Four online buddies are all murdered on the same night in locations all across the country, and while that would be a bit on the completely fucking weird side, a mysterious masked figure assures us that a freakin’ demon was responsible. After that totally responsible explanation we are shown the “actual” recorded chat of said event as we are introduced to our protagonists via their “not quite Skype” chitting of the chat. Things border on the mundane until one of the participants, Mar (Ryan Redebaugh) quizzes his grandmother on camera about the legend of a cursed trunk in their home’s attic…which of course that ass-hair opens with the quickness…which results in a lame prank…oh, and actually releases a demonic force. After more high-larious pranks (which aren’t) things get down to the whitchy wickedness as blood rites are performed, pentagrams magically appear on flesh, and sex and murder go hand in hand…and no one can be trusted as the evil spreads like a hell borne virus!
e-Demon took me completely by surprise; I expected some lame-ass supernatural romp, but instead got treated to a terror tale complete with fantastic occult overtones, strong acting, and tension that grows ever higher leaving the viewer on the edge of their seats! The main cast ( Julia Kelly, John Anthony Wylliams, Christopher Daftsios, and the aforementioned Redebaugh…with a special mention for Cedric Cannon who is excellent as supernatural expert Wallace Crenshaw) start of as pretty lame stock characters than grow and develop into multi-layered creations (no small feat of acting for one and all!) that each have to deal with (or in some cases help along) the arcane forces that begin assaulting them with freaky force! Also appreciated by your’s cruelly is a fang-tastic amount of mythology and world building in regards to the putrid paranormal menace and it’s unholy goals.
On the negative side; this is a found footage flick (albeit one with a nice twist) so your mileage may vary depending on your affinity for the genre…but pound for poisonous pound I loved the way the FF angle was handled via webcams, text messages, chat rooms, and webpages…it was like the modern day equivalent of what Stoker did with the diaries in Dracula (but don’t get your panties in a tremulous twist…I’m in no way saying this flick is on the same level as the Big D). Also, I’m fairly certain I saw mic packs on some of the actors…but whatever.
If you dig on possession flicks, found footage, an unholy combination of the two, or just a well acted, well told fright flick, e-Demon will not disappoint; it’s a picture with a “gimmick” for sure, but it certainly doesn’t let that get in the way of telling a taught, tense story!
For more on e-Demon from Horror Fuel head here!
