Available August 13th from Synapse Films.
For folks that missed the deluxe editions of “Demons” and “Demons 2” back in 2021, Synapse Films re-releases the set but on standard Blu-Ray and 4K UHD. The pair of horror classics are back on the format and still in considerable high demand. That’s not too much of a bad thing as they play very well as party movies. The 1985 Lamberto Bava horror gem finds a group of movie goers trapped in a movie theater besieged by an endless army of demons. When they realize that the theater is literally a virtual death trap, they have to find their way out alive or risk becoming one of the hordes.
Filled with some great scares and a top notch heavy metal soundtrack, “Demons” is worth re-visiting, and re-re-visiting. The bombastic “Demons 2” is seemingly set in an alternate universe where tenants of a high security high rise are locked in when demons begin infesting and wreaking unholy havoc on the residents of a birthday party after demons inexplicably emerge from a television screen. This one is almost as fun as its predecessor featuring demon kids, demon goblins, and a very young Asia Argento who gets slaughtered in an ill fated parking lot showdown with the rising demon army.
“Demons” includes two versions of the original film: the full-length original cut in English and Italian, and the shorter U.S. version featuring alternate dubbing and sound effects. The original film features Newly translated optional English SDH subtitles for the English version, and Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian version.
As for bells and whistles, Produced by Dario Argento is a new visual essay by author and critic Michael Mackenzie exploring the legendary filmmaker’s career as a producer, there’s a new audio commentary by critics Kat Ellinger and Heather Drain, co-hosts of the Hell’s Belles podcast, audio commentary with director Lamberto Bava, SPFX artist Sergio Stivaletti, composer Claudio Simonetti and actress Geretta Geretta. Dario’s Demon Days is an interview with writer/producer Dario Argento, while Defining an Era in Music is an interview with Claudio Simonetti.
Splatter Spaghetti Style is an interview with long-time Argento collaborator Luigi Cozzi with the chapters Carnage at the Cinema: Lamberto Bava and His Splatter Masterpiece, Dario and Demons: Producing Monster Mayhem, Monstrous Memories: Luigi Cozzi on Demons, and Profondo Jones: The Critical Perspective. Splatter Stunt Rock is an interview with Ottaviano Dell’Acqua, while we’re given the full Stivaletti Q & A at the 2019 UK ‘Festival of Fantastic Films.’ Finally there’s the original Italian and English International Theatrical Trailers, and the US Theatrical Trailer.
“Demons 2” features Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English 5.1 & Italian 5.1/2.0 audio mixes derived from the original archival audio masters, and Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English 2.0 true stereo theatrical mix remastered in 2021 by Synapse Films. As well there’s Newly translated optional English SDH subtitles for the English version, and Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian version.
As for the bells and whistles, there’s new audio commentary by film critic Travis Crawford, Bava to Bava, an interview with Luigi Cozzi on the history of Italian horror, Creating Creature Carnage, an interview with Sergio Stivaletti, and Demonic Influences: Federico Zampaglione Speaks. Next there’s The ‘Demons’ Generation with Roy Bava who discusses a legacy in lacerations, The New Blood of Italian Horror featuring Sergio Stivaletti, Screaming for a Sequel: The Delirious Legacy of DEMONS 2 with Lamberto Bava, A Soundtrack for Splatter, an interview with composer Simon Boswell.
Together and Apart is a new visual essay on the space and technology in DEMONS and DEMONS 2 by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas. Finally there’s the original Italian and English theatrical trailers.