Demons 2 is one of those films that films that makes you laugh at the hilarious over acted dubbed performances.  Bobby Rhodes is especially humorous in my opinion. But the film isn’t just funny (though I’m pretty sure it wasn’t trying to be) it’s full of beautiful gore goodness.  There’s none of that silly CGI blood spurting here friends. This is physical effects during their prime. But just how does the DVD hold up?

One year after Demons tore its way through the world’s gore-loving hearts, Italian horror maestros Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava returned to again unleash a flood of demonic carnage upon the screen.  This time, the residents of a luxury high-rise apartment building are transformed into monsters for a gut-spattered siege complete with acid blood, cannibal kids, zombie dogs, and a birthday party gone horrifically wrong. Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni (Argento’s Opera), Bobby Rhodes (Demons) and Asia Argento (in her first film role) star in this insane shocker.

Here we go!   This is more like it. The video for this presentation is in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen.  Unlike the previous non-anamorphic release, this DVD looks much better now that it’s not letterboxed.  The image is even slightly improved with some better colours and better detail in the shadows.  Unfortunately there are still a couple outdoor scenes which have a very annoying jitter/shake that makes them hard to watch.  I was hoping they’d be somehow cleaned up with this new transfer but I guess that would have cost too much (if it’s even possible).

Audio comes to us in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and is decent but overly dynamic.   The surrounds are mostly used for the music which is some pretty awesome 80s rock (The Smiths, Dead Can Dance, The Cult, etc.).  The English dubbed dialogue is clear but is mostly front centric while some sound effects are used in the surrounds occasionally.  There’s also a 2.0 Surround track available.

Much like the re-mastered version of Demons, Demons 2 simply ported over the extras from the first release of the film. What we get are some trailers.  The DVD opens with trailers for Demons, Phenomena, and Tenebre which are also accessible from the extras menu along with trailers for Demons 2, Re-Animator and Phantasm.  The only other extra is a feature length commentary by Director Lamberto Bava, Sergio Stivaletti and Journalist Loris Curci. The commentary talks quite a bit about the F/X which is good news for the lovers of physical effects.

The audio and video presentations are very similar to the re-mastered DVD for Demons which isn’t all too surprising. If you were into Demons then Demons 2 should be next on your list of DVDs to own.  If you already own Demons 2 then it all comes down to… how much do you prefer anamorphic widescreen?  Just like the Demons DVD, that’s the only difference of any significance you’re going to find here.  I’m glad I have the upgrade but will you be?

Review By Robert Harding