CATHY PODEWELL IN THE UNDERRATED 'NIGHT OF THE DEMONS'

Night of the Demons spooky-cool opening credit sequence in the year 1988

“Not tonight,” explains Cathy Podewell’s innocent girl Judy, dressed fitfully in an Alice in Wonderland costume while unseen zombie demons move in. “They won’t go to hell tonight because it’s Halloween.”

Not to be confused with the British cult Noir Horror starring Dana Andrews with the same name only a singular DEMON, which was changed in America to, and known thereafter as, CURSE OF THE DEMON, the familiar set-up has a group of teens spending a long night in a spooky mansion...

Cathy Podewell in NIGHT OF THE DEMONS

After partying in the living room, two of the wildest girls are transformed into demonic zombies and the rest follow suit: including a huge dumb jock that makes the most formidable beast.

But it’s all pretty equal since each creature wants to transform the next kid – eventually it’s up to Podewell to survive as she uses a flame thrower, hangs from walls and, with the help of another survivor, fights to survive...

Cathy Podewell hangs on in NIGHT OF THE DEMONS

The first half sets up the characters well and the inevitable final chase makes up for a ponderous middle section when the kids, and the audience, wait for something to happen.

The mansion itself provides a scary setting and the special effects, bordering on the newly discovered computerized morphing, aren’t too shabby. Fans of gross out/body count horror won’t be disappointed. And the opening credit cartoon is damn bloody fantastic.

Cathy Podwell and friends in NIGHT OF THE DEMONS

Cathy Podwell and friends in NIGHT OF THE DEMONS

Cathy Podwell lights up in NIGHT OF THE DEMONS

Matte Painted main stay in NIGHT OF THE DEMONS