The Irrefutable Truth About Demons

I was once given the (slightly rubbish) advice never to trust a movie with more than four words in the title. There are lots of films that prove this wrong (Once Upon a Time in America, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Night Of The Living Dead to name a few) but in this case, such inane advice really will stand you in good stead.

Adolescence just leaks out of this movie. Seemingly, all it takes to prove how subversive and alternative these worshippers-of-all-things-dark are, is a long, black, flappy leather coat, a couple of tattoos, a random piercing and black nail varnish.

It's like a spoof of itself, only it's not funny.

I really did want to like this film and there were moments when I started to get into it and think, ooh, this is where it all comes together and I stop wanting to fast-forward it. Unfortunately, the gaps between such moments were interminable and, for the most part, inert.

Such a striking lack of originality and one too many cliches meant I failed to find it engaging on any level whatsoever. Why is it that all goths are kooky, have hair extensions and bad Eighties eye make-up? Why does Satan always have to be bald? How can they afford such great apartments with no source of income? (That'll be the dark forces, mate). Where did he get that goat from? And most annoying of all, why hasn't the kooky goth with the white-linen-draped bed considered the fire hazards of all those damn candles?

Demons wants to be a lot of things, but seems terribly unsure which of its myriad influences to follow. The film lifts not only scenes but specific shots and dialogue from a bewildering range of genre faves, including Hellraiser, Ghostbusters, [film]Lost Boys[/film], American Werewolf In London, Prince Of Darkness, Creepshow and Angel Heart. All of which makes it feel less like a movie in its own right and more like a pub quiz question.