Lamberto Bava and Dario Argento return with this sequel to the 1985 original, and despite setting it in a hi-tech high rise apartment building complete with underground parking garage and a gym, it’s basically more of the same.
The titular beasties infect birthday girl Sally, and she soon sets about spreading the disease to her unfortunate guests. Soon, only a few survivors remain trapped in the building desperately trying to find a way out.
The film basically follows the rules of the horror sequel in that it’s bigger, better and gorier but it ends up being almost identical to the original, with some of the previous film’s cast members returning in different roles.
The make-up effects are the highlight again, although they go a little too far in one genuinely creepy scene which sees a lone pregnant woman attacked by a demon in child form. This sequence was freaking me out until a puppet burst out of said child’s tummy and we were treated to an Italian low rent reworking of the finale of Gremlins 2.
As with the first film the actors dubbed voices are hilarious, as are their ‘characterisations’ such as lead male George, who goes from scientist book nerd to Bruce Willis in Die Hard in the space of 10 minutes.
The set pieces in an elevator, on a roof and in a TV studio are probably some of the highlights, but the ending was pathetically weak.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Fans of the first movie will probably find that this is a fine continuation of the ‘Demons’ story. Look out for a young Asia Argento in one of her first screen roles, and the return of Bobby Rhodes, this time appearing as Hank the gym instructor. He gives Mr. T a run for his money.
