As a 29-year-old movie geek with even more free time to toss around town, the magic of the film has tarnished somewhat. I still think it's far superior to the original, and Christine Taylor is still way too hot for someone as goofy as Ben Stiller, but it's not quite the masterpiece I claimed it to be over twelve years ago. The story is a bit simple, the gratuitous nudity gets old after the third set of random breasts, and the lazy sequel setup really leaves a lot to be desired. In other words, what in the world was I thinking? If I had access to a time machine, I would be inclined to travel back to my teenager years so I can kick my own ass.
What makes the film watchable beyond the year 2000 is its brisk pacing and the outrageous amount of violence packed into its slim 90-minute running time. For a flick made in a decade notorious for its conservative approach to on-screen gore, Night of the Demons 2 is quite nasty and more than a little icky. Decapitations, stabbings, melting demons, and exploding snake-things abound. Oh, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Zoe Trilling's disturbing sexual encounter with the aforementioned tube of lipstick. It remains a fine example of cheap mid-'90s shock, even if it is a bit played out these days.
A dozen years and several hundred horror films later, Night of the Demons 2 is still a thoroughly enjoyable sequel, one I'm proud to have in my collection. Though it's not nearly as thrilling as it was when I was younger, the film's unapologetically cheesy nature and its willingness to go completely over-the-top will surely bring in those who would appreciate its low budget charm. Angela and Hull House never really received the appropriate vehicle for their unique brand of mischievous horror, which is kind of sad given all the avenues filmmakers could have explored. Oh, well.
Maybe someone can talk Stiller's wife into doing a remake.
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