After all the SPOOKIES love last Sunday I was all set to spotlight THE WILLIES today but then something happened. Late last night while reality and logic were fast asleep in their bunk beds, I stumbled across DEMON WIND (1990)! Many a yarn ago (a yarn is a year in Battlestar Galactica-ville) we received a "Name That Trauma" about a cabin that was demolished on the outside and yet totally intact on the inside (HERE). The film in question turned out to be DEMON WIND, which I had regrettably never seen. I made a mental note to check it out on YouTube but by the time I got around to it, it had disappeared! Rats and double rats! Then, to pour salt on my tender wounds, reliable sources like Matty from Boston and Enzo S. sang the praises of DEMON WIND within their respective "It's a Horror to Know You!" posts! I probably should have bought a VHS copy right then an there but instead I went into a corner and prayed to God that one day DEMON WIND would return to YouTube even if only for a brief period so that I would not have to endure the pains of the postal system. Dumb story, dumber, right before I hit the hay last night, God contacted me through a headless Hummel figurine and was all like, "Oh, I'm sorry, I totally forgot you requested that! We're so backed up here and your prayer was accidently received as junk mail. Here ya go- Here's DEMON WIND on YouTube…"
DEMON WIND is terrible and eerie and strangely trance inducing and incredibly fantastic and also hilarious and wonderful and eye-poppingly bizarre. I think it changed my life. Yes, it did. It changed my life. I wish somebody could explain why DEMON WIND is not shown on T.V. everyday around the clock on a DEMON WIND Channel. I trust that writer/director CHARLES PHILIP MOORE is currently safely and securely kept in a mental hospital and that the key to his cell has been thrown into a volcano. You don't understand! People explode in this movie and turn into infants! There's a giant skull with a snake tongue and an egg opened up and spilled larvae! There are magicians and they play hacky sack with beer cans (?) and spin around with Kung fu kicks! Wait a minute, did I really see this movie or did I dream it? Oh my Lord, so many possessed demons and or zombies roaming the countryside that is paroled by an evil fog! Did I mention the horrifying taking doll?
All right, you just have to watch DEMON WIND is all there is to it. Trust me, DEMON WIND is going to come up at every holiday gathering you attend this season and you'll want to have seen it so that you might join in the conversation and share your learned opinion. I can't believe I wasted my life by not training to be a Kung fu magician. I really blew it.
I am a part of the cult of Demon Wind. I love the interdimensional cabin and the two guys who do stage magic, not to mention the beautiful scenery around the farm. You are right in that it seems like a movie that could be a dream because of all the surrealism; if I didn't know better I would think it was Italian because it matches the tone of their horror of that time. Great write-up, as always, and good for you for bringing some attention to this weird little movie!
Ha, I almost mentioned this one in my IAHTNY. This is a strange, strange movie that starts out as a blatant Evil Dead clone then takes a lot of left turns into interdimensional alien-demon weirdness. It also has a few creepy scenes (that opening) and some nice atmosphere.
…Also if you want another wacky late 80's 'What the hell were they smoking?' monster movie, check out DEMONWARP starring George Kennedy. It features teen backpackers who face down a violent bigfoot who is actually controlled by aliens who make zombies. It's…insane. And hilarious. I actually saw it on USA's Saturday Nightmares as a kid (which I will be doing a guest column on here soon).
Wednesday's Child,
I do feel I just joined a cult! I'm a believer now. I was kicking myself for not seeing it sooner and yet, I believe DEMON WIND waited until I was most ready for it.
It is really freeing seeing something that operates under no constrictions and is just non stop surreal.
JohnnyBlackout,
Yes! Those demons who are so fond of yelling "Surprise!!" and jumping up from behind have to be cousins with the ones in Evil Dead! I think Demon Wind could play as an unofficial sequel to EQUINOX too! If only they had brought a bucket of fried chicken to the cabin!
I've only seen parts of DEMON WARP. I have to watch that one in full soon. I love me some George Kennedy.
Especially the killer cat on a boat flick "The Uninvited"
Here's my tribute to that one….
https://www.kindertrauma.com/?p=10818
Man when I was a kid I thought the VHS box art for this was the coolest shit. It was one of those wavy plastic covers where you move it and see the demon crash through the window. I was sold on that alone.
Fun movie. 🙂
batupsidedown,
I just heard about that 3-D cover! I wish I had seen that back in the day. I only remember it being 2-D. It's on my X-mas wish list now.
In the meantime this fake-o lunchbox had to happen…
Welcome to the world of Demon Wind! It's an underrated, craptastic, insane classic. USA's Up All Night brought it into my life many moons ago, and I have loved it ever since! I'm so glad to read you've discovered the wonders of one of the least-seen but deserving-of-love B-movies ever! I can't believe that there's never been any proper DVD release for this one. If you look up the DVD on Amazon (only available in Region 2), you'll see the lead actress leaves a strange, cryptic review for the film.
And I would buy that lunch box in a heartbeat!
(And thank you for the shout-out to my IAHTKY! I feel very loved.)
johnnyblackout: USA Saturday Nightmares was one of the highlights of my childhood, and I am so happy that somebody is finally writing about it! Maybe you could explain why they ALWAYS showed EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC, but never the original. Not that I'm complaining. EXORCIST II is beautiful.
I remember this box cover in the video store – wasn't it plastic with the demon popping from the cover?