Definitely one of Argento's better productions, this is also one of the few that doesn't focus on nubile young woman at an all girls school. That Argento's such a pedophile... Directed by Italian Lamberto Bava (yes, just one of many Bava's in the biz), DEMONS begins with two girls who decide to skip school one day (probably an all girls school no doubt) to go to the movies and check out some flick. Hey, a weirdo with a metal plate over his face gave em free tickets, so how can they resist?! In the theater's lobby is a mannequin on a motorcycle, and on the mannequin's face is a mask. Not a big deal, until you realize that, in the movie everyone is watching, there's another mask that looks exactly like it! The mask in the movie is said to have been prophesized by Nostradamus to make it's wearers into demons. You know, one of those rarely spoken of predictions he had... Well, sure enough, a hooker matching the movie goes out into the lobby, gets scratched by the mask, and becomes, what else, a demon. Soon enough, she's out running around and harassing her fellow moviegoers, spreading her demon plague and transforming the others into demons like her. Too bad for everyone, because they can't leave the theater, since someone apparently walled up the doors while they weren't looking! But, to quote the bible, "a pimp shall lead them"! Yes, a pimp. The guy is a natural born leader too, as he organizes everyone and manages to get them securely out of demon grasp. Then, the people get it in their heads that it's the movie's fault, so they make their way to the projector room and trash the thing, accomplishing nothing but ruining their one form of entertainment. Way to go guys. It's not the film, but the theater itself that's the source of the evil! As revealed by a blind man who knows these things... Sadly, the pimp falls to the wave of demonic bastards, which leads to pretty much everyone getting the same fate. Soon, it's chopped down to just one of the girls from the beginning and a guy she just met, who becomes her Kawasaki Samurai! He hops the motorcycle in the lobby, grabs a katana blade (also from the lobby), then proceeds to drive around beheading demons left and right! After he kills them all, a helicopter conveniently falls through the theater roof, giving the two a means of escape as they climb out to the roof. Here they have one final obstacle, in the form of the metalhead who was giving out the tickets to begin with. He is easily dispatched though, when they stick a pole through his eye, giving him one extreme brain piercing. Sadly though, they went from the frying pan into the fire, as it looks like the whole city has gone the way of the demon while they were in the theater trying to save themselves! Damn, these trends just jump up out nowhere! Last I knew, people were still going for the "urban" look! Well, I hope that guy's sake that he's got plenty of gas and a sword sharpener, because a city full of decapitations is gonna take a while! The couple hitch a ride with a gun toting family and make a break for the rural area, provided they can escape the city limits. Be sure to watch the credits though, because we discover that the girl has also been infected! Alright! A tragic ending! If you liked EVIL DEAD, then you should like this movie, as it's pretty much just EVIL DEAD with a more claustrophobic feel. Just think of Bruce Campbell dressed as a pimp! So, not exactly original, but it does have some sweetly disgusting transformation FX and gore to make up for the lack of originality! When in doubt, rip someone's organs out!

Sequels: DEMONS 2, DEMONS 3: THE CHURCH; DEMONS '95

If You Liked This Flick, Check Out: NIGHT OF THE DEMONS or EVIL DEAD