NIGHT OF THE DEMONS (2009) – I saw the sequel yesterday, so why not? One of the less obvious remakes from that time in the noughties when all the seventies and eighties ‘classics’ seemed to be getting a makeover of some kind, ‘Night of the Demons’ holds its own pretty well against its higher-profile competition and is certainly a lot more fun than the multiplex-friendly reincarnation of F Kruger et al. In fact it’s similar in spirit to the original, just a straightforward mix of comedy and horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously but makes room for some actual nastiness – case in point, this version’s gynaetastic update of the Tenney movie’s infamous lipstick scene. The demons look like messed up, hellish creatures this time around, definitely a point in its favour, along with gory outbursts which are intense enough to impress. Edward Furlong, here a hapless but amiable drug dealer, looks like he’s seen better days, and the camerawork grates a bit with that sped-up quick edit thing that I loathed in the early part of this century and still do to this day, but this version of ‘Night of the Demons’ is an enjoyable romp tailor-made for light Hallowe’en-type viewing
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