Come True (2021)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Living as a runaway, and supported by her friend, Zoe (Tedra Rogers), Sarah Dunne (Julia Sarah Stone) volunteers for an experimental sleep study. Led by Dr. Meyer (Christopher Heatherington), Sarah is closely monitored by Jeremy (Landon Liboiron) and Anita (Carlee Ryski). Sarah hopes to find the answers behind her sleeping problems, and a bizarre series of dreams and nightmares, but Sarah’s search for the truth leads her down a dark and troubling path. 

My Thoughts- Julia Sarah Stone really holds her own well in the leading role. You can take one look at Sarah, and you’ll quickly notice she’s a young woman, who’s fighting a lot of demons. She’s exhausted, constantly dealing with conflicting emotions, and naturally, she’s hesitant to trust the scientists, who are supposedly trying to help her. 

Stone effortlessly captures everything Sarah is going through, including the paranoia, the anger, and the frustration surrounding Sarah’s unusual dilemma. A good showing in the leading role, and Stone easily delivers the best performance here.

Landon Liboiron’s Jeremy (or Riff) is clearly obsessed and fascinated by Sarah. She’s the ideal test subject, but Jeremy also deeply cares about Sarah. Liboiron plays the geeky scientist, who’s willing to take risks to protect Sarah, a timid and nervous guy, but he steps up, when it’s necessary. A solid performance from Liboiron, especially towards the end, when the bond strengthens between Jeremy and Sarah. 

Sarah receives a text message in her dreams, informing her that she’s been in a coma for almost twenty years? Eh, okay. Well, I guess you could say that’s a unique choice for how to close out the movie. 

It’s an ending that raises a lot of questions, and there’s no definitive answers for what’s going to happen to Sarah, but it’s a good emotional roller-coaster for the home stretch. The chase at night in the dark woods, the glowing eyes of the monsters in the dark, and Sarah, complete with fangs and covered in Jeremy’s blood, laughing to herself after reading the text message, is an eerie and freaky visual. 

Plus, when Sarah “wakes up” on top of Jeremy to reveal she’s been aggressively gouging out his eyes? Wow. Truly a shocking moment. A fast transition to that scene after what happened in the woods, and the set up for the weird fiasco does a good job of delivering a morbid surprise. Sarah’s running through the woods, the monsters attack Anita and Jeremy, Sarah stops, and bam! She’s killing Jeremy after the two of them had sex. 

Pay attention to everything that’s going on, especially the surroundings outside, and in the parking garage, after Jeremy takes Sarah to the hospital. No cars in the parking garage, a HOSPITAL parking garage of all places? No traffic, or any moving cars on the streets? No one else walking around? I know it’s late at night, but Sarah was obviously stuck in her nightmares, or the dreamworld, because everything is just too quiet, and there’s no kind of movement, or activities going on around Sarah, Anita, and Jeremy.

The big clincher? The ending confirms nothing is real. Sarah is stuck in her nightmares and her dreams. Also, Sarah conveniently finds a flyer, offering twelve dollars an hour to participate in a study for people with sleeping disorders? There’s a place within walking distance that has futuristic technology to conduct the experiments? It’s all too convenient.

The bleeding from Sarah’s eye socket is something to think about. Maybe it’s a sign Jeremy, Anita, and the others were pushing too hard with the experiments? Or, is it possible that Sarah was about to wake up in the real world? Coming out of a coma after almost two decades is no easy task. There’s a good chance Sarah suffers before she opens her eyes, more wounds and more scars, hence the bloody eye socket.

Why is Sarah avoiding her mother, a mother, who’s seemingly concerned about her? You get the feeling Sarah’s exile from home is self-imposed, and there’s a pattern for people, who are close to Sarah, whether its loved ones, or people she forms connections with. Two people (Zoe, and another volunteer for the study named Emily) completely disappear from Sarah’s life, without any real explanations. Jeremy and Anita tried to help and protect Sarah, but let’s just say they ran into some big problems.

Maybe that’s why Sarah is staying away from her mother? It’s a strange way of protecting her, but if that’s the case, then why is she so close to Zoe, knowing what could possibly happen to her? People disappearing from Sarah’s life, or worse, suffering from brutal attacks, is a sign that her worst nightmares are coming true: Sarah is stuck in the dreamworld, and she can’t wake up.

Come True uses a methodical style of pacing. It works, because you’ll see a few spikes for some jarring moments and scenes every now and then, when it’s necessary. Sarah’s story is slowly unfolding piece by piece, so everything feels more torturous for her, the experiences, the dilemmas, the doubts, all of it. She’s stuck with sinking and lingering emotions. Sarah doesn’t have any time to try and figure out the previous problems, and it’s only a matter of time before another problem smashes into her, like a speeding eighteen-wheeler.

Most of the answers to the big questions are not clear-cut or straightforward. I have mixed feelings for the ending. Yes, it’s a shocker, but the big reveal during the ending raises more questions. How did this happen, and how did Sarah get here? 

Come True playing around with what’s real, and what’s not real, or what’s bleeding into the real world, if it exists? Well, the ending answers those questions. Taking a few steps backwards, it’s kind of easy to sort out what’s going on, if you pay attention to the clues. One too many convenient occurrences, including  finding the neighborhood research center that’s oddly tailored to Sarah’s specific condition. The monsters? They’re popping up, because Sarah is clearly struggling to fight off bad thoughts. When the dam breaks, the monsters attack anyone, who’s close to, or trying to protect her. 

Overall, Come True is a good horror/sci-fi film. The visuals and the cinematography are undeniably fantastic. The nightmare sequences are genuinely creepy and eerie, and the scene deep in the dark woods at night towards the end, is a good nail-biter. 

Come True also turns into a darker film, as the story progresses, mirroring the deep dive into Sarah’s dreams and her nightmares. It’s a risky journey through Sarah’s mind to find the answers she’s looking for, and there’s no happy ending here. There’s A LOT to unpack, when the credits start rolling. The ending sparks a domino effect for more questions, but Come True still checks off a good amount of boxes for a horror film about dreams, nightmares, loneliness, and how isolation can ruin so many areas in your life. 

