Demoni is, for lack of a better phrase, a near-perfect film. It is both surreal and natural, indie and mainstream... It is hilarious and terrifying while simultaneously subtle and opulent.
The film's message asks if media violence truly causes real-life violence by posing it in a fictional universe where a horror film physically manifests demons in a cinema-house, butchering its viewers and thus, turning them into legions of bloodthirsty monsters. Director Bava's take on this question neither dismays or affirms it, but offers viewers the opportunity to ask of themselves. Would they allow themselves to turn into monsters because of the cursed film, or would they seek salvation from the rampant demon plague? On the other hand, Demoni can be viewed simply as a no-holds-barred splatterfest, filled to the brim with hilarious caricatures of every social class, drooling monsters, and gallons of grue. Just when you feel as though you can't take another horrifying moment, a character spurts out a line of dialog that has you rolling on the floor in hysterics. While subtle and plotting, the film rarely has a dull moment - from its dreamlike opening sequence on a subway, set to Greig's "In the Hall of the Mountain King", to the apocalyptic finale on the demon-infested highways of Italy.
As the film's hero begins riding a dirtbike impossible over the tops of theater seats, brandishing a Japanese sword and slicing at demons as 80s power metal drowns out the scene, the true nature of this grand guignol of film-making is revealed. What started as reality has now been reduced to a dream-like fantasy world where invincible monsters and equally-invincible heroes somehow co-exist. A helicopter smashes through the roof of the doomed theater, offering escape from the monsters, but as the film's heroes discover - escaping the lair of the beast is only the beginning...
Demoni is one of the most entertaining, wonderfully over-the-top horror films of the 1980s. Its titular demons are an obvious inspiration for 00's love-or-hate fast-moving zombies, while the deep rooted concepts still gleefully resonate.
To any self-respecting horror fan who has yet to delve into this gem, do yourself a favor and pick this one up today. Demoni is absolutely not to be missed.
The film's message asks if media violence truly causes real-life violence by posing it in a fictional universe where a horror film physically manifests demons in a cinema-house, butchering its viewers and thus, turning them into legions of bloodthirsty monsters. Director Bava's take on this question neither dismays or affirms it, but offers viewers the opportunity to ask of themselves. Would they allow themselves to turn into monsters because of the cursed film, or would they seek salvation from the rampant demon plague? On the other hand, Demoni can be viewed simply as a no-holds-barred splatterfest, filled to the brim with hilarious caricatures of every social class, drooling monsters, and gallons of grue. Just when you feel as though you can't take another horrifying moment, a character spurts out a line of dialog that has you rolling on the floor in hysterics. While subtle and plotting, the film rarely has a dull moment - from its dreamlike opening sequence on a subway, set to Greig's "In the Hall of the Mountain King", to the apocalyptic finale on the demon-infested highways of Italy.
As the film's hero begins riding a dirtbike impossible over the tops of theater seats, brandishing a Japanese sword and slicing at demons as 80s power metal drowns out the scene, the true nature of this grand guignol of film-making is revealed. What started as reality has now been reduced to a dream-like fantasy world where invincible monsters and equally-invincible heroes somehow co-exist. A helicopter smashes through the roof of the doomed theater, offering escape from the monsters, but as the film's heroes discover - escaping the lair of the beast is only the beginning...
Demoni is one of the most entertaining, wonderfully over-the-top horror films of the 1980s. Its titular demons are an obvious inspiration for 00's love-or-hate fast-moving zombies, while the deep rooted concepts still gleefully resonate.
To any self-respecting horror fan who has yet to delve into this gem, do yourself a favor and pick this one up today. Demoni is absolutely not to be missed.