I have been a fan of horror for many decades. I remember sneaking to watch Halloween 4 or 5 at 3 in the morning. My brother and I would sit up on Friday nights to watch things like Predator and Aliens after our parents went to bed. I watched Poltergeist every time it came on TV. So,  needless to say, there really isn’t a horror movie cliché, trope, or plot twist I haven’t seen. The genre has become something of a showcase of who can do it better at this point. Originality has almost gone out the window for the most part.

When you see things like Evil Dead or some of the other horror staples, it becomes clear that’s why they are so cherished for what they are and the influence they had. Then look at the creators. Romero made Zombies a cultural phenomenon.  Carpenter made Slashers its own genre of horror. Barker, well he just made things weird and BDS and we all love him for it. Anne Rice made Vampires people and relatable to the point of changing the monsters and how they are portrayed in all forms of media. All the influence between the originals and their respective creators seems so far removed at this point, that good ideas and portrayals are few and far between.

3 Demons by no means does anything original. However, what it does do allows it to actually stand on its own merit just fine. This is a movie being told from the “guilty” party’s prison cell of a Deputy ordered to watch the body of a victim, and then left alone under questionable circumstances. One instruction was given to not move the body. When things start getting weird, he does exactly that, leading to a fiasco of other worldly insanity. Again, this isn’t exactly an original story, but the way this all plays out makes it all work and feel like they took the plot and made it their own. They made it interesting and worth viewing a scenario that you may have seen plenty of times before, by presenting some extremely good practical effects and plot points to make it all engaging. It keeps you invested. Is it the best acting? No. Best soundtrack? Nope. Everything was ok but together it all worked in its favor.

With what seemed like a nod to Evil Dead in some respects through some character designs and portrayals worked very well as demons start tormenting a Deputy at a cabin by himself. As the story progresses, certain events take place that make you wonder if he is going nuts, imagining things, or really being manipulated by the powers that be. All theories work well in 3 Demons. I really found it to be entertaining and fun to watch even though I could see the influence that the Godfathers of horror had on the directions they took.

The only thing I really had a complaint about is something I generally complain about. The acting seemed a bit flat and there was a bit of predictability in the story. Maybe I am a bit harsh with these things. Is every film going to be a masterpiece with a multimillion-dollar budget and the acting chops of a Brad Pitt? Of course, not and I can get past that if everything tends to work well together like it does here. I found it a bit predictable just from a long history of watching horror. Kind of hard not to know what is coming when you have seen it all before. Will this apply to everyone? No, but I am sure there are others like me that will have the same experience.

All in all it is a very entertaining film and does well, even leaning on the shoulders of the greats that came before it. I don’t expect it to gain the traction of its predecessors but sometimes entertainment is what you are looking for. This checks that box. Good practical effects with an interesting story or reality questioning developments don’t detract from it either. Would I watch it again? Possibly, if I came across it just looking for some cheap entertainment to fill an evening. I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to watch it though. At the end of the day, it isn’t great and it isn’t bad but is still entertaining nonetheless.

Rorschach Rating:

Mental Health Moment: The movie does deal with death in a horror film demonic weirdness kind of way. However, it is something that affects everyone. Be it a pet, or a family member, or even a close friend. It’s a process to move on. Everyone handles it differently and some will take longer than others to grieve. Some may never really get over certain losses of certain people. The important thing to remember is to just take it day by day. If you need it, find support and help. That can come in lots of forms from a friend to talk to too or even a professional.

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. 3 Demons is property of Uncorked Entertainment. We do not own nor claim any rights.

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