Rating- 8/10

Come True (2021)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Living as a runaway, and supported by her friend, Zoe (Tedra Rogers), Sarah Dunne (Julia Sarah Stone) volunteers for an experimental sleep study. Led by Dr. Meyer (Christopher Heatherington), Sarah is closely monitored by Jeremy (Landon Liboiron) and Anita (Carlee Ryski). Sarah hopes to find the answers behind her sleeping problems, and a bizarre series of dreams and nightmares, but Sarah’s search for the truth leads her down a dark and troubling path. 

My Thoughts- Julia Sarah Stone really holds her own well in the leading role. You can take one look at Sarah, and you’ll quickly notice she’s a young woman, who’s fighting a lot of demons. She’s exhausted, constantly dealing with conflicting emotions, and naturally, she’s hesitant to trust the scientists, who are supposedly trying to help her. 

Stone effortlessly captures everything Sarah is going through, including the paranoia, the anger, and the frustration surrounding Sarah’s unusual dilemma. A good showing in the leading role, and Stone easily delivers the best performance here.

Landon Liboiron’s Jeremy (or Riff) is clearly obsessed and fascinated by Sarah. She’s the ideal test subject, but Jeremy also deeply cares about Sarah. Liboiron plays the geeky scientist, who’s willing to take risks to protect Sarah, a timid and nervous guy, but he steps up, when it’s necessary. A solid performance from Liboiron, especially towards the end, when the bond strengthens between Jeremy and Sarah. 

Why is Sarah avoiding her mother, a mother, who’s seemingly concerned about her? You get the feeling Sarah’s exile from home is self-imposed, and there’s a pattern for people, who are close to Sarah, whether its loved ones, or people she forms connections with. Two people completely disappear from Sarah’s life, without any real explanations. Jeremy and Anita tried to help and protect Sarah, but let’s just say they ran into some big problems.

Maybe that’s why Sarah is staying away from her mother? It’s a strange way of protecting her, but if that’s the case, then why is she so close to Zoe, knowing what could possibly happen to her? People disappearing from Sarah’s life, or worse, suffering from brutal attacks, is a sign that her worst nightmares are coming true: Sarah is stuck in the dreamworld, and she can’t wake up.

Come True uses a methodical style of pacing. It works, because you’ll see a few spikes for some jarring moments and scenes every now and then, when it’s necessary. Sarah’s story is slowly unfolding piece by piece, so everything feels more torturous for her, the experiences, the dilemmas, the doubts, all of it. She’s stuck with sinking and lingering emotions. Sarah doesn’t have any time to try and figure out the previous problems, and it’s only a matter of time before another problem smashes into her, like a speeding eighteen-wheeler.

Most of the answers to the big questions are not clear-cut or straightforward. I have mixed feelings for the ending. Yes, it’s a shocker, but the big reveal during the ending raises more questions. How did this happen, and how did Sarah get here?

Come True playing around with what’s real, and what’s not real, or what’s bleeding into the real world, if it exists? Well, the ending answers those questions. Taking a few steps backwards, it’s kind of easy to sort out what’s going on, if you pay attention to the clues. One too many convenient occurrences, including  finding the neighborhood research center that’s oddly tailored to Sarah’s specific condition. The monsters? They’re popping up, because Sarah is clearly struggling to fight off bad thoughts. When the dam breaks, the monsters attack anyone, who’s close to, or trying to protect her. 

Overall, Come True is a good horror/sci-fi film. The visuals and the cinematography are undeniably fantastic. The nightmare sequences are genuinely creepy and eerie, and the scene deep in the dark woods at night towards the end, is a good nail-biter. 

Come True also turns into a darker film, as the story progresses, mirroring the deep dive into Sarah’s dreams and her nightmares. It’s a risky journey through Sarah’s mind to find the answers she’s looking for, and there’s no happy ending here. There’s A LOT to unpack, when the credits start rolling. The ending sparks a domino effect for more questions, but Come True still checks off a good amount of boxes for a horror film about dreams, nightmares, loneliness, and how isolation can ruin so many areas in your life. 

Rating- 8/10

Night Of The Demons (2009)(2025 Redo)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Evangeline Broussard (Tatyana Kanavka) hosts a seance at her mansion in 1920’s New Orleans. Madly in love with Louis Devereaux (Michael Arata), Evangeline uses the seance to spark a romantic connection with Louis. But Evangeline is unknowingly tricked by seven demons, unleashing a massacre inside the mansion.

Eighty-five years later, Angela Feld (Shannon Elizabeth) hosts a Halloween party at The Broussard Family Mansion. Angela invites Maddie (Monica Keena), Lily (Diora Baird), Suzanne (Bobbi Sue Luther), Dex (Michael Copon), Jason (John F. Beach), and others, while Colin (Edward Furlong) bribes Diana (Tiffany Shepis) for access to the party. The police force, led by Sergeant Dawson (Lance Nichols), pulls the plug on Angela’s party, but the group has bigger problems to worry about, when Angela and Colin discover seven skeletons in the basement. 

My Thoughts- Amelia Kinkade’s Angela was a goth nerd, the outsider, who was into witchcraft and the occult. Shannon Elizabeth’s Angela? She’s clearly more popular, has a wild side, and Elizabeth brings out a more cocky and confident side of herself, when the demonic possession takes over. There’s a scene, where Angela is taunting Maddie about her chances of survival and Maddie’s feelings for Colin. Good stuff from Elizabeth during this scene, as her eyes are deviously wandering around the room, with that big smirk on her face, because you can see Angela’s having fun toying with Maddie. 

The remake fills out the rest of the cast with likable characters, who are easy to root for. Monica Keena’s Maddie easily leads the pack, the scrappy fighter, who slowly emerges as the leader, and a sensible voice of reason. Keena brings a wholesomeness to Maddie, but she steps up to FIERCELY fight back towards the end. “Come and get me, motherfuckers” is one of the cooler one-liners in the movie. Keena really nails the delivery for that line, and the timing is perfect, because it comes at point, where the odds are not in Maddie’s favor, but she’s not going down without a fight.

Edward Furlong’s Colin is a sad sap. He’s a struggling drug dealer, who just can’t catch a break. You get the impression life has just run him into the ground, and to make matters worse, he’s on a hit list, if he doesn’t make enough money after Angela’s party. 

