Dèmoni (Demons) (1985)

56% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(9,641 ratings)

Italian horror auteur Dario Argento produced and co-wrote (with director Lamberto Bava) this gory, nightmarish horror film set almost entirely within the "Metropol," a huge, cathedral-like Berlin cinema showing an invitation-only screening of a rather lame slasher film. The difference, of course, is… More Italian horror auteur Dario Argento produced and co-wrote (with director Lamberto Bava) this gory, nightmarish horror film set almost entirely within the "Metropol," a huge, cathedral-like Berlin cinema showing an invitation-only screening of a rather lame slasher film. The difference, of course, is that the cheap scares on the Metropol's screen are child's play compared to the horrors which soon emerge to lay hold of the unsuspecting filmgoers: when a young woman is scratched by part of a display in the theatre lobby, she begins to mutate into a fanged, slavering creature who then attacks other audience members, spreading the demonic infection until only a handful of survivors are forced to combat rampaging armies of inhuman beasts, making the latter portion of the film resemble Night of the Living Dead. A handful of sequels followed; there's a little "reward" for those who stick around for the end credits. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Lamberto Bava
Genres: Art House & International, Horror

In Theaters: Oct 4, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Mar 16, 1999
Studio: Ascot Films

Critic Reviews

Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
A movie that can support the descriptions "awesome!" and "stupid!" in equal measure.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
A classic party movie that you have to watch with friends and a load of beer because you will not be bored at all...
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...the film's performances, dialogue, and storyline all [suffer] from an unmistakable vibe of incompetence.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Demons is probably Lamberto's best film, not because it approaches Mario's work, but because it's so ludicrously entertaining.
Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com
The 80s called. They want their movies back.
Bill Gibron, DVDTalk.com
In many ways, Demons is a zombie flick without the social commentary or biological backdrop.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
It's repetitive and borderline pretentious, without the over-the-top looniness that distinguishes the better Italian splatter.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
It doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's not wanting for gore and creepiness.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
A guy on a motorcycle careening through a cinema, wielding a katana blade and lopping off heads to the sound of 'Killers on the Attack.' It doesn't get any better than this.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Intentionally over-the-top, unintentionally funny and literally oozing with cultish je ne sais quoi.
AJ V

Fantastic movie, it's both scary and funny, it's a lot like zombie movies of the time, but it's about demons instead. The overall story is brilliant, the special effects are disturbingly realistic, and the movie is very exciting. The ending is typical, I expected a… More
Fantastic movie, it's both scary and funny, it's a lot like zombie movies of the time, but it's about demons instead. The overall story is brilliant, the special effects are disturbingly realistic, and the movie is very exciting. The ending is typical, I expected a little more, but it's fine. I loved this movie, and if you like horror movies, you should see it.
Cassandra M

What really annoys me, especially in what passes for 'Thrillers' and 'Supernatural Thrillers' these days, is when films try to be too clever. It all started with 'The Sixth Sense', which was, admittedly, quite a good film, when the film contained a… More
What really annoys me, especially in what passes for 'Thrillers' and 'Supernatural Thrillers' these days, is when films try to be too clever. It all started with 'The Sixth Sense', which was, admittedly, quite a good film, when the film contained a 'twist' - a surprise ending that explained all the meandering, subliminal guff that went on before it. Luckily, there is none of that in 'Demons', which thankfully contains all the ingredients I require in a film - mindless gore! The plot (what there is of it) centers around visitors to a cinema who have been handed free tickets by a mysterious masked man. I don't really need to write a spoiler, as it's fairly obvious what happens but, needless to say, this film is brilliant. Lots of people die in pretty gruesome circumstances by the 'Demons' of the title. There's lots of blood, lots of slime, lots of fangs, ninja swords, motorbikes, helicopters(don't ask!) and a thumping Metal soundtrack. There has been questions raised as to the relevance of the helicopter scene and why it's there, but who cares? A superb example of why we need horror films - to entertain! WATCH IT!
Ariuza k

