Film Review: NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2 (1994)

The demon Angela is back and this time she has her sights set on reuniting with her sister Melissa in Night of the Demons 2 (1994).  Amelia Kinkade returns as the demon Angela who sets her sights on the students of St. Rita’s High School who think that the legend of Hull House is nothing but a legend but they will soon learn otherwise. 

Melissa (Merle Kennedy) is bullied at school and called Mouse by her fellow students.  She’s had a hard life especially considering that everyone knows she’s related to Angela but think that everything associated with Hull House is just a myth.   Things for Melissa are even more complicated as Father Bob (Rod McCary) disbelieves the legends and the only one that seems to understand her is Sister Gloria (Jennifer Rhodes).  When a group of her classmates trick her into leaving the school grounds to go to Hull House, Melissa finds herself having to confront her past and her older sister who has nefarious plans in store for her.  When Angela finds a way to leave her prison at Hull House she brings her brood on demons to St. Rita’s where there will be no stopping her from spreading her demonic influence.

Although it is very predictable, the fun of this film is in the fact that it’s a very campy and entertaining demon film with a flare in its direction by Brian Trenchard-Smith, who also is behind Dead End Drive-In (1986), Leprechaun 3 (1995), Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996) and Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001), to name a few.  He’s spent his whole career behind low budget sci-fi and horror films.

Film Review: DEF BY TEMPTATION (1990)

There is a deadly temptress plaguing the bars of New York City killing men one by one in the film Def By Temptation (1990).  Joel (James Bond III) has decided to make a trip to the city to visit his best friend K (Kadeem Hardison) because he’s having a crisis of faith.  Joel is from the country where he has been studying as a minister-in-training but journeying to the city his eyes has been opened to the underbelly of the dark side of life starting with a dark temptress (Cynthia Bond) whom shows him passion and seduction like he’s never experienced before in his life. 

Now with the help of K and Dougy (Bill Nunn), a barfly who knows more about the suspicious disappearances of men, Joel’s faith will be tested as will his soul as he must overcome the greatest evil he has ever faced.  Written and directed by Bond the film is a character driven film about a man whose sheltered life and faith is tested when he comes up against an unspeakable evil.

Def By Temptation has a unique charm in that it is a film made up entirely of an African American cast and is a horror film with a female antagonist that is ruthless and relentless while also tackling the ideas of faith and religion in a battle between good and evil.  Some of the film’s techniques may seem dated and simplistic but the story itself holds up well despite these flaws.

Film Review: VAMP (1986)

Vampires don’t get any sexier than Grace Jones in the ‘80s cult classic Vamp (1986)!  Two fraternity brothers Keith and AJ (Chris Makepeace and Robert Rusler, respectfully) are task with getting the entertainment for their frat party.  The only place to find that “special” type of woman is at a strip joint in the city so the two, with fellow college mate Duncan (Gedde Watanabe), find themselves at a sleazy strip joint and bar with a very simple task until they come to realize that the place they’ve found themselves in is home to a den of vampires lead by the alluring Katrina (Jones).   Also, along for the ride is Allison (Dedee Pfeiffer) a waitress at the vampire club who helps Keith survive the night and figure out the truth of what’s going on.  

 

Vamp is a cult classic vampire film of the ‘80s mostly remembered because of the starring turn by Jones.  Written and directed by Richard Wenk (story by Donald P. Borchers and Wenk) the film is a vampire film that gets into the dirty under belly of horror films of the ‘80s literally as it primarily takes place in a strip joint and in the streets of the city where gangs and vampires are just part of the regular night life.

Even after thirty years the film still holds its allure and never seems dated mostly because there are so few actresses that have been able to make a mark as a seductress such as Jones who has immense sexual appeal while also being extremely dangerous in a film that never skimps on the comedy and gore.  This is an entertaining film that showcases the best of what the ‘80s were capable of.