John F. Beach is consistently hilarious. No denying he owns all of his scenes and numerous moments throughout the movie, with nervous or spirited rants and outbursts. The paintball scene (“NO COSTUME, NO CANDY, MOTHERFUCKER!”)  is a good pick, and his explanation for what happened with Lily after the lipstick scene is just priceless.

Characters with bit parts and limited screen time deliver some notable highlights here. Tiffany Shepis is good for a few laughs as Diana. She’s sneaky, and Diana doesn’t care about breaking Angela’s rules, if she can make some extra cash on the side.

I wish Jamie Harris’ Nigel had a bigger role in the movie. Real show stealing stuff from him during his scene with Furlong, while Harris is laying it on thick as this unhinged crime boss. And another thumbs up for Lance Nichols playing the grinning and smarmy cop, who gladly leads the charge to ruin Angela’s party. 

Dex, Lily, and Suzanne? No complaints about the performances from Diora Baird, Bobbi Sue Luther, and Michael Copon, but I just wish their characters had a bit more depth. Dex is a normal and nice guy, and that’s it? Lily’s entire personality basically revolves around being obsessed with Dex. Suzanne is spunky and she likes to have fun. But Bobbi Sue Luther brings some good positive energy to Suzanne, and I did get a laugh out of the costume snafu with Lily, because they’re not just cats, they’re pussy cats! 

No more Hull House! If I’m being honest, I actually prefer the dark history and the lore behind Evangeline, her disastrous seance, and The Broussard Family Mansion over Hull House and “Old Man Hull.” Everything behind Evangeline and the demons feels more sinister. The thought of this seemingly innocent woman going to extraordinary lengths to chase the man of her dreams, and her quest for love blowing up in her face in the worst possible ways, is more of an impactful story.

I’m always a sucker for fine details, and there’s no denying The Broussard Family Mansion has a rich history. The secret room in the basement, underground tunnels, the protective spells written on the walls by Evangeline’s maid (Tiffany Billiot) in the safe room, and they drop a few hints for bootlegging runs throughout the mansion during prohibition. If we’re talking about overall visuals, I guess you could make the argument for Hull House (limited to the original Night Of The Demons and Part 2 only) being more spooky, but Broussard Manor still works as a death trap that you’d want to avoid at all costs.

The demons! The designs and the makeup for the demons in the remake are far more grotesque and bizarre. Boobs with tentacles, horns, and bloody, decaying flesh? Oh, the horror! I never had any real problems with the designs for the demons in the original trilogy, but the demons in the 2009 film are more believable as monstrous creatures. 

Going back to the lore behind the demons and details reinforcing the demons as serious threats, after doing some research, Maddie reveals the seven demons were cast out of hell, because they were too much to handle. Imagine that. You get kicked out of HELL, because you can’t follow the rules.

The front gate is a problem here. Again. It’s one of those strange plot holes, and I’m wondering if they did it intentionally as a weird wink to the original, and the problems with the gate in that film. One gate is capable of causing so much trouble? Sorry, not buying it.

The stuff with the gate is still annoying, but Night Of The Demons 2009 is a good remake. The 1988 original works as the quintessential 80’s horror film. But NOTD 2009 proves you can still make an entertaining film, without settling for a lazy shot for shot remake. 

Adam Gierasch and Jace Anderson created their own version of Night Of The Demons, while still paying homage to the original. Angela is different, Linnea Quigley’s cameo is a callback to the convenience store scene in the original, and Suzanne’s disappearing lipstick scene makes a comeback! But the magic trick with the tube of lipstick goes a few steps further in this one. The puddle of blood on the floor, and Lily’s blood soaked hand, when she yanks the tube of lipstick out is something else. Also, a big thumbs up for all the effort they put into Evangeline’s backstory. Starting things off in 1925 with the old style black and white silent films era was a nice touch for something unexpected. 

New Orleans! During, the opening there’s some short highlights of Halloween festivities in New Orleans. Before the cops show up, Angela’s Halloween party is a big bash. Remember, in the ‘88 original it was just supposed to be a little get-together between a small group of friends at a dusty old funeral home. Nigel briefly mentions how New Orleans is still struggling after Hurricane Katrina, but it’s not a big plot point for the story.

Night Of The Demons 2009 is truly different, because you can see a lot of noticeable changes. They left out the underground stream acting as a barrier that prevents demons from leaving the property. More graphic gore, a lot of blood, and overall, NOTD 2009 is a more extreme film, if we’re comparing it to the original. There’s also more sexual innuendos and jokes. NOTD 2009 also reveals it’s possible to pass demonic possessions through anal sex. So, yeah, that’s a thing here.

NOTD 2009 delivers consistent humor and laughs, including the post-credits scene, and all the bickering between Maddie, Colin, and Jason, when things go south. It’s a bloody and fun horror remake, good practical effects, a hefty amount of gory violence, and there’s one really good jump scare that plays around with the usual tropes for mirror jump scares.

As far as the music goes, I’ll give the edge to the original for the overall better soundtrack, and how they used each song from that soundtrack. But Night Of The Demons by 45 Grave is a perfect fit for the remake. It’s catchy, campy, and it’s a good choice for the fight scene after the demons invade the mansion. 

Rating- 8/10

Night Of The Demons (2009)(2025 Redo)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Evangeline Broussard (Tatyana Kanavka) hosts a seance at her mansion in 1920’s New Orleans. Madly in love with Louis Devereaux (Michael Arata), Evangeline uses the seance to spark a romantic connection with Louis. But Evangeline is unknowingly tricked by seven demons, unleashing a massacre inside the mansion.

Eighty-five years later, Angela Feld (Shannon Elizabeth) hosts a Halloween party at The Broussard Family Mansion. Angela invites Maddie (Monica Keena), Lily (Diora Baird), Suzanne (Bobbi Sue Luther), Dex (Michael Copon), Jason (John F. Beach), and others, while Colin (Edward Furlong) bribes Diana (Tiffany Shepis) for access to the party. The police force, led by Sergeant Dawson (Lance Nichols), pulls the plug on Angela’s party, but the group has bigger problems to worry about, when Angela and Colin discover seven skeletons in the basement. 

