Underworld: Awakening (2012)

 

**This review contains spoilers**

The Story- Following the events of Underworld: Evolution, a purge carried out by humans threatens to exterminate all vampires and Lycans, after the existence of both species is exposed. With a limited number of options in front of them, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) rushes to escape with Michael Corvin, so they can go into hiding, but the duo is ambushed by soldiers at the docks. 

Twelve years later, Selene is awakened from her cryogenic chamber. Confused and angry, Selene’s quest for the truth leads her to Antigen, a sinister corporation focused on targeting and killing off vampires. Led by Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea), Antigen and Lane obsessively pursues Selene’s hybrid daughter, Eve (India Eisley).

David (Theo James), a vampire and the son of an elder, pushes back against his father, Thomas’ (Charles Dance) warnings about trusting Selene. David and Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy) fight side by side with Selene during a dangerous rescue mission to save Eve. The battle plunges further into chaos, when Selene is forced to face off against Dr. Lane’s son, Quint (Kris Holden-Ried), who transforms into his Super-Lycan form…..

My Thoughts- Selene is back, and she is PISSED! Awakening starts off with a bang, as Selene pummels the purge soldiers. Fast forward twelve years later, and she immediately tears through everyone in her path, after she bursts out the cryo chamber. From past to present, Awakening instantly jumps into a hot start during Selene’s rampage, continuing Underworld’s streak for opening action sequences filled with chaos and bloody violence. 

Selene is dealing with a lot in Awakening. Michael, the only man Selene has ever loved, is MIA, she was frozen for twelve years, and Selene finds out she has a daughter. Heavy stuff! Selene and Eve have an unusual bonding experience. Selene comes off as being kind of selfish, when she first meets Eve. Selene is clearly more concerned about Michael’s whereabouts, and she’s treating Eve like an afterthought.

But Selene reaches a point, where she realizes she needs to be a mother for Eve. She has to protect her daughter, and there’s more of a continued push towards a vulnerable version of Selene here. The “my heart is not cold…..it’s broken” scene with Eve is a good example for Selene showing more emotions. And the scene, where Selene breaks down from the memories of the purge soldier’s surprise attack at the docks. 

Plus, Selene and Eve can see through each other’s eyes! Eve and Selene share synchronized brainwaves, if they’re close enough to each other, and seeing how things unfolded, it’s clear this is one ability, or superpower that’s exclusively shared between Selene, Eve, and Michael as a family. 

Eve is good addition to the cast. Yes, she has the rarity of being another hybrid character, but Eve is also a child. India Eisely delivers a solid performance, and they took the right approach to the hybrid side of Eve’s character. Eisely smoothly switches gears from the confused and scared little girl, who finds herself in an unprecedented and dangerous situation, to the fierce and powerful hybrid, who’s capable of flipping the switch to tap into her powers, when she’s backed into a corner.

Awakening is the first Underworld film, where Viktor doesn’t play a major role in the current storyline, or through flashbacks related to what’s going on in the movie. Charles Dance fills the role of the prudish and stubborn vampire elder. As the ruler of a coven and a leader, Thomas is determined to preserve what’s left of his coven. He’s the guy, who feels the need to condemn Selene for being the disgraced Death Dealer, who fell in love with a Lycan, and murdered two vampire elders. Because someone has to do it, right?

Theo James’ David is a fighter and a rebel. James’ performance works on two different levels. Yes, you could say David is defiant and reckless, but he also knows he’s fighting the good fight for all the right reasons. He’s not afraid to stand up to his father, and he’s firmly against the vampires turning their backs on Selene. 

I have mixed feelings on the villains. Dr. Jacob Lane? Eh, I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s anything wrong with Stephen Rea’s performance, but there’s no denying Lane is a boring and dull character. I get it. Lane is the obsessive and heartless mad scientist, who wants to create a master race of Lycans. He also doesn’t see Eve as a human being. To Lane, Eve is just a highly valuable test subject, or an asset, who needs to be dissected to further his research. Yeah, he’s a dick, but nothing truly stands out about him. You know he’s the bad guy, you know Selene has to stop him, but that’s about it.

