Tales From The Crypt Presents - Demon Knight (1995)

Ernest Dickerson, one-time cinematographer for Spike Lee and director of Demon Knight, said during the initial release of this film that he chose the project because he was a lifelong fan of the horror genre. Other horror fans should be thankful, because without Dickerson's enthusiasm and visual sense, this derivative gorefest wouldn't come close to the entertainment level that it ultimately achieves. The film was the first big- screen adaptation of HBO's Tales from the Crypt series, a show based on the EC comic books of the '50s. Like Creepshow before it, Demon Knight blends fair amounts of blood, sex, and knowing comedy with a paper-thin plot that doesn't leave a bit of room for subtext. Dickerson understands this, so instead he pumps the flick full of eye-popping visuals and gorgeous camerawork, and populates it with terrific character actors (especially Billy Zane, who really has fun, and William Sadler) who don't seem to care that their characters have little identity. Everyone seems to be giving this tiny project everything they've got, while never taking it seriously for a minute. We've seen the story before: A diverse bunch (a hooker, the town drunk, the ex-con, etc.) is locked in a rundown hotel and is forced to battle the Legions of Evil massed outside and determined to get in. Regardless, Dickerson, shooting with as little light as possible, manages to create some tense moments. There's a lot wrong with Demon Knight's shallow premise, and you could make a checklist of the movies it gleefully steals from (Night of the Living Dead and The Evil Dead are two of many), but thrill-seekers who prefer laughs with their grisly special effects and gratuitous nudity should have a mindless blast watching it. --Dave McCoy Amazon.com

Hello Boys & Gouls...It's the Crypt Keeper comin at ya with DEMON NIGHT!!

William Sadler stars in the first full length movie from "TALES FROM THE CRYPT - DEMON NIGHT"
He plays a guy runnin from Billy Zane who plays the evil collector who is trying to take away a container that holds blood all the back to Christ.
When you poor the blood on a certain area it put a barrier between them and the demons.
The demons can't cross the barrier or it will kill them.
If you remember William Sadler actually stared in one of the first "TALES FROM THE CRYPT" when it was airing on HBO.
And Billy Zane stared in the very popular "TITANIC".
William & Billy played their rolls well in this movie.
I rate this movie 8 from 1to10!! March 27, 2008

AAAH!!!! scary!

I first saw this movie as a middle schooler and it frightened me more than any other movie I can remember, and I'm fairly tough and desensitized. I really like this film. Enough to get it for my own collection 13 years later! Very gorey, but decent writing, too! November 26, 2007

Tales From Crypt: Demon Knight

Now those who want a great story line, great plot and a few jumps here and there this is a great find. Unlike its cousin film by the crypt keeper bordello of blood this movie has a little bit of something for everyone of corse following the rating of the film. This is another collecor Diamond in the ruff find, Great cast too. A must see, and must have for Tales From The Crypt fans. May 13, 2007

I Wish There Would Have Been A Part 2

This very original movie was such a breathe of fresh air in the mid 90's when other so called horror movies were playing it safe. The ultimate battle between good and evil comes to a small road side town HO-tel. Billy Zane is great in this role as well as the supporting cast and the very lovely Jada Pinkett. The atmosphere in this movie fits so well. Very dark scenes and gore galore with a great plot turns out to be a great modern horror movie. The biggest crime is that there was only one installment. I want to know more!!! April 9, 2007

One of the best, and most original, horror movies ever made.

I think the thing I like the most about this film is its plot, and how original it is. It involves a man who has been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting an ancient artifact and keep it from falling into the hands of dark forces. Ever since he was given this artifact, an arch-demon has been tracking him and he has been on the run for years. When he was given the artifact, a group of stars appeared as a tattoo in the center of the palm of his hand. Immediately, one of the stars moved toward the outside of his palm. Now, as the film opens, the final star is about to move to the outside of his palm and he knows his time is running out and he has to make his final stand. The arch-demon is close behind him as he approaches an old motel in a one-stoplight town in the desert. The people in that motel are in for a hell of a night as the stranger enters, and the arch-demon shows up soon after.

Everything is done right in this film. The action, the acting, the direction, the script, it's all there. This is truly a classic, unlike that other film bearing the Tales From The Crypt brand, Bordello of Blood, which is a total turkey (I'm planning on writing a review for that one, too, and totally blasting it to hell even though I'm sure three hundred other people already have).

Demon Knight is awesome. It's survival horror in the vein of a few zombie movies I can think of, but with a twist -- the monsters lurking in the darkness outside are demons, summoned from Hell by the arch-demon to aid him in killing the occupants of the motel and retrieving the ancient artifact. Billy Zane totally steals the show as the charismatic arch-demon, or "Demon Knight" of the title. This really is one of his best roles.

I highly reccommend this flick to any true horror fan. There are piles and piles of horror flicks out there that are just poorly-conceived, derivative garbage. This one stands out as one of the few truly original horror films made during the 90's. The story and plot are there, the pace is there, the thrills and chills are there, the gore is there, and it even throws in a little dark humor in places. Truly an excellent film, and in my opinion a modern classic. January 4, 2007

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