture’s interest in sleaze and butchery, Zacarias opens “Demonoid” with the first hand-based sacrifice, witnessing a young woman overpowered by temple enforcers, leaving her chained up and, of course, topless, securing the R-rated mood immediately. The scene has nothing to do with the rest of the effort, only included as an early commitment to exploitation tricks, almost reassuring the viewer that the feature won’t back down when it comes to chopped limbs and other salacious interests. Attention soon turns to Mexico and the troubled mine, with Jennifer and Mark trying to turn their financial misfortune around through example, hoping to inspire bravery in the Mexican miners as they plunge into the dark recesses of the location. It’s an atmospheric opener, but it also contributes to the movie’s unusually motivated pace, with sections of story pushed aside to keep the tale rolling along, with numerous visits from The Devil’s Hand to explore.

Unexpectedly, the story moves from Mexico to Las Vegas, where Jennifer pursues her possessed husband to the Sands Hotel and Casino, allowing the movie to take a detour into cheating accusations involving Mark and his impressive run at craps. While “Demonoid” doesn’t settle in any one place for very long, it slides into plot mode with Father Cunningham, a hesitant priest who isn’t sure of Jennifer’s story until he witnesses the hand’s wrath for himself. Perhaps the strangest aspect to “Demonoid” is how all the characters barely seem bothered by The Devil’s Hand, with a blasé attitude to all levels of possession and their resulting carnage. Jennifer is especially patient with grisly discoveries, forced to witness a few dismemberments on formerly trustworthy individuals, maintaining a mildly disturbed reaction similar to someone who just discovered there wasn’t enough milk to fill a morning cereal bowl.

It’s weird to witness such disregard for an extraordinary threat, but “Demonoid” gets by on speed, keeping momentum fresh with numerous possessions and a mid-movie car chase that favors a few daredevil stunts. Zacarias may not have the skills to do something truly inventive with “Demonoid,” but the film never bores, and that is a rare achievement in low-budget cinema, which always seems the most comfortable when dragging along the ground until a climax is ordered up. It also helps to have a peculiar sight in The Devil’s Hand crawling around in the dark, with most special effects seams covered to satisfaction, maintaining the gruesome illusion as the finger-walking critter crawls and sometimes leaps around, looking for an opportunity to strike.

Demonoid: Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation will likely be a true revelation for "Demonoid" fans, which offers a 2K scan from the original camera negative. The results are fantastic, and while original cinematographic limitations remain, including softness, the viewing experience is refreshed with bold colors that emerge from location greenery, period costuming, and Las Vegas neon. Skintones are also natural and welcome. Detail is encouraging, identifying make-up borders and facial particulars in close-ups, while distances are secured. Grain is present and filmic. Delineation is communicative. Whites can be a tad bloomy. Source has its share of damage, but nothing unexpected or distracting, while speckling and minor scratches are consistent.

Demonoid: Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does have its limitations, with highs on the crispy side, while inherent issues tend to prevent dialogue from reaching complete consistency. Still, intelligibility remains, with dramatics easy to follow as the actors reach weird levels of semi-panic. Scoring isn't crisply defined, but it supports quite well, adding musical tension when necessary. Atmospherics are thick but available, contributing to mine exploration and casino visits. Sound effects are secure.

Demonoid: Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Macabra" (90:14, HD) is an alternate cut of "Demonoid," which tones down the violence to appease international audiences. Additional scenes are included, and an operatic score is added. The feature also includes a French audio mix.

• "The Devil's Hand" (14:35, HD) is an interview with writer/director Alfredo Zacarias, who comes off almost defeated when discussing his experience with "Demonoid." Project origins are recounted, along with casting achievements, with actor Roy Jenson singled out as a professional who took his participation in the B-movie a bit too seriously. Zacarias also shares the pain of self-releasing a feature against studio product, and points out the differences between "Demonoid" and "Macabra."

• Artwork Gallery (1:29) contains 14 images, including poster art and lobby cards.

• T.V. Spot (:11, HD) for "Macabra" is offered.

• And Theatrical Trailers for "Demonoid" (1:19, HD) and "Macabra" (3:26, HD) are included.

Demonoid: Messenger of Death Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Demonoid" works its way to a church showdown between the heroes and the hand, using the space with some degree of invention, playing around with Father Cunningham's interest in stained glass art. However, instead of riding off the rails, the feature ends somewhat conventionally, slowing to a stop while the rest of the effort suggests a complete implosion before the end credits arrive. There's some disappointment with the conclusion, but, overall, "Demonoid" makes solid impression with lowered expectations, offering just enough excitement and unusual visuals to distract from gaps in plot and a gradual dwindling of fresh ideas. As killer hand movies go, perhaps Zacarias could've aimed a little higher with his thematic push and scripted depth, but he's secured movement to the effort, rarely stopping completely to remind viewers that what they're watching is completely ridiculous.