Quint and his SUPER-LYCAN form? So I understand the need to introduce a mighty and powerful adversary for Selene. Remember, this is Selene with the Corvinus strain, after she drank Alexander Corvinus’ blood. She has enhanced powers, and Selene basically tears through the opposition in Awakening with ease, so she needs a real challenge. 

Quint having the ability to transform into his Super-Lycan form, complete with an immunity to silver and accelerated healing, almost solves the problem, but it’s a form that heavily relies on special effects. The difference in sizes between Selene and the Super-Lycan provides a few awe-inspiring visuals, but overall, it’s a form that just doesn’t look good at all. It’s too fake and goofy, especially the close-up shots of the Super-Lycan’s face, and it’s safe to say William’s hulking form as the first-ever werewolf in Awakening was far more intimidating.

Problems with the Super-Lycan form aside, Kris Holden-Ried plays a solid villiain. Good facial expressions, the way he carries himself, and it’s easy to believe Quint is a psycho, who won’t stop until his father’s mission is complete. To take things further, Quint would’ve been better off as the main villain here. I understand Dr. Lane’s role as the brains of the operation, but Holden-Reid was more than capable of holding his own in the leading role as the top villain. 

Selene and Eve’s mother/daughter story gets off to a rocky start, but Awakening also tells the tales of two different father/son relationships. David rebels against Thomas, because Thomas chooses to stay underground. Thomas is more concerned with survival, but David wants to fight back against the humans and the Lycans. He challenges his father to become the man, who used to get his hands dirty, while fighting the tough battles. 

Quint, like a brainwashed zombie, blindly follows his father’s marching orders. Dr. Lane is obviously a very bitter man. Quint’s mother made the decision to avoid turning into a Lycan, and Lane uses her choice as a manipulation tactic against Quint. It’s strange how Quint allows Lane to shoot him up with all kinds of injections, because as a Super-Lycan, he could easily kill him. But Quint is loyal to Lane, so he chooses to be another one of his father’s test subjects. 

Awakening maintains continuity from the previous films. Selene is still an outcast amongst the majority of vampires. Being a hybrid is still frowned upon, and Eve is referred to as a “blight of nature.” Of course, the big one is the world after Alexander Corvinus’ death. Remember, in Evolution, Corvinus led a secret team that was tasked with cleaning up the mess in an attempt to contain the war between vampires and Lycans. With Corvinus gone, the humans launched an ugly cleansing campaign against both species, because no one was around to sweep all the dirt under the rug. 

Selene defeats the Super-Lycan! Selene’s final battle with Quint was a good one. I never believed Selene was in any real danger, but there’s more than enough thrills and tight close calls during the David vs Goliath-esque struggle. Also, two big thumbs up for Selene outsmarting Quint. She couldn’t outmuscle the Super-Lycan, so Selene used Qunit’s size and accelerated healing abilities against him. 

Eve killing Dr. Lane was the right call. Dr. Lane froze Eve’s parents. He destroyed any chances of Eve having a real childhood, while forcing her to live the life of a lab rat, so Eve’s vengeance was justified. Also, I wasn’t fan of the character, but at least Dr. Lane’s werewolf form actually looks good. It’s a cross between Lane simply being an elderly man, and having the look of a wild feral beast. His entire body isn’t covered in hair, and Lane’s bloody and disfigured face (courtesy of a shotgun blast from David), was a nice touch.

The ending shows Selene, Eve, and David on the roof together, after Michael finally escapes his chamber. Antigen, the corporation run by and populated with Lycans, that secretly launched a mission to kill off all vampires, is no more. Going forward, it’s clear the objective is to search for and find Michael, so he can reunite with Selene and Eve as a family. A happy ending for Selene, as she swears to “reclaim” the world for the vampire race, while fighting against the humans and the Lycans. 

The Michael Corvin problem? Scott Speedman only appears in flashbacks from the first two films. A stand-in covers Michael’s brief appearances here, and it’s just not the same. Michael is a crucial character in Selene’s story. I know Michael needs to be here, and they tried to keep things short for his screen time, but it’s an obvious big change that’s impossible to ignore. 

