Back in the late 80's HBO slapped us upside the head with the anthology series Tales From the Crypt, and it was really a popular and celebrated affair. So much so, that in the mid 90's they decided to take it to the big screen with a pair of films, beginning with Demon Knight. Is it a great film, or even scary? No, but it definitely takes from its source well, with solid acting, great production design and juicy practical effects.
Demon Knight is a strange story involving seven keys required by some hellion, that when brought together, will return the universe to its original black nothingness. This whole thing reminded me of that 80's metal band Helloween and their weird album The Keeper of the Seven Keys.
Thankfully, Helloween was not involved in the film. What we have is the fact there is only one key remaining out of the hands of our villain, played by Billy Zane. Our hero, played by ridiculously underrated actor William Sadler, is holding onto this key, which contains the blood of Christ.
Yeah. Read that again.
What makes Demon Knight work is our two leads. Billy Zane, despite being an ancient being of supreme evil, is absolutely hilarious and full of wackadoo non-sequitirs. Try this one on for size: "You ho-dunk, po-dunk, well, then-there, MOTHERFUCKERS!"
Genius.
Sadler's character is the supreme foil, as he plays it as straight as Robert Redford or Clint Eastwood ever did, which creates a fantastic cinematic dichotomy that really brings this film to life. These two guys really make this thing work and sell the shit out of it.
What Sadler's goal consists of is holding onto this key, and protecting the sad-sack characters around him from Zane and his minions from some kind of gelatinous hell. A great supporting cast is here, including a young Jada Pinkett, Thomas Haden Church, John Shuck, CCH Pounder, Brenda Bakke, and the voice of fuckin' Roger Rabbit himself, Charles Fleischer.
Fleischer was also the famous recurring street hood/jacket dealer Carvelli, with his partner Murray in Welcome Back Kotter. I used to watch the re-runs as an Elementary School Lad, hoping for Carvelli's appearances. Dude was flat out hilarious.
And Dick Miller. The Great One. In a scene where Billy Zane's Satanic Shitface uses the Miller character's alcoholism against him to try to claim his soul is made absolutely heartbreaking. An amazing moment performed by the cinema legend that the legendary Joe Dante gave a second leg of a career to, and thank God for that. You've all seen him. It's Murray Futterman from Gremlins!
Demon Knight is a lot of fun. It swings the same stick as its parent series, and works well for it. A great choice for Halloween.
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