My Thoughts- Amelia Kinkade’s Angela was a goth nerd, the outsider, who was into witchcraft and the occult. Shannon Elizabeth’s Angela? She’s clearly more popular, has a wild side, and Elizabeth brings out a more cocky and confident side of herself, when the demonic possession takes over. There’s a scene, where Angela is taunting Maddie about her chances of survival and Maddie’s feelings for Colin. Good stuff from Elizabeth during this scene, as her eyes are deviously wandering around the room, with that big smirk on her face, because you can see Angela’s having fun toying with Maddie. 

The remake fills out the rest of the cast with likable characters, who are easy to root for. Monica Keena’s Maddie easily leads the pack, the scrappy fighter, who slowly emerges as the leader, and a sensible voice of reason. Keena brings a wholesomeness to Maddie, but she steps up to FIERCELY fight back towards the end. “Come and get me, motherfuckers” is one of the cooler one-liners in the movie. Keena really nails the delivery for that line, and the timing is perfect, because it comes at point, where the odds are not in Maddie’s favor, but she’s not going down without a fight.

Edward Furlong’s Colin is a sad sap. He’s a struggling drug dealer, who just can’t catch a break. You get the impression life has just run him into the ground, and to make matters worse, he’s on a hit list, if he doesn’t make enough money after Angela’s party. 

John F. Beach is consistently hilarious. No denying he owns all of his scenes and numerous moments throughout the movie, with nervous or spirited rants and outbursts. The paintball scene (“NO COSTUME, NO CANDY, MOTHERFUCKER!”)  is a good pick, and his explanation for what happened with Lily after the lipstick scene is just priceless.

Characters with bit parts and limited screen time deliver some notable highlights here. Tiffany Shepis is good for a few laughs as Diana. She’s sneaky, and Diana doesn’t care about breaking Angela’s rules, if she can make some extra cash on the side. 

I wish Jamie Harris’ Nigel had a bigger role in the movie. Real show stealing stuff from him during his scene with Furlong, while Harris is laying it on thick as this unhinged crime boss. And another thumbs up for Lance Nichols playing the grinning and smarmy cop, who gladly leads the charge to ruin Angela’s party. 

Dex, Lily, and Suzanne? No complaints about the performances from Diora Baird, Bobbi Sue Luther, and Michael Copon, but I just wish their characters had a bit more depth. Dex is a normal and nice guy, and that’s it? Lily’s entire personality basically revolves around being obsessed with Dex. Suzanne is spunky and she likes to have fun. But Bobbi Sue Luther brings some good positive energy to Suzanne, and I did get a laugh out of the costume snafu with Lily, because they’re not just cats, they’re pussy cats! 

Maddie is the sole survivor! Obvious? Yes, Maddie narrowly escaping wasn’t a big shocking surprise, because you could see it coming. There’s a good effort for teasing Maddie possibly committing suicide by hanging herself, similar to what Evangeline did in the 1920’s. Lining up the flashbacks with Evangeline’s suicide, while Maddie is preparing to jump off of the balcony with the rope around her neck ALMOST works as a good nail-biter. They wanted to give you the impression that Maddie would sacrifice herself to stop the demonic invasion, while showing you how Evangeline did it step by step, but it just wasn’t believable. 

Still, it’s an excellent final girl ending for Monica Keena. Maddie, clothes torn and covered in blood, and beaten up during sunrise, but also smiling and relieved that it’s finally over and she survived. That is truly a great visual. 

No more Hull House! If I’m being honest, I actually prefer the dark history and the lore behind Evangeline, her disastrous seance, and The Broussard Family Mansion over Hull House and “Old Man Hull.” Everything behind Evangeline and the demons feels more sinister. The thought of this seemingly innocent woman going to extraordinary lengths to chase the man of her dreams, and her quest for love blowing up in her face in the worst possible ways, is more of an impactful story. 

I’m always a sucker for fine details, and there’s no denying The Broussard Family Mansion has a rich history. The secret room in the basement, underground tunnels, the protective spells written on the walls by Evangeline’s maid (Tiffany Billiot) in the safe room, and they drop a few hints for bootlegging runs throughout the mansion during prohibition. If we’re talking about overall visuals, I guess you could make the argument for Hull House (limited to the original Night Of The Demons and Part 2 only) being more spooky, but Broussard Manor still works as a death trap that you’d want to avoid at all costs.

The demons! The designs and the makeup for the demons in the remake are far more grotesque (faceless demon Suzanne is truly impressive) and bizarre. Boobs with tentacles, horns, and bloody, decaying flesh? Oh, the horror! I never had any real problems with the designs for the demons in the original trilogy, but the demons in the 2009 film are more believable as monstrous creatures. 

Going back to the lore behind the demons and details reinforcing the demons as serious threats, after doing some research, Maddie reveals the seven demons were cast out of hell, because they were too much to handle. Imagine that. You get kicked out of HELL, because you can’t follow the rules.

The front gate is a problem here. Again. It’s one of those strange plot holes, and I’m wondering if they did it intentionally as a weird wink to the original, and the problems with the gate in that film. One gate is capable of causing so much trouble? Sorry, not buying it.

The stuff with the gate is still annoying, but Night Of The Demons 2009 is a good remake. The 1988 original works as the quintessential 80’s horror film. But NOTD 2009 proves you can still make an entertaining film, without settling for a lazy shot for shot remake. 

Adam Gierasch and Jace Anderson created their own version of Night Of The Demons, while still paying homage to the original. Angela is different, Linnea Quigley’s cameo is a callback to the convenience store scene in the original, and Suzanne’s disappearing lipstick scene makes a comeback! But the magic trick with the tube of lipstick goes a few steps further in this one. The puddle of blood on the floor, and Lily’s blood soaked hand, when she yanks the tube of lipstick out is something else. Also, a big thumbs up for all the effort they put into Evangeline’s backstory. Starting things off in 1925 with the old style black and white silent films era was a nice touch for something unexpected. 

New Orleans! During, the opening there’s some short highlights of Halloween festivities in New Orleans. Before the cops show up, Angela’s Halloween party is a big bash. Remember, in the ‘88 original it was just supposed to be a little get-together between a small group of friends at a dusty old funeral home. Nigel briefly mentions how New Orleans is still struggling after Hurricane Katrina, but it’s not a big plot point for the story.