Somebody would easily call this movie a blockbuster only due to the fact it's driven by a heavy metal score and scenes that of course accompany those scenes such as a man with a samurai sword riding down the movie theater on a motorbike with his girlfriend. And this movie was… More
Somebody would easily call this movie a blockbuster only due to the fact it's driven by a heavy metal score and scenes that of course accompany those scenes such as a man with a samurai sword riding down the movie theater on a motorbike with his girlfriend. And this movie was also released at the time when all this Heavy metal stuff was big. Then of course I don't really get into it but Metallica has always kept my interest. Then once more it is impossible not to love this movie just so Meany scenes that have no affect on the film. Cheryl and Kathy are two American girls living in Berlin but get free movie tickets of some guy in a really wired mask. So like always they go and see the movie only to have a very large crowed of people show up for this massive screening and yes the movie is a very violent horror film. So moving on a girl sticks on this prop mask and cuts her face she runs into the bathroom and it splits open She Is A DEMON. Or a zombie like creature so she infects the other movie goers and there is panic so they all run to the exits and find them bricked up. So the story is riddled with plot holes and Meany of your questions will never be answered but look on the bright side it has some of the best scenes you will ever see and will never forget its like the violent none animated version of a Studio Ghibli film. With stuff that just sticks with you such as George on a motorbike slaying all the demons like creatures with a samurai sword and playing a really epic soundtrack. And of course the film has like a million elements from other horror movies but this one somehow I can never forget and never will. It's just really simple of a story and movie that I could watch again and again. The acting is really bad along with the Japanese's dub. The effects are extremely awesome Mr. Lamberto Bava obversly had a direction of nothing but really simple yet graphic elements and that Helicopter that crashes throw the roof was just like WTF. The soundtrack is the best part any heavily metal fan would love it. So I come to a close I think anyone should watch this trust me you will never forget it.
Alexis N

I can't believe the amount of gore in this movie, there's tons and it's awesome. The gross out factor is high. It's got a zombie feel, which makes it kinda scary. If they so much as look at you, you're a demon too. Love it. The soundtrack is really good too.
Jeff "

Lamberto Bava partners with Dario Argento to create this memorable gorefest. Demons is a film that will definitely appeal to all horror fans. Everything about this film is great. The acting is so-so, but thats a simple detail. With a film like Demon what really matters is the gore.… More
Lamberto Bava partners with Dario Argento to create this memorable gorefest. Demons is a film that will definitely appeal to all horror fans. Everything about this film is great. The acting is so-so, but thats a simple detail. With a film like Demon what really matters is the gore. Theres plenty of it. Long considered a Italian gore classic, Demons is a favorite amongst horror fans for many reasons. The story, like ever other Italian Horror film is quite simple, yet awesome. Tourists in Berlin are invited to a film theatre where a film about Nostradamus is playing. The plot of the film involves people getting turned into demons after wearing a bizarre mask. Then the fun really begins. After one of the audience members trys on the same prop of the mask used in the film, she cuts herself, and she becomes a Demon soon after. All hell breaks loose, and the gorefest is on. Bava and Argento pull out everything for this awesome first entry in the legendary Demons series. The special effects are incredible, asnd will appeal to every gorehound. Demons is a fun surrealistic film to watch. A shocker that will definitely appeal to Argento fans, this is one ride you won't want to miss. Despite the fact that the film is at times cheesy, Demons is a well written horror film with plenty of good things going for it. The stuff that happens in the film is kind of hard to believe, but like I've said the film has a surrealistic mood to it, and it permits Lamberto Bava and Dario Argento to create something totally unique and jawdropping in the process. So if you've never seen this film, do yourself a favor, and watch it now. Demons is an incredible horror film. For Lamberto Bava's directorial debut, it's a very impressive one, only because he is the protege of maestro Dario Argento. Both minds are eccentric and when you've got two tremendous eccentric minds of Horror working together, you get this shock classic.
Tsubaki S

Muahaha! Fantastic madness from Bava jr and Argento. The movie do runs out of gas in some places, since there's barely a story at all, but a movie that plays Accept's Fast as a Shark while somebody is cutting heads with a katana is truly doing something right.
EightThirty .