Awakening could’ve benefited from a stronger lead villain, and I really wish they would’ve done more with the targeted “cleansing” of vampires and Lycans. Before the story shifts to focusing on protecting and rescuing Eve, Awakening made some good attempts at realism, with news footage from the purge, including dragging vampires out into the sunlight, and using silver nitrate gas against Lycans. 

Warning signs posted about reporting infected individuals, war in the streets, and burning buildings. You can see the chaos, and the drastic lifestyle changes for vampires and Lycans. Vampires were forced into hiding, while Lycans were pushed to the brink of extinction after a failed uprising. And certain groups of sick, starving, and diseased Lycans live underground like “rats.”

Four films in, and Awakening continues to deliver fast-paced and bloody action sequences. I’ll go as far saying Awakening is the shinning example for the highest levels of action that you’d expect from an Underworld film. It’s an adrenaline rush from start to finish, ending with the mother/daughter duo of Selene and Eve taking on the top two villains.

Underworld’s story adds more layers, and Selene’s character continues to evolve, because she’s a mother now. A handful of welcoming new additions to the cast, including India Eisley, Theo James, and Charles Dance. Michael Ealy brings a solid performance to the cast, as the steely-eyed detective with a heavy heart, because Detective Sebastian was directly affected by a vampire attack. 

Awakening also leans into a more absurd tone. You’ll see more than one of Selene’s signature superhero landings. Authentic teeth from vampires and Lycans are available for purchase, and Selene starts a rusty van with a knife! Selene throwing a poor Antigen scientist (Wes Bentley) out of a window, and calmly landing on the ground next to his mangled corpse on top of a car, also sticks out as a hilarious moment for me. 

And I can’t forget about a stoic Selene calmly walking through the courtyard at Antigen, while the security guards are shooting at her. The courtyard scene towards the end definitely plays into the trope that a lot of bad guys are just terrible at shooting guns, especially when there’s a wide open target in front of them.

Underworld: Awakening’s one hour and twenty-eight minutes runtime flys by. Another good mindless fun action/horror flick in the series, with a little more meat on the bones for emotional depth. I didn’t care too much for all the scenes with tons of CGI blood (Quint’s death is a big one for me), but Awakening still features some cool visuals. Selene storming Antigen’s headquarters, and blasting away at Lycans in the dark, while particles from the silver nitrate bombs are floating around in the air, is easily one of my favorites. 

But the Michael Corvin situation is a glaring issue. I said it before, but Michael is a big part of Selene’s story and her journey. The solution for this problem in Blood Wars? Well, it’s a disappointment, but I guess you could say it’s still a solution, that definitively slams the door shut on Michael’s future. 

Rating- 7/10

Underworld: Awakening (2012)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This review contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Following the events of Underworld: Evolution, a purge carried out by humans threatens to exterminate all vampires and Lycans, after the existence of both species is exposed. With a limited number of options in front of them, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) rushes to escape with Michael Corvin, so they can go into hiding, but the duo is ambushed by soldiers at the docks. 

Twelve years later, Selene is awakened from her cryogenic chamber. Confused and angry, Selene’s quest for the truth leads her to Antigen, a sinister corporation focused on targeting and killing off vampires. Led by Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea), Antigen and Lane obsessively pursues Selene’s hybrid daughter, Eve (India Eisley).

David (Theo James), a vampire and the son of an elder, pushes back against his father, Thomas’ (Charles Dance) warnings about trusting Selene. David and Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy) fight side by side with Selene during a dangerous rescue mission to save Eve. The battle plunges further into chaos, when Selene is forced to face off against Dr. Lane’s son, Quint (Kris Holden-Ried), who transforms into his Super-Lycan form……

My Thoughts- Selene is back, and she is PISSED! Awakening starts off with a bang, as Selene pummels the purge soldiers. Fast forward twelve years later, and she immediately tears through everyone in her path, after she bursts out the cryo chamber. From past to present, Awakening instantly jumps into a hot start during Selene’s rampage, continuing Underworld’s streak for opening action sequences filled with chaos and bloody violence. 

