Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Demons Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 17, 2021

Director Lamberto Bava and producer Dario Argento look to raise a little hell with 1985’s “Demons,” using the sanctity of a single-screen movie palace to construct a mysterious monster uprising. It’s an Italian production created during a fertile creative period in the local industry, inspiring Bava and Argento (who also collaborated on the screenplay with Franco Ferrini and Dardano Sacchetti) to dream up interesting ways to destroy bodies without spending too much time in the outside world. Atmosphere is plentiful in “Demons,” which doesn’t burden itself in the plot department, sticking with a simple premise of evil on the loose, taking it to interesting extremes. Bava aims to create a genre thrill ride with the feature, and he’s mostly successful, delivering numerous gross-outs and violent encounters, keeping up the pace with chases throughout the building, often sold with a driving heavy metal soundtrack.

Cheryl (Natasha Hovey) is a young college student offered a ticket by a masked man to the premiere of a horror film showing at the Metropol, a large movie palace. Bringing along pal Kathy (Paola Cozzo) for the evening, the pair are soon seated with a variety of patrons, making a connection to George (Urbano Barberini). As the picture begins, the strangeness of the feature starts to unlock something horrible inside the theater, with a prostitute (Geretta Geretta) poking herself while playing with a display mask, unleashing a viral threat that transforms everyday people into bloodthirsty monsters.

For additional information and analysis, please read:

A 2012 Blu-ray review by Svet Atanasov.

A 2014 Blu-ray review by Svet Atanasov.

Three versions of “Demons” are included on this disc: the International English Version (88:22), Italian Version (88:22), and U.S. English Version (88:29).

Demons Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Demons" is sourced from 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negatives. Synapse has a done a remarkable job freshening up the feature for this release, delivering a sharp look at frame particulars. Theater interiors are open for inspection, with decoration and equipment clearly displayed. Facial surfaces are crisp, and demonic makeup is vivid, exposing the particulars of movie magic. Interiors carry ideal dimension, offering a full sense of the theater and its various rooms and hallways. Exteriors also deliver deep distances, including a look at local shops. Colors are exact, dealing with the production's stylish approach to atmosphere, with washes of blue and red lighting powerful, and flashes of green goop spilling out of monster faces quite vivid. Skintones are natural. Delineation is excellent, preserving shadowy events. Source is in wonderful condition.

Demons Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix delivers strong dialogue exchanges, maintaining clear voices and balanced moments of emotional outbursts. Scoring cues provide distinct synth with wider engagement, also working into the surrounds to sell atmosphere. Soundtrack selections run hotter, with a few on the slightly shrill side, but they also contribute to the musical mood of the feature, with excellent instrumentation and circular presence. Low-end isn't excitable, but some violence adds weight. Sound effects are clear and goopy. Atmospherics are inviting, including room tone around the theater and inside cars.

Demons Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features film historians Kat Ellinger and Heather Drain.

• Commentary #2 features director Lamberto Bava, composer Claudio Simonetti, producer Dario Argento, and special makeup artist Sergio Stivaletti.

• "Produced by Dario Argento" (27:13, HD) is a visual essay by Michael Mackenzie, who explores Argento's career rise, gaining creative control of his projects throughout the 1970s. Developing into a "star" director with early releases and the television project, "Door into Darkness," Argento branched out into producing, finding tremendous success with George A. Romero's "Dawn of the Dead." Talk of "Demons" and "Demons 2" is included, along with Argento's collaborations with helmers such as Lamberto Bava and Michele Soavi. The essay is most interesting with visual evidence and researched information concerning Argento's declining output over the decades. Less compelling are critical asides, which don't fit in this informational offering.

• "Dario's Demon Days" (10:30, HD) is an interview with producer Dario Argento, who was asked to join "Demons" by Lamberto Bava, collaborating on the script and taking major credit placement on marketing materials. Argento briefly discusses the shoot in Germany and the power of makeup effects, and he reflects on Bava's directorial authority. "Demons 2" was a more difficult production, and the interviewee admits it's not as good as the original film. Additional topics include the use of heavy metal in the movies, and the casting of Asia Argento in "Demons 2."

• "Defining an Era in Music" (9:34, HD) is an interview with composer Claudio Simonetti, who details his working relationship with Lamberto Bava and Dario Argento. Earning Argento's trust, Simonetti was free to explore hos creative impulses, while "Demons" was his first solo work. Simonetti also covers soundtrack sales and technical limitations of the 1980s, though he remains happy with the work.

• "Splatter Stunt Rock" (9:13, HD) is an interview with stuntman Ottaviano Dell'Acqua, who walks through the early films of his career, including work as a young man with Fellini. Thoughts on Lamberto Bava and Dario Argento are shared, and respect is paid to stuntman Freddy Unger, who was a mentor to Dell'Acqua, getting him work on "Demons," which required a lot of physical activity. The interviewee is extremely positive on the picture and its sequel, also charting the rise and decline of the Italian film industry.

• "Dario and the Demons" (15:52, HD) is a second interview with Dario Argento, which covers most of the same information found in "Dario's Demon Days," going a bit more in-depth on director Lamberto Bava and makeup effects artist Sergio Stivaletti. Shooting in Germany is examined, with Argento also sharing his thoughts on other countries he's worked in, and his discusses the decline of the Italian film industry. Some memories are shared about "Demons 2," and the interviewee analyzes his interest in art as part of the moviemaking experience.

• And an Italian Theatrical Trailer (2:09, HD), an International Theatrical Trailer (2:09, HD), and a U.S. Theatrical Trailer (1:32, HD) are included.

Demons Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Demons" finds its greatest inspiration dealing with the moviegoers inside the Metropol, watching them panic, learning how far the nightmare goes as they try to escape the building alive. Some time is spent with outsiders, as the writing hopes to beef up dramatic potential with the creation of four coke-sniffing punks (who snort their goods from a literal Coca-Cola can) who crash the survival game, along with a brief experience with the police. "Demons" perks up with playful sequences, including a motorcycle slaughterama showdown between George and the green slime-puking villains, tearing around theater seats at full speed while swinging a samurai sword. And there's an intriguing dystopian tone to the conclusion, which gives the small-scale chiller a charming graphic novel touch. "Demons" is far from perfect, struggling with basic logic issues and performances, but Bava keeps things grotesque and enigmatic for the most part, providing some needed jolts of wonderful makeup effects and theater layout mayhem to keep the endeavor enjoyable.