Demons

Lamberto Bava
1985

For all intents and purposes Lamberto Bava's 80's fright flick is your standard (above average) zombie film. Most of the regular rules apply: bitten or scratched and you become one, they're only killed through serious physical trauma, and due to the last two reasons they proliferate like rats. A solid fun-times gore-fest, Bava's picture doesn't bother with needless and extraneous plotting or labored characterizations, but instead gets to the good stuff quick when a sneak-preview audience is forced to fight for their lives when folks start growing fangs, talons, and exploding face pustules. Lamberto is of course the son of Italian horror great Mario Bava, and this particular film boasts a "presented by Dario Argento" credit, but while some of the stylistic choices of these heavyweights are present in "Demons" none of the pretensions are (for better or for worse). Highlights include a hilariously stereotypical black brother, his two ladies, a katana-swinging motorcycle massacre, and a hapless gang of punk rock cokeheads. The shocks and kill scenes are fun and plentiful, and while the green slime spewing from the demons' mouths is a touch over the top, the practical makeup effects are a treat. Due to the film's slow start I was going to make some quip about how the slasher movie-within-the-movie would have been better viewing, but now I've got to eat those words.