Selene is dealing with a lot in Awakening. Michael, the only man Selene has ever loved, is MIA, she was frozen for twelve years, and Selene finds out she has a daughter. Heavy stuff! Selene and Eve have an unusual bonding experience. Selene comes off as being kind of selfish, when she first meets Eve. Selene is clearly more concerned about Michael’s whereabouts, and she’s treating Eve like an afterthought.

But Selene reaches a point, where she realizes she needs to be a mother for Eve. She has to protect her daughter, and there’s more of a continued push towards a vulnerable version of Selene here. The “my heart is not cold…..it’s broken” scene with Eve is a good example for Selene showing more emotions. And the scene, where Selene breaks down from the memories of the purge soldier’s surprise attack at the docks. 

Plus, Selene and Eve can see through each other’s eyes! Eve and Selene share synchronized brainwaves, if they’re close enough to each other, and seeing how things unfolded, it’s clear this is one ability, or superpower that’s exclusively shared between Selene, Eve, and Michael as a family. 

Eve is good addition to the cast. Yes, she has the rarity of being another hybrid character, but Eve is also a child. India Eisely delivers a solid performance, and they took the right approach to the hybrid side of Eve’s character. Eisely smoothly switches gears from the confused and scared little girl, who finds herself in an unprecedented and dangerous situation, to the fierce and powerful hybrid, who’s capable of flipping the switch to tap into her powers, when she’s backed into a corner.

Awakening is the first Underworld film, where Viktor doesn’t play a major role in the current storyline, or through flashbacks related to what’s going on in the movie. Charles Dance fills the role of the prudish and stubborn vampire elder. As the ruler of a coven and a leader, Thomas is determined to preserve what’s left of his coven. He’s the guy, who feels the need to condemn Selene for being the disgraced Death Dealer, who fell in love with a Lycan, and murdered two vampire elders. Because someone has to do it, right?

Theo James’ David is a fighter and a rebel. James’ performance works on two different levels. Yes, you could say David is defiant and reckless, but he also knows he’s fighting the good fight for all the right reasons. He’s not afraid to stand up to his father, and he’s firmly against the vampires turning their backs on Selene. 

I have mixed feelings on the villains. Dr. Jacob Lane? Eh, I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s anything wrong with Stephen Rea’s performance, but there’s no denying Lane is a boring and dull character. I get it. Lane is the obsessive and heartless mad scientist, who wants to create a master race of Lycans. He also doesn’t see Eve as a human being. To Lane, Eve is just a highly valuable test subject, or an asset, who needs to be dissected to further his research. Yeah, he’s a dick, but nothing truly stands out about him. You know he’s the bad guy, you know Selene has to stop him, but that’s about it.

Quint and his SUPER-LYCAN form? So I understand the need to introduce a mighty and powerful adversary for Selene. Remember, this is Selene with the Corvinus strain, after she drank Alexander Corvinus’ blood. She has enhanced powers, and Selene basically tears through the opposition in Awakening with ease, so she needs a real challenge. 

Quint having the ability to transform into his Super-Lycan form, complete with an immunity to silver and accelerated healing, almost solves the problem, but it’s a form that heavily relies on special effects. The difference in sizes between Selene and the Super-Lycan provides a few awe-inspiring visuals, but overall, it’s a form that just doesn’t look good at all. It’s too fake and goofy, especially the close-up shots of the Super-Lycan’s face, and it’s safe to say William’s hulking form as the first-ever werewolf in Awakening was far more intimidating.

Problems with the Super-Lycan form aside, Kris Holden-Ried plays a solid villiain. Good facial expressions, the way he carries himself, and it’s easy to believe Quint is a psycho, who won’t stop until his father’s mission is complete. To take things further, Quint would’ve been better off as the main villain here. I understand Dr. Lane’s role as the brains of the operation, but Holden-Reid was more than capable of holding his own in the leading role as the top villain. 