Night Of The Demons 2009 is truly different, because you can see a lot of noticeable changes. They left out the underground stream acting as a barrier that prevents demons from leaving the property. More graphic gore, a lot of blood, and overall, NOTD 2009 is a more extreme film, if we’re comparing it to the original. There’s also more sexual innuendos and jokes. NOTD 2009 also reveals it’s possible to pass demonic possessions through anal sex. So, yeah, that’s a thing here.

NOTD 2009 delivers consistent humor and laughs, including the post-credits scene, and all the bickering between Maddie, Colin, and Jason, when things go south. It’s a bloody and fun horror remake, good practical effects, a hefty amount of gory violence, and there’s one really good jump scare that plays around with the usual tropes for mirror jump scares.

As far as the music goes, I’ll give the edge to the original for the overall better soundtrack, and how they used each song from that soundtrack. But Night Of The Demons by 45 Grave is a perfect fit for the remake. It’s catchy, campy, and it’s a good choice for the fight scene after the demons invade the mansion. 

Rating- 8/10

Night Of The Demons 3 (1997)(2025 Redo)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- On Halloween night, Holly (Stephanie Bauder) and her friend, Abbie (Patricia Rodriguez) hitch a ride with Orson (Christian Tessier), Reggie (Joel Gordon), Nick (Gregory Calpakis), Vince (Kris Holden-Reid), and his girlfriend, Lois (Tara Slone) after Holly’s car breaks down. After a standoff and a shootout with two cops at a convenience store, Lois suggests using Hull House as a hideout.

At Hull House, Angela (Amelia Kinkade) appears with plans to possess the group one by one. Hours away from retirement, Lieutenant Dewhurst (Vlasta Vrana) heads to Hull House after a suggestion from a dispatcher…..

My Thoughts- Three films into the series, and Amelia Kinkade still brings a lot of energy to her performance as Angela. Usually, by the time you hit the third film, the main antagonist might feel a little bit stale, but that’s not the case here. You can always tell Kinkade is genuinely having a lot of fun playing Angela, the crafty and deceptive demoness, who gets a kick out of being a disruptor and causing mayhem. 

Something to pay attention to here is, Angela’s tactics as a master manipulator. There’s a good amount of tension and in-fighting within the group. Angela takes advantage of the constant drama and certain characters doubting themselves, whether it’s playing on Orson and Abbie’s insecurities, or pandering to Vince’s ego. 

Holly might be the popular cheerleader, but Stephanie Bauder portrays a humble and caring young woman, who’s willing to risk her life to save the others. Patricia Rodriguez plays her role well, as the nerdy sidekick, who’s struggling with self-confidence. 

Looking at Christian Tessier’s Orson, you can see he’s a wimpy geek. He wants to fit in, and prove to Vince that he’s capable of doing the dirty work, so he can get Vince’s seal of approval. Tara Slone’s Lois? She’s an unhinged jerk, which makes her a perfect match for Vince. 

Vince is a bad boy rebel and a hotheaded asshole, with a mean streak. Kris Holden-Reid does more than enough to convince you that Vince is someone, who’s easy to dislike or even hate, the tough guy, who tries way too hard to be a bad ass. Gregory Calpakis’ Nick is the only one the group, who’s brave enough to stand up to Vince. Nick is a good guy. Tough, he can think for himself, and I did get a few good laughs out of the little rivalry between Vince and Nick.

Vlasta Vrana’s Lieutenant Dewhurst is just so fun to watch. The old witty veteran, with a quick and snappy sense of humor, who’s racing against the clock to solve the case and save any survivors at Hull House before he retires. It’s a simple storyline, but it doesn’t work without Vrana’s performance. Vrana is so good here, and it’s almost to a point, where the story should’ve revolved around him as the main character. And Lieutenant Dewhurst does magic tricks!

Ian McDonald playing the convenience store clerk? His screen time is short, but you can take one look at this guy, and instantly see there’s just something sleazy about him. The guy just looks like a crook. Dewhurst toying with and grilling Mr. Morris (McDonald) was hilarious, because Morris’ story about the stolen money was obviously too phony. 

WHAT happened to Hull House? Excluding a handful of rooms and areas, Hull House looks too clean and neat. Maybe I could do a photo shoot here? Or throw a dinner party? Overall, this version of Hull House really isn’t scary, and it’s missing the creepiness of the spooky and possessed old house in the first two films. And Hull House is clearly in a different location. All the trees, a lot of space in the woods, and for some reason there’s a barn here? I can understand switching things up, but as far as Hull House goes, I wasn’t a fan of the changes.

Speaking of changes, I’m glad they decided to change the setup for the story. Using Hull House, an abandoned funeral home with a horrifying past, as a hideout for the last place that anyone would think to look for a group of kids on the run from the cops, is a refreshing approach. 

We’re on the third film in the series, so reusing or retooling the storyline for a bunch of teenagers going to Hull House for a Halloween party is kind of ridiculous. We already know Angela is dangerous, so why would you throw a party at Hull House? Because you’re hoping for a terrifying realistic experience on Halloween night? Sure, bad things still happen, when the group runs into Angela. BUT it’s a lot easier to buy into the idea for Vince and everyone else using Hull House as a last resort, so they can have more time to figure things out.

Night Of The Demons 3 delivers more bloody violence and gore. Night Of The Demons 2 was more extreme, but there’s still more than enough to get a reaction out of you here. There’s also some bizarre and freaky signature NOTD scenes here. Angela performs fellatio on Orson’s gun, and she finishes it off by sucking out the bullets. Angela transforming Lois’ snake sock puppet into a real snake is another good one, and Orson’s mask! Orson’s mask merging with his face to complete his transformation really works for a monstrous demonic look, a good and unique visual that separates him from the rest of the pack. 

Also, is Orson’s character (the demonic version) a slight nod to Freddy Krueger? Maybe I’m just reaching with this one, but Orson’s shirt has the same colors as Krueger’s sweater. After Orson is consumed by the demonic possession, he really starts hamming it up more with corny jokes, taking on the role of a comedian. Just something to think about, but maybe there’s a connection in there somewhere.

I hated Night Of The Demons 3 years ago. I really, really hated it. But the third entry gives you everything you’d expect from a Night Of The Demons film. Nudity, one brief sex scene, violence, and wacky, cheesy humor. I always roll my eyes at the “yo momma” jokes, but Night Of The Demons 3 still delivers a decent amount of laughs throughout the movie. 