10/07/2010 (ONLINE) A pretty good scare and quite an interesting change or should I say twist from "Zombies". This time if you get infected you become a demon. I remember watching this as a child and being thoroughly freaked for quite some time. A horrific experience.
Conner R

Ridiculously fun and enjoyable. It is by far one of the best horror comedies and just pure entertainment. The characters are lovable and often over the top and the story feels like it's right out of a pulp magazine. It is a fantasy for fans of the horror genre and not just a… More
Ridiculously fun and enjoyable. It is by far one of the best horror comedies and just pure entertainment. The characters are lovable and often over the top and the story feels like it's right out of a pulp magazine. It is a fantasy for fans of the horror genre and not just a spoof. It is extremely well shot and has a great style of its own.
Curtis L

Fun the the whole demon family!
Ken S

So so so much fun. Highly recommended for the Evil Dead crowd.
_kelly .

Considered a classic "Italian horror/gorefest/giallo" and for good reasons. I like the story concept, the scares are definitely there with great makeup and tense action scenes. My problem with it is that it sometimes seems a mash between Lomberto Bava's vision and… More
Considered a classic "Italian horror/gorefest/giallo" and for good reasons. I like the story concept, the scares are definitely there with great makeup and tense action scenes. My problem with it is that it sometimes seems a mash between Lomberto Bava's vision and Dario Argento's style. That said, Argento's presence seems to inject an edge on the films he produced in this period, the key example being Zombi Dawn of the Dead. Definite must watch for horror fans.
Tim S

Fun at times, but not quite what I was expecting.
Stephen M

This ultra-gory Italian horror has a couple of ingenious ideas which, sadly, lose most of their impact in the home entertainment domain: a) it's set in a movie theatre, and b) the film-within-a-film the cast is watching mirrors the movie we, ourselves, are viewing. Though… More
This ultra-gory Italian horror has a couple of ingenious ideas which, sadly, lose most of their impact in the home entertainment domain: a) it's set in a movie theatre, and b) the film-within-a-film the cast is watching mirrors the movie we, ourselves, are viewing. Though it's never especially scary, "Demons" is great fun; it's largely played for laughs so, for once, the bad dubbing is not necessarily a hindrance. The influence of John Carpenter is strongly discernible, particularly in the closing scenes.
Pierluigi P

creepy and ultra entertaining euro trash, an italian gore hunt inside a film theater.
Lafe F

This was a phenomenal experience. A weird masked man is handing out free movie passes to a new horror film. A wide variety of characters show up at the huge gothic theatre for the screening of a weird Demon movie. When the Demons appear on the screen, they also start breaking out in… More
This was a phenomenal experience. A weird masked man is handing out free movie passes to a new horror film. A wide variety of characters show up at the huge gothic theatre for the screening of a weird Demon movie. When the Demons appear on the screen, they also start breaking out in the actual theatre. All the exits are locked. Gore and carnage ensue; those who are wounded by Demons become Demons themselves. Lots of good gorey deaths. It's up to a resourceful group of people to find a way to escape from the theatre. There's great action. I liked the Euro look with 80's soundtrack. The ending is unbelievably spectacular. A classic, unlike its sequel.
Dr Blood

Probably the sickest, most violent, and most gruesome Italian horror movie ever made.
Cindy I

A freaky gross-out of a movie. I'm not a gore fan, but something about this film just grabbed me. It was memorable because it was so over-the-top.
Steve K

A pure horror film, unconcerned with plot or character. Just violence and horror and death.
Ryan M