Selene and Eve’s mother/daughter story gets off to a rocky start, but Awakening also tells the tales of two different father/son relationships. David rebels against Thomas, because Thomas chooses to stay underground. Thomas is more concerned with survival, but David wants to fight back against the humans and the Lycans. He challenges his father to become the man, who used to get his hands dirty, while fighting the tough battles. 

Quint, like a brainwashed zombie, blindly follows his father’s marching orders. Dr. Lane is obviously a very bitter man. Quint’s mother made the decision to avoid turning into a Lycan, and Lane uses her choice as a manipulation tactic against Quint. It’s strange how Quint allows Lane to shoot him up with all kinds of injections, because as a Super-Lycan, he could easily kill him. But Quint is loyal to Lane, so he chooses to be another one of his father’s test subjects.

Awakening maintains continuity from the previous films. Selene is still an outcast amongst the majority of vampires. Being a hybrid is still frowned upon, and Eve is referred to as a “blight of nature.” Of course, the big one is the world after Alexander Corvinus’ death. Remember, in Evolution, Corvinus led a secret team that was tasked with cleaning up the mess in an attempt to contain the war between vampires and Lycans. With Corvinus gone, the humans launched an ugly cleansing campaign against both species, because no one was around to sweep all the dirt under the rug. 

The Michael Corvin problem? Scott Speedman only appears in flashbacks from the first two films. A stand-in covers Michael’s brief appearances here, and it’s just not the same. Michael is a crucial character in Selene’s story. I know Michael needs to be here, and they tried to keep things short for his screen time, but it’s an obvious big change that’s impossible to ignore. 

Awakening could’ve benefited from a stronger lead villain, and I really wish they would’ve done more with the targeted “cleansing” of vampires and Lycans. Before the story shifts to focusing on protecting and rescuing Eve, Awakening made some good attempts at realism, with news footage from the purge, including dragging vampires out into the sunlight, and using silver nitrate gas against Lycans. 

Warning signs posted about reporting infected individuals, war in the streets, and burning buildings. You can see the chaos, and the drastic lifestyle changes for vampires and Lycans. Vampires were forced into hiding, while Lycans were pushed to the brink of extinction after a failed uprising. And certain groups of sick, starving, and diseased Lycans live underground like “rats.”

Four films in, and Awakening continues to deliver fast-paced and bloody action sequences. I’ll go as far saying Awakening is the shinning example for the highest levels of action that you’d expect from an Underworld film. It’s an adrenaline rush from start to finish, ending with the mother/daughter duo of Selene and Eve taking on the top two villains.

Underworld’s story adds more layers, and Selene’s character continues to evolve, because she’s a mother now. A handful of welcoming new additions to the cast, including India Eisley, Theo James, and Charles Dance. Michael Ealy brings a solid performance to the cast, as the steely-eyed detective with a heavy heart, because Detective Sebastian was directly affected by a vampire attack. 

Awakening also leans into a more absurd tone. You’ll see more than one of Selene’s signature superhero landings. Authentic teeth from vampires and Lycans are available for purchase, and Selene starts a rusty van with a knife! Selene throwing a poor Antigen scientist (Wes Bentley) out of a window, and calmly landing on the ground next to his mangled corpse on top of a car, also sticks out as a hilarious moment for me. 

And I can’t forget about a stoic Selene calmly walking through the courtyard at Antigen, while the security guards are shooting at her. The courtyard scene towards the end definitely plays into the trope that a lot of bad guys are just terrible at shooting guns, especially when there’s a wide open target in front of them.

Underworld: Awakening’s one hour and twenty-eight minutes runtime flys by. Another good mindless fun action/horror flick in the series, with a little more meat on the bones for emotional depth. I didn’t care too much for all the scenes with tons of CGI blood, but Awakening still features some cool visuals. Selene storming Antigen’s headquarters, and blasting away at Lycans in the dark, while particles from the silver nitrate bombs are floating around in the air, is easily one of my favorites. 

But the Michael Corvin situation is a glaring issue. I said it before, but Michael is a big part of Selene’s story and her journey. The solution for this problem in Blood Wars? Well, it’s a disappointment, but I guess you could say it’s still a solution, that definitively slams the door shut on Michael’s future. 

Rating- 7/10

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