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Film: Night of the Demons 2
Year: 1994
Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith
Writer: Joe Augustyn
Starring: Cristi Harris, Darin Heames and Robert Jayne
Review:
This was a film that I’m not entirely sure about when I watched it all the way through. I know it officially when I was in college. The original was always on the movie channels, especially in October. The sequel to this was one I remember seeing. I really like the original so I was kind of intrigued to revisit the sequel. I then gave it a rewatch for the Summer Challenge Series and then now for my Foray through the Fours.
Synopsis: high school students throw a Halloween party in a mansion haunted by a young demon.
We start this off with a couple coming to Hull House. This being where the events of the original happened. It is a rundown and decrepit house that used to be a mortuary. They knock and the door opens. They go inside. They then meet Angela Franklin (Amelia Kinkade) before being killed.
It then shifts to a religious boarding school nearby for troubled youth. It is run by Sister Gloria (Jennifer Rhodes). She collaborates with Father Bob (Rod McCary). At this school there’s a group of girls, Bibi (Cristi Harris), Terri (Christine Taylor) and Shirley Finnerty (Zoe Trilling) who are telling a story from the previous film. It is now an urban legend. There are also a couple of guys, Johnny (Johnny Moran) and Kurt (Ladd York), who are spying on them from across the way with binoculars.
Shirley turns her attention to Melissa Franklin (Merle Kennedy). They call her Mouse, which upsets her. It turns out she is the younger sister of Angela. They’re scolded by Sister Gloria as it lights out.
Also at the school is Perry (Robert Jayne). He is into demonology and wants to prove that it is a legitimate science. This upsets Father Bob and he wants him to give it up. Shirley steals one of his books while he’s distracted.
Later that day, Kurt hits on Shirley and this draws the attention of Sister Gloria, who bans them from the Halloween party that night. Shirley comes up with a plan for a better party instead. She invites all of the girls and guys, also having them convince Mouse to come along as well.
Everyone is freaked out when they learn it is being held at Hull House. Shirley’s boyfriend, Rick (Rick Peters), drives them there. Their main event of this party is to sacrifice Mouse to wake up the demons. The problem is that Angela isn’t asleep. She moves about the house as members of this group explore. Bibi finds lipstick in the bathroom cabinet and then goes off with Johnny. Mouse is spooked by Shirley and Rick’s friend Z-boy (Darin Heames). Things get crazy and they flee back to the school. The problem is that an item brought over the underground stream holds the evil on this property. It is then a fight for survival against these demons who possess those that they attack.
That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. I do have to say, this does well at keeping the continuity from the first one, which if you know me, I’m a big fan of. I like that they brought back Angela, played by the original actor. The events are now local lore. I don’t mind that Mouse is Angela’s younger sister, as from what I remember, we never learn about her back-story. We have the rules of the underground stream that hold them there. The call back to things like the lipstick to the earlier film is also something I like.
There are issues here though with these rules. The big one that I have is that possessed people at the school getting back across the river into Hull House. Or even being able to leave due to the item being taken. I assume they wouldn’t want it to be held there. I can understand why Angela wants back for the ending plan. I also didn’t like the religious duo that comes up to Hull House. If they’re going door to door, they probably live in the area or at least close enough. If not, you can tell no one lives there. It just feels like a cold opening for the sake of early kills.
Something else that doesn’t necessarily work is that this is cheesy with choices made. That does feel by design to make this campy. I hate that Johnny knows who to do karate, because I feel like the ending sequence is literally him round house kicking people. I can forgive it for the use of religious artifacts made into make-shift weapons. It doesn’t ruin the film, but just something that I noticed. What it feels like is that with the original being low budget and not intentionally being camp, this is staying in that vein.
Let’s then go over the acting performances. In general, I do think it's fine. This is part comedy, which explains certain lines. Those are fine. The cast is young, so none of them are great. I did like Harris in her role. She seems like the star, but also not. Seeing her topless was nice. Jacoby was interesting as the guy giving us the research of the entities involved. I thought Kennedy was solid in her role. I’m glad they brought Kinkade back as Angela. She is definitely an icon of horror. It was fun to see a young Taylor in this film along with Trilling. I thought the rest of the cast was fine, they fit what a movie like this needs.
Let’s then finish with filmmaking. I’ll start with the best part, which are the effects. They’re good with what they do. The look of the demons are creepy. I do love the distinct way with the razor teeth. They go brutal at times with the deaths, which is also great. They limit the use of blood. I do have a slight issue with continuity of how some can be cured from possession while others can’t. The setting of Hull House is good. I did want more there though. The combination of Catholic school and demon possession is also a fun idea. Other than that, credit to the sound design for the demon voice used for Demon Angela. Credit to James W. Quinn. I also like the Halloween party when it changes with Angela dancing. That song is spot on there. The rest of the soundtrack fits the atmosphere needed.
In conclusion, this film is a step-back from the original for me, but it is still fun. I like sticking with the continuity for the most part and the events of the first film now being an urban legend. There are minor plot-holes that bother me, but don’t ruin it either. The acting fits what they needed. I am glad they got Kinkade back as Angela. I’d say that this is well made with the look of the demons, the effects and sound design for those possessed. There are good set pieces as well with Hull House and the Catholic school. Not a great film, but that much of a step back from the original either.
My Rating: 7 out of 10