8.5/10 Lamberto Bava's "Demons", also known as "Demoni" in its native land, is pure cinematic fun. To most, it isn't a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but to me, it's one of the most entertaining and epic horror films ever… More
8.5/10 Lamberto Bava's "Demons", also known as "Demoni" in its native land, is pure cinematic fun. To most, it isn't a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but to me, it's one of the most entertaining and epic horror films ever filmed. I recognize the fact that it doesn't have an incredible story or a vast amount of scares ranging from gore effects to atmospheric chills; but as an 80's horror flick, that's alright. I practically live for this genre; I love it. And that's exactly why I loved "Demons". It' s stupid, it's trashy, and it's a landmark for its genre. There's no denying it; this is the ultimate midnight movie. It's escapist entertainment that I can admire because it goes over-the-top and beyond. It has no limits and no chains restrain it. It's the kind of flick that can never be remade, not only for its reputation, but also for its stylistic choices. Today's horror films are usually just "fun" at best, but not in the sense that this one is. No, there's something more going on here; some really inventive and good ideas at work. I can understand why some people dislike it immensely, and why some people find it preposterous, but I think the overall ridiculousness of the subject matter adds to the fun. It's so silly that it's surreal; and that surely says something, doesn't it? Lamberto is, of course, the son of Italian Giallo horror legend Mario Bava; a superior filmmaker by all means. Don't get me wrong; his son is still good, if only for this little movie here, but unlike his father, the kid didn't exactly re-invent, or better yet, invent all-together a sub-genre of horror that is loved by many and misunderstood by others. "Demons" can be classified as Giallo cinema; and at that, it's a favorite of mine. Many of you reading will find it distasteful and just-plain-stupid to the point where you can't find anything believable, but try your hardest to think of it as a sick, nasty, but satisfyingly violent dream. This was clearly made back in the day where gore could be used as entertainment for those who enjoyed shock value. I don't like films that are repulsive, and I loved "Demons" because it was disgusting, but not in the sense that it was offensive or repulsive. Oh, how I adored it. "They will make cemeteries their cathedrals and the cities will be your tombs". Lamberto's film is pretty basic in terms of plot; so I won't be spoiling too much if I go a little more "in depth" than normal. I suppose I'll start off with the premise. It involves an audience of young men and women; some older than the majority of the crowd, who are given a ticket by a mysterious man with a steel mask, which grants them admission to a movie theater that's just now opening its doors to the public again for the first time in years. The name of the theater is the "Metropol". The audience is seated. The lights are dimmed. The people present are assuming that they have been invited to take part in a test screening of a film that has never been viewed, or reviewed, by anyone inside or outside of the general public. In a sense, they are right. The film ends up falling into the horror genre; beginning with the typical curious kids and soon becoming what Roger Ebert calls a "dead teenager movie", but with a bit of a twist. This movie-within-a-movie contains a plot element which involves a demonic mask-like artifact, which turns all those who wear it for even a second into a bloodthirsty demon bent on destruction. The first demon can attack the living and turn them into fellow slaves of Satan himself. At the moment in which we learn of these things; we know it's all going to go downhill from there. If you recall, a woman put on a mask similar to the one present in the movie-within-a-movie whilst entering the theater, and in both the in-movie-movie and the actual movie (that is "Demons"), a scratch on the cheek is the price you pay for goofing off. This very woman soon turns into a demon, and chaos ensues. The others try to survive in every way possible, as more people are turned into demons, and more trouble (in the form of a biker-esque gang) comes their way. I liked "Demons" as much as I did because it was insane. And some movies need to be. I've no doubt seen some outstanding films, ones better than even this one, but as far as escapist entertainment in cinema goes, this is an undeniable master-work. A lot of craft goes into fun, so I have to applaud Lamberto Bava for his work here. "Demons" has quite the body count, and boasts some impressive and down-right disgusting gore effects; which make it fun. It will be hard to stomach for a lot of people, even given it's original release (somewhere in the early 80's), but those who enjoy this genre should warm right up to it. This movie doesn't care much about characters, inspired dialogue, or great storytelling. It gets along fine with just a competent and creative visual presentation, entertaining blood-and-gore, and of course, a classic soundtrack consisting of original music from Goblin (the same awesome bastards who scored "Suspiria") and liscensed tracks from various American rock bands. There's plenty to remember here. And plenty to despise as well, so if you disagree with me and find this film not to your liking, then I still respect you. But I had such a great time watching "Demons"; such a great time, in fact, that I can't even begin to understand why I didn't like it upon first viewing. Maybe I wasn't paying attention; maybe I wasn't appreciative of films like this one at the time. No matter; I now can say that I love it. Any film that has a scene as awesome as the one involving a guy going down the rows of a movie theater on a motorcycle, katana in hand, slicing up zombie-like demons, has my vote for sheer badassery. Even if this isn't your kind of thing, I'd still suggest seeing it. It's a great party movie, a great midnight movie, and just a lot of fun all-in-all. What more could you ask for?