With a screenplay by David S. Goyer, Charles Band’s brand of miniature madness presents the audience with something of an imagination and creativity. It’s “Demonic Toys,” another in a brand of Full Moon tiny terrors that I loved as a child and continue to to this day and for a Full Moon fan like yours truly, “Demonic Toys” has somewhat evaded me over the years. The 1992 horror film is a wicked entry in to Brand’s trademark creativity where director Peter Manoogian manages to make good use of the single setting piece he sets up for the audience.
The film is considerably low budget, so most of the film is set down on a warehouse filled with old toys. Why? What are they there for? We’re never actually told why, but within the confines of the warehouse contain toys. Demonic Toys. After a botched gun sting with gun runners, an officer is sent in to the abandoned warehouse to chase him and his partner to their deaths. Sadly, they’ve entered the wrong stomping grounds as the blood of one of the criminals seeps in to the floor to bring to life the manifestations of these demonic toys, all of whom have their separate traits that make them deadly weapons to reckoned with.
An angry ferocious Teddy, a laser blasting robot, and a gut munching Jack in the Box are all on call for this gore fest that teams together five unlikely survivors trapped over night as the ghost of a little boy inhabits the bodies of the toys, collecting bodies for sustenance and evading the most incompetent police officer ever put to film. Granted, Tracy Scoggins is gorgeous as cop Judith, but her character’s every move ranges from the questionable to the purely stupid.
And Bently Mitchum is likable as delivery man Mark, the aid to Judith’s own personal torment that ensues involving her soon to be demonic baby. The toys themselves are menacing and creepy, especially Oopsy Daisy, who will leave younger audiences clutching to their friends. “Demonic Toys” is a schlocky and campy bit of terror fare and one that I fondly enjoyed as a first time experience. Plus, you have to appreciate the commitment of Daniel Cerny as the evil kid of the piece who is never above terrorizing and taunting his victims like a Mini-Krueger before sending his toys at his human hosts.