And I can’t say enough about Amelia Kinkade and Vlasta Vrana’s performances. Kinkade and Vrana are the anchors for this cast. Similar to what happened in Night Of The Demons 2, Kinkade opens the movie, and she sets the tone for the carnage you’re about to witness, when poor Officer Larry (Larry Day) wanders into Hull House: “Here I’m the law….and it’s time to pronounce sentence.” Perfect delivery for that line, so smooth and so much confidence.

This was a big one for me, but I’m also happy they FINALLY showed what happens, when a demon crosses over the underground stream. Sure, we know the underground stream is the barrier that prevents Angela and the other demons from escaping Hull House. But you actually get to see what happens, when a demon tries to cross the stream here. The consequences are devastating, and the underground stream is a major plot point that plays a big role during the final struggle.

Yes, Night Of The Demons 3 comes along at a point, where it’s clear the series is running out of steam. It’s more of a stand-alone sequel, because there’s no real connections to the 1988 original or Night Of The Demons 2. Officer Larry briefly mentions St. Rita’s Academy and the murders, but that’s it. Still, Night Of The Demons 3 is a worthy and decent enough sequel, featuring Amelia Kinkade’s entertaining final outing as Angela. 

There’s a cliffhanger at the end that confirms it’s not over yet, but if we’re going purely on hypotheticals (NOTD 3 was released in 1997) what else could they possibly do with the story? At some point, they’d have to find a way for Angela to leave Hull House for an extended period of time. Give Angela a chance to really cut loose, while she spreads all kinds of mayhem in the outside world. Or, they could’ve demolished Hull House. Let us see what happens, when Angela’s home is gone. 

Night Of The Demons 3 wraps up the story with a solid happy ending, and I guess that’s enough. A lot of  horror franchises hit a twisting downward spiral after three films. It’s almost inevitable that it’ll happen, because after a while, it’s clear the powers that be are running out of new ideas and places to take the story.

Rating- 5/10

Night Of The Demons 3 (1997)(2025 Redo)

 **This post contains spoilers**

The Story- On Halloween night, Holly (Stephanie Bauder) and her friend, Abbie (Patricia Rodriguez) hitch a ride with Orson (Christian Tessier), Reggie (Joel Gordon), Nick (Gregory Calpakis), Vince (Kris Holden-Reid), and his girlfriend, Lois (Tara Slone) after Holly’s car breaks down. After a standoff and a shootout with two cops at a convenience store, Lois suggests using Hull House as a hideout.

At Hull House, Angela (Amelia Kinkade) appears with plans to possess the group one by one. Hours away from retirement, Lieutenant Dewhurst (Vlasta Vrana) heads to Hull House after a suggestion from a dispatcher. Sunrise remains the biggest ally for the group, but the survivors are outnumbered, and Angela complicates the deadly struggle after she offers Holly a tempting deal.

My Thoughts- Three films into the series, and Amelia Kinkade still brings a lot of energy to her performance as Angela. Usually, by the time you hit the third film, the main antagonist might feel a little bit stale, but that’s not the case here. You can always tell Kinkade is genuinely having a lot of fun playing Angela, the crafty and deceptive demoness, who gets a kick out of being a disruptor and causing mayhem. 

Something to pay attention to here is, Angela’s tactics as a master manipulator. There’s a good amount of tension and in-fighting within the group. Angela takes advantage of the constant drama and certain characters doubting themselves, whether it’s playing on Orson and Abbie’s insecurities, or pandering to Vince’s ego. 

Holly might be the popular cheerleader, but Stephanie Bauder portrays a humble and caring young woman, who’s willing to risk her life to save the others. Patricia Rodriguez plays her role well, as the nerdy sidekick, who’s struggling with self-confidence. 

Looking at Christian Tessier’s Orson, you can see he’s a wimpy geek. He wants to fit in, and prove to Vince that he’s capable of doing the dirty work, so he can get Vince’s seal of approval. Tara Slone’s Lois? She’s an unhinged jerk, which makes her a perfect match for Vince. 

Vince is a bad boy rebel and a hotheaded asshole, with a mean streak. Kris Holden-Reid does more than enough to convince you that Vince is someone, who’s easy to dislike or even hate, the tough guy, who tries way too hard to be a bad ass. Gregory Calpakis’ Nick is the only one the group, who’s brave enough to stand up to Vince. Nick is a good guy. Tough, he can think for himself, and I did get a few good laughs out of the little rivalry between Vince and Nick.

Vlasta Vrana’s Lieutenant Dewhurst is just so fun to watch. The old witty veteran, with a quick and snappy sense of humor, who’s racing against the clock to solve the case and save any survivors at Hull House before he retires. It’s a simple storyline, but it doesn’t work without Vrana’s performance. Vrana is so good here, and it’s almost to a point, where the story should’ve revolved around him as the main character. And Lieutenant Dewhurst does magic tricks!

Ian McDonald playing the convenience store clerk? His screen time is short, but you can take one look at this guy, and instantly see there’s just something sleazy about him. The guy just looks like a crook. Dewhurst toying with and grilling Mr. Morris (McDonald) was hilarious, because Morris’ story about the stolen money was obviously too phony. 

Don’t cross the underground stream (if you’re a demon)! Ending the movie with the tug-of-war between Angela, Holly, and Nick at the gate works for a satisfying finale. Of course, there’s a tease and a cliffhanger before the credits start rolling. Hull House lights up, and you can hear Angela’s voice wishing everyone a Happy Halloween, so she wasn’t truly defeated. Also, you have to believe that as long as Hull House is still standing, Angela will survive, because she shares a connection with the house. Remember, Hull House is not haunted, it’s possessed. 

You could say it’s kind of strange teasing a sequel that never happened, but I don’t have a big problem with how they ended Night Of The Demons 3. Yes, it’s obvious Holly and Nick were going to make it to the end as the two survivors. Still, it’s an enjoyable and satisfying finale. Holly promises to return to Hull House every year on Halloween to warn and protect people from Angela, and Holly using two tree branches to create a makeshift cross to lock the gates was a nice touch. 

