Dèmoni 2… l’incubo ritorna [Demons 2] (1986)

(In French, On Cable TV, April 2020) If you haven’t seen the first Dèmoni, don’t worry too much if Dèmoni 2… l’incubo ritorna plays in front of you—the links between the two films are built on atmosphere and plot more than characters or events leading to the sequel. Once again, we are in an enclosed space, as something transforms people into bloodthirsty demons (i.e.: zombies). Except that, rather than being in an old movie theatre, we’re in a big modern high-rise apartment, and instead of a film creating the zombies, it’s a TV broadcast. Also written by Dario Argento and directed by Lamberto Bava, the rest of Demons 2 plays along similar lines: people trying (usually unsuccessfully) to defend themselves, gore effects, shiny-eyed demons, and the like. There is some playfulness in the way some expectations from the first film are overturned, so if you’ve got a mind to talk yourself into a double-bill, that will make it even better. Otherwise, this sequel, which was rushed into production to make it to theatres almost exactly a year after the original, doesn’t benefit from any substantial improvements in budget, scripting or execution: it’s pretty much the same thing with more demons and more people to kill. Great 1980s elements, though. Its too-scattered approach is good for showcasing gory effects and bloody kills, but not so much for plotting or character development. Still, while not quite as fun or focused or enjoyable as the first time around, Dèmoni 2… l’incubo ritorna is clearly in the same vein, and more enjoyable than other giallo or cannibal Italian horror films of the early 1980s.