Plot
In a dismal central European metropolis, a rather disconcerting masked individual is handing out tickets for the premiere of a film at the new Metropol cinema. It turns out to be a horror movie about a group of teenagers infected by a nefarious epidemic that causes them to transform into horrific creatures ravenous for human flesh.
Unfortunately, the pernicious events depicted in the film are merely a preview of what’s about to happen to the audience locked inside the theater as the same disease begins infecting them. The first victim is a prostitute who accidentally scratched her face while trying on a promotional demon mask displayed in the theater lobby.
Avoiding the infection is the only way to stay alive.
They will make cemeteries their cathedrals and tombs your cities.
Critique
5Although relying on an intriguing concept with a metacinematic flavor, the younger Bava’s best known film quickly falls victim to a repetitiveness arising from a plot built on a single premise – the ongoing parallelism between the events on the screen and what happens in the audience.
Mediocre performances, flimsy dialogue, and a massive dose of (intentionally?) nonsensical character motivation represent the weaknesses of the film, which redeems itself solely on the figurative front thanks to the evocative production design by Davide Bassan, along with Sergio Stivaletti’s noteworthy special effects (the scene where we see demonic fangs sprouting in the infected victim’s mouth is extraordinary).
Beloved by a remarkable number of nostalgic fans, “Demons” can be considered a manifesto of typical 1980s esthetics, as well as a powerful, relentless cult film that rises above its modest budget with an emphasis on psychedelic color, fiercely practical special effects, and a booming soundtrack (famous hard-rock tracks alternate with the powerful music of Goblin’s Claudio Simonetti).
Dario Argento’s influence (he cowrote the screenplay and produced the film) is obvious.
More Info
Quotes
- Whoever wears it becomes a demon and an instrument of evil [...] He will spread pestilence and contaminate the world.
- They will make cemeteries their cathedrals and tombs your cities.
- I don't know how to explain it [...] the movie's to blame for this!
Trivia
- A rather uninspired sequel came out in 1986 (“Demons 2”), again directed by Lamberto Bava. What was initially conceived as an additional installment, “Demons 3” was instead brought to the screen by Michele Soavi as the much more successful “The Church” (1989).
Products
Disclosure
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| Product name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
![Demons: Special Edition [4K Ultra HD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51rAXS7f7AL._SL75_.jpg) | Demons: Special Edition [4K Ultra HD] | |
 | Demons I & II |
| Nome del prodotto | Prezzo | |
|---|---|---|
 | Demoni - Bd | |
 | Demoni + Demoni 2 (Box 2 Dv) |
| Product name | Price |
|---|
| Nombre del producto | Precio | |
|---|---|---|
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 | LAMBERTO BAVA: MI MUNDO FANTÁSTICO MÁS ALLÁ DE DEMONIOS Y PRINCESAS |
| Produktname | Preis |
|---|
| Nom du produit | Prix | |
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| Démons [4K Ultra HD] |
| Product name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Demons [Blu-ray] | |
 | Demons (Blu-ray) | |
 | Demons |