WHAT happened to Hull House? Excluding a handful of rooms and areas, Hull House looks too clean and neat. Maybe I could do a photo shoot here? Or throw a dinner party? Overall, this version of Hull House really isn’t scary, and it’s missing the creepiness of the spooky and possessed old house in the first two films. And Hull House is clearly in a different location. All the trees, a lot of space in the woods, and for some reason there’s a barn here? I can understand switching things up, but as far as Hull House goes, I wasn’t a fan of the changes.

Speaking of changes, I’m glad they decided to change the setup for the story. Using Hull House, an abandoned funeral home with a horrifying past, as a hideout for the last place that anyone would think to look for a group of kids on the run from the cops, is a refreshing approach. 

We’re on the third film in the series, so reusing or retooling the storyline for a bunch of teenagers going to Hull House for a Halloween party is kind of ridiculous. We already know Angela is dangerous, so why would you throw a party at Hull House? Because you’re hoping for a terrifying realistic experience on Halloween night? Sure, bad things still happen, when the group runs into Angela. BUT it’s a lot easier to buy into the idea for Vince and everyone else using Hull House as a last resort, so they can have more time to figure things out.

Night Of The Demons 3 delivers more bloody violence and gore. Night Of The Demons 2 was more extreme, but there’s still more than enough to get a reaction out of you here. Angela’s tongue bursting through the back Orson’s head, Angela ripping Dewhurst’s heart out of his chest, and Angela’s melting corpse during the ending? Yep. This is truly a Night Of The Demons film.

There’s also some bizarre and freaky signature NOTD scenes here. Angela performs fellatio on Orson’s gun, and she finishes it off by sucking out the bullets. Angela transforming Lois’ snake sock puppet into a real snake is another good one, and Orson’s mask! Orson’s mask merging with his face to complete his transformation really works for a monstrous demonic look, a good and unique visual that separates him from the rest of the pack. 

Also, is Orson’s character (the demonic version) a slight nod to Freddy Krueger? Maybe I’m just reaching with this one, but Orson’s shirt has the same colors as Krueger’s sweater. After Orson is consumed by the demonic possession, he really starts hamming it up more with corny jokes, taking on the role of a comedian. Just something to think about, but maybe there’s a connection in there somewhere.

I hated Night Of The Demons 3 years ago. I really, really hated it. But the third entry gives you everything you’d expect from a Night Of The Demons film. Nudity, one brief sex scene, violence, and wacky, cheesy humor. I always roll my eyes at the “yo momma” jokes, but Night Of The Demons 3 still delivers a decent amount of laughs throughout the movie. 

And I can’t say enough about Amelia Kinkade and Vlasta Vrana’s performances. Kinkade and Vrana are the anchors for this cast. Similar to what happened in Night Of The Demons 2, Kinkade opens the movie, and she sets the tone for the carnage you’re about to witness, when poor Officer Larry (Larry Day) wanders into Hull House: “Here I’m the law….and it’s time to pronounce sentence.” Perfect delivery for that line, so smooth and so much confidence.

This was a big one for me, but I’m also happy they FINALLY showed what happens, when a demon crosses over the underground stream. Sure, we know the underground stream is the barrier that prevents Angela and the other demons from escaping Hull House. But you actually get to see what happens, when a demon tries to cross the stream here. The consequences are devastating, and the underground stream is a major plot point that plays a big role during the final struggle.

Yes, Night Of The Demons 3 comes along at a point, where it’s clear the series is running out of steam. It’s more of a stand-alone sequel, because there’s no real connections to the 1988 original or Night Of The Demons 2. Officer Larry briefly mentions St. Rita’s Academy and the murders, but that’s it. Still, Night Of The Demons 3 is a worthy and decent enough sequel, featuring Amelia Kinkade’s entertaining final outing as Angela. 

There’s a cliffhanger at the end that confirms it’s not over yet, but if we’re going purely on hypotheticals (NOTD 3 was released in 1997) what else could they possibly do with the story? At some point, they’d have to find a way for Angela to leave Hull House for an extended period of time. Give Angela a chance to really cut loose, while she spreads all kinds of mayhem in the outside world. Or, they could’ve demolished Hull House. Let us see what happens, when Angela’s home is gone. 

Night Of The Demons 3 wraps up the story with a solid happy ending, and I guess that’s enough. A lot of  horror franchises hit a twisting downward spiral after three films. It’s almost inevitable that it’ll happen, because after a while, it’s clear the powers that be are running out of new ideas and places to take the story.

Rating- 5/10

Night Of The Demons 2 (1994)(2025 Redo)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Melissa “Mouse” Franklin (Merle Kennedy), Angela’s (Amelia Kinkade) younger sister, is tricked into going to a Halloween party at Hull House. Shirley Finnerty (Zoe Trilling), Rick (Rick Peters), and Z-Boy (Darin Heames) are the masterminds behind a cruel prank, and Melissa is the main target.

Melissa leaves St. Rita’s Academy with her best friend, Bibi (Cristi Harris), Terri (Christine Taylor), Johnny (Johnny Moran), Kurt (Ladd York), Shirley, and Rick. It’s clear something is horribly wrong at Hull House, but the group runs into a bigger problem, when Angela appears. Can Sister Gloria (Jennifer Rhodes), Father Bob (Rod McCary), and Perry (Robert Jayne) save Melissa and the others from Angela? 

My Thoughts- Mouse! A demeaning nickname? Yes, but it also weirdly fits. Melissa is tiny, soft-spoken, and she’s very jumpy. But there’s a list of reasons for why Melissa is shy, and why she heavily relies on Bibi as a support system and her only true friend. Melissa is an orphan, her sister seemingly vanished after the brutal massacre at Hull House in the original, and Melissa is geeky and kind of awkward, making her a prime target for jerks and bullies (e.g. Shirley). 

But Mouse is still someone, who’s so easy to root for. Merle Kennedy does an amazing job playing the vulnerable and sympathetic nerd. Through Kennedy’s performance, you can clearly see Melissa is traumatized, but there’s also a turn towards the end, where she’s forced to stand up to one big and powerful bully. Merle Kennedy easily delivers one of the best performances you’ll see in the series, and Melissa is truly a memorable character for Night Of The Demons.

Angela is back! Amelia Kinkade’s upbeat and energetic performance is one of the bigger highlights here. Angela is genuinely having fun being an evil menace in the sequel, fully embracing her status as the powerful demoness. There’s no conflicting emotions, or regrets about anything that happened in the previous film. She’s deep into the dark side, and Amelia Kinkade really brings her best as Angela again. 

