Original Vs. Remake: Night of the Demons

Last Updated on August 3, 2021

The vast majority agreed (obviously) with the first time, full sweep victory at center stage of our last Original Vs. Remake involving everyone’s favorite prom queen, CARRIE. I had an inkling that you’d all side with the Brian De Palma original as opposed to the shoddily handled remake with Chloë Grace Moretz. And now with that argument dead and buried, we can move on.

Today marks our first O vs. R in the glorious month of October! You must know what that means… All Things Halloween in Horror-ville! Since we are just at the start of our trick-or-treat season, we are saving the ultimate in Halloween horror for next time. For now, we are going with another wonderful horror flick set on the night of Samhain. So, throw on a costume and grab a beer because we are attending a party thrown by Angela with NIGHT OF THE DEMONS!

Story

High school outcast, Angela, is throwing a Halloween party at Hull House, an abandoned mortuary. Of course, the party goers have a séance which unleashes a demon spirit that begins possessing everyone. The body count begins to rise as people are killed and then transformed into demons. Will anyone be able to survive the night?

Somewhat similar to the original, Angela is throwing a Halloween party at a large old house, though not an abandoned mortuary. This bash is much larger in scale with many more guests and decorative trappings. However, the guests are greatly lessened once the cops kick almost everybody out. It is then that we learn about the original owner of the house who practiced black magic. Then the possessing, bloody demon action begins! It’s actually a pretty fun update on the original’s plot.

Acting

I think what elevates Demons over many of the horror flicks of the 80’s is how good the young actors are. They all deliver believable turns as high schoolers out for some Halloween high jinks. And once the insane monster mashing begins, everyone perfectly expresses their shock at the situation. Amelia Kinkade as gothic Angela and Cathy Podewell as sweet, innocent Judy are definitely standouts.

Thankfully, the remake scored a nice amount of seasoned B-movie stars to round out their cast. None of the actors come off as cheap amateurs. Monica Keena exudes her usual “cute girl” charm as our survivor girl and Shannon Elizabeth brings her dirty slut game as the naughty Angela. And let’s not forget everyone’s favorite dirt bag, Edward Furlong, who does some of his best work since T2.

Special Effects

Since this is an 80’s classic, you better believe we are rolling in gloriously gory practical effects. Every nifty gouge, scratch, and demon transformation comes courtesy of real-looking horror movie magic. Not to mention one hell of a trick performed with a tube of lipstick that’s as sensual as it is sick.

Again, the remake stays right on pace with the original by invoking a great deal of wonderfully practical effects. That’s right, I’m talking about a horror movie remake that did not succumb to the CGI curse! There’s a smorgasbord of icky, real-looking grue and guts on display. They pay tribute to the lipstick bit and even add a wickedly wrong sex scene that gives new meaning to venereal disease.

Intensity

The original Demons does not skimp on the frights. Sure, it’s got a great sense of humor and fun, but that doesn’t mean you’re not gonna scream. The dark, desolate setting of Hull House definitely adds to the scare factor. Kudos to whoever designed that set. The sound effects also help ramp up the chills whenever a demon pops out to attack.

Perhaps because the remake has a much more modern feel, the scares feel a tad more tame. The demons are definitely hardcore and attack in very violent ways. There just aren’t that many gasps as everyone is stalked and slashed. It just has more of a playful vibe than anything overly harrowing.

Hot Chicks

The original Demons sure as hell knew how to bring the hottie factor for a horror movie. Cathy Podewell sure is a sumptuous tease in her Alice in Wonderland costume with a super sweet voice to match. Of course, we can’t forget scream queen Linnea Quigley who just oozes sex out of every orifice. Not to mention Amelia Kinkade and her sexy dance moves, and Allison Barron and her perfect breasts.

The remake definitely satisfies in matching the extreme hottie hotness of the original. Every lead female is exactly the kind of woman you want to see in a horror movie. Monica Keena is a sassy heroine and is exposed just enough. Shannon Elizabeth is still a babe and doesn’t shy away from kissing girls. Last but not least, there’s the double D duo of Diora Baird and Bobbi Sue Luther! Damn!

Directing

Kevin Tenney definitely knew how to deliver fun 80’s horror. He follows the rules of gore, comedy, and female candy, but is able to rise above the generic by injecting a strong sense of storytelling and real emotions. He also knows how to set up a scene for scares. The vast insides of Hull House really are used to creepy advantage. You never know what shocking jolt will be coming next.

The best thing about Adam Gierasch is that he’s clearly a horror fan and respects out beloved genre. Hence, he showcases an obvious affinity for the original Night of the Demons. His remake is packed with plenty of winking nods and homages to Kevin Tenney’s film. Yet, he also is confident enough to invoke some tricks of his own, which keeps this remake fresh.

Night of the Demons (1988)

I believe this was the closet O vs. R race we’ve ever had. Hell of a way to kick off the Halloween season! I wonder if many of our fellow readers have checked out the Demons remake because it really is one of the better ones. Of course, it’d have to take a miracle the size of Diora and Bobbi Sue’s boobs in order to topple the original Night of the Demons. What say you, my faithful AITH reader? How do you see this Demons throwdown? Shoot them bullets below! And if you have any flicks you’d like to see in this column, give me a shout at [email protected].