Cover coming soon |
6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A group of tenants and visitors are trapped in a 10-story high-rise apartment building infested with demons who proceed to hunt the dwindling humans down.
Starring: David Edwin Knight, Nancy Brilli, Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni, Bobby Rhodes, Asia ArgentoHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 40% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
It didn’t take long for producer Dario Argento and director Lamberto Bava to cash-in on the unexpected success of 1985’s “Demons.” Released eleven months later, “Demons 2” is out to sustain genre momentum, with the production basically creating a remake of the first picture, which ended on a grim, apocalyptic note. Such tonal bravery is gently pushed aside for round two, which moves the central conflict between man and monster from a movie theater to an apartment building, with television the grand conductor of evil this time around. “Demons 2” endeavors to offer a busier sense of screen activity, but not necessarily a more gruesome one, with Bava pulling back on demonic grotesqueries to play with a more sustained creature threat, dipping into puppetry to secure a “Gremlins” vibe. The production works hard to create a big screen mess, but a double dip into this world of media zombification and viral outbreaks isn’t quite as enchanting as the last effort.
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negatives. As with "Demons," "Demons 2" has been spiffed up for this Blu-ray release, leading with excellent detail throughout the viewing experience, with emphasis on monster makeup achievements, which retain their slimy, severe textures. Skin particulars are sharp on humans as well, along with period costuming, which retains fibrousness, ranging from party outfits to softer pajamas. Interior decoration is open for study, and building areas are dimensional, including a cavernous parking garage and tall elevator shaft. Colors are enticing, showing off ghoulish hues on evil entities, with greenish skin and red eyes. Dramatic lighting is also clearly defined, and skintones are natural. Delineation is excellent, preserving power outage encounters. Grain is fine and film- like. Source is in good condition, but a brief area of image instability is found at the 28:07 mark on the English Version. The Italian Version runs a bit longer, with the anomaly appearing from 28:07 to 28:23. As detailed on package information, this is an inherent camera issue.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix offers satisfactory dialogue exchanges, often working with hysterical characters. Clarity is generally quite good, save for a few harsher highs as chaos takes over the feature. "Demons 2" is an incredibly noisy movie to begin with, but soundtrack selections emerge with authority, providing a more circular sense of pop tunes, and surrounds also deal with scoring cues, which deliver a crisp synth presence. Sound effects are pronounced, along with screaming fits, and atmospherics are capable, highlighting group activity. Low-end isn't challenged during the listening experience, but some impact is present during explosions
"Demons 2" puts in a noticeable effort to escalate monster happenings, with Bava and his team trying a few different approaches to mayhem, but they also stick with similar visuals found in "Demons," only here the execution is a smidge off, missing some gory magic. There's still fun to be had with the premise, watching survivors deal with the maze of the apartment building, trying to find safety in a garage, elevator shaft, and living rooms. Potential ugliness with the inclusion of a pregnant woman and a child is avoided by Bava, who keeps things reasonably tasteful, switching to goofiness at times to avoid punishment. It's not the thrill ride "Demons" was, but "Demons 2" has its highlights, working to revive a similar sense of danger and bursting violence, but it lacks a fresh reason to be, eschewing the set-up found in the last film to simply recycle the threat level, turning to formula to please the fanbase.
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