The sequel features another solid cast of supporting characters, with distinct and unique personalities. Shirley Finnerty is a smart-ass and a bully, but it’s impossible to ignore Zoe Trilling’s charismatic presence. Trilling brings an arrogant swagger to Shirley, the fast talking rebel, who gets a kick out of breaking all the rules.

Jennifer Rhodes nearly steals the show as Sister Gloria. Playing a parodied version of the strict no nonsense nun, Rhodes brings a good amount of humor to Sister Gloria. The quick and witty comebacks, karate moves and swashbuckling with her trusty yard stick, and Sister Gloria has her own catchphrase (“Save a little room for the Holy Ghost”)! Sister Gloria is a disciplinarian, but she has a big heart, because Gloria truly cares about the kids at St. Rita’s Academy, especially Melissa. 

Kurt and Johnny share believable chemistry as two jocks and best buds. Kurt (also known as King Snake or Inch Worm) is more of an egomaniac, while Johnny is a bit more down-to-earth and levelheaded. Rick and Z-Boy? Two guys, who clearly peaked in high school. Rick Peters plays the cocky troublemaker, while Darin Heames’ Z-Boy is the goofy numbskull. Z-Boy tags along as Rick’s energetic idiot sidekick, and Heames adds more laughs to the movie with Z-Boy’s silly antics.

Cristi Harris brings an earnest and wholesome presence to Bibi. Bibi is one of the good ones here, no doubts about it. Christine Taylor’s Terri is a few steps below Shirley for picking on Melissa and being a bully. Not as bad as Shirley, but it’s noticeable. 

Taylor plays a kid, who just wants to have fun, and there’s a nod to Taylor’s Brady Bunch days, when Rick jokingly calls her Marcia. Terri’s also the storyteller, similar to Max’s role in the previous film. She plays an important part, telling camp fire-esque tales building up Angela’s dark mystique, as the local ghoul. If you’re brave or stupid enough to go to Hull House, you’ll have to deal with Angela. 

Father Bob comes off as someone, who enjoys the smell of his own farts. Rod McCary is appropriately smug and pompous as Father Bob, a fool, who waits too long to drop his big ego.

Robert Jayne’s Perry is an important character, the nerdy and persistent fighter, who’s obsessed with demons and demonology. They really don’t take the time to explore it, or flesh things out, but Perry shares a bond with Melissa. They’re both outcasts and geeks, so of course Perry and Melissa have to deal with bullies. Jayne has his big moments during the battle at Hull House towards the end, and he’s easily one of the more entertaining characters to watch throughout the movie.

Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Night Of The Demons 2 delivers more exceptional makeup and practical effects. Evil, menacing boobs, big puddles of wet, bubbly, and sticky gore, and the “How’s about a smile, sis?” scene with Angela and Melissa? Nasty stuff. 

Hull House is still spooky. If we’re comparing Hull House to the original, it’s more spruced up, and who knows, maybe Angela’s been busy making some changes around the house, because why are the bed sheets so neat and clean? But Hull House is a dangerous place. You don’t want to find yourself stranded there, without any help, and that’s what’s important.

Night Of The Demons 2 is a few steps below the original. I don’t understand why they used footage from the original. Perry is about to attack, and here comes Angela! The problem is, you can clearly see it’s footage from the 1988 film, where Angela is menacingly floating down the hallway. I’m guessing something happened? Maybe they had to add this in during post-production for some reason. It’s a weird moment that throws everything off during a frenetic series of events, because the footage doesn’t synch up with Perry’s struggle to deliver a counterattack to Angela. 

But Night Of The Demons 2 is still a damn good follow up sequel. Effort! That’s one of the reasons why I still love this one. It’s not a lazy sequel at all. Angela is more established and confident as the main villain in the series, showing off her powers, how dominant she is, and Angela has a sword! We’re introduced to Angela’s sister, who plays a fantastic protagonist, and it’s revealed Angela and Melissa’s parents committed suicide after receiving a creepy Halloween card, signed by Angela. 

There’s a strong effort to push the story forward, but they still managed to maintain some continuity from the original. Keeping the underground stream surrounding Hull House that acts as a barrier for demons was an important factor. Although, the carnage is not limited to Hull House, because they used a clever trick to give a logical reason for Angela’s escape. A conveyance (that pesky tube of lipstick) protects Angela on her way to St. Rita’s Academy, and that’s when all hell breaks loose! A demented Angela and her minions running around outside of Hull House brings all the chaos you’d expect. Good stuff.

Religion, demonology, and a Catholic boarding school? Good versus evil, faith versus the temptation to join the dark side. Adding religious elements and occultism to the story puts more meat on the bones for Night Of The Demons 2. The chapel at St. Rita’s Academy is used a safe house, when Angela attacks. And what’s the most powerful weapon that’s capable of defeating Angela, a threatening and unstoppable force of evil? Faith.

Night Of The Demons 2 easily has the best opening in the series. Two door-to-door Jehovah’s Witnesses feel the need to visit Hull House. They’re eventually cornered by Angela, and you can probably guess what happens next. You just have to laugh at these two smiling Jehovah’s Witnesses, walking up to an abandoned creepy old funeral home with a big no trespassing sign on the front door. Sure, let’s stay optimistic, because nothing bad will happen, and there’s nothing weird about a lady living inside an abandoned house!

Cheesy, consistent laughs, fun gags (a talking head in a toilet), and A LOT of gross-out moments. Night Of The Demons 2 is loaded with more gore, nudity, sexual innuendos, Amelia Kinkade is still sharp as Angela, and moving the story outside of Hull House was a refreshing change. It’s a bit more silly and whackier than the original, complete with Super Soakers and water balloons filled with holy water. But you have to remember, Night Of The Demons 2 is a horror comedy about horny teenagers suffering the consequences of their stupid choices. If you’ve never seen it, Night Of The Demons 2 is definitely worth checking out, if you want to know where the story goes next.

I honestly wish they would’ve found a way to work Melissa into the story for Night Of The Demons 3. Maybe an older version of her? Melissa could’ve worked as a big surprise return, someone who survived Hull House and Angela. She has firsthand knowledge on how to fight her sister, and Melissa still had some mileage as a character in the series.

Rating- 7/10