Text and Subtext 20: Demon Wind

The Quintessential 80s Horror Flick

I’m not sure I can properly express my love for Demon Wind. It’s one of those movies I could watch over and over again. If I someday got a chance to write a novelization for it (Hey, Universe - You listening?), that would the bee’s knees.

Anyway.

Like my love of 80s horror movies, my love for Demon Wind comes late in life. Growing up in a moderately strict Baptist home during the 80s, I didn’t have much access to VHS horror, much less have the freedom to rent them on my own. AND, when I attended college in the mid - late 90s, I was more of a Sci Fi guy, so I rented lots of Sci Fi VHS, not really horror (with the exception of my wonderful discovery of the Phantasm series, courtesy of our local Video King).

Anyway. Over the years, as I’ve dived deep into all sorts of horror, my love for 80s horror has only grown. Enter: Demon Wind.

Now, the cover is extremely misleading, as is the title. Really, it looks like the cheapest bit of schlock ever commited to celluloid. The cover can’t hint at it’s classic - and kinda epic - story, or properly depict how this movie is, in my opinion, the quintessence of 80s VHS horror.

I won’t rehash most of the plot, because true - it’s not terribly original. In fact, this Google blurb does the job nicely:

“A man's investigation into his long-dead parents' demise leads to the haunted family mansion and a date with a demon.”

Except, of course, it’s really his grandparents demise he’s investigating (his father, because of the curse, abandoned him as a child, and committed suicide right in front of his adult self), and “mansion” is stretching it…a lot. More like: “moderately run-down farmstead.”

Anyway, there’s so much to love about this film. First of all, the acting is definitely better than “adequate,” bordering on “good in that 80s horror sort of way.” Secondly, even if the “supernatural” SFX are really dated, the practical effects - costumes, gore, monster effects - are PEAK 80s.

That, and I love how little theorizing is done by the characters. They pretty quickly accept the fact they’ve stumbled into some bad hoo-doo, even if the stereotypical blond dumb jock (who really isn’t a bad guy) goes off on his own because he thinks he can lead him and his girlfriend to safety (Spoiler Alert: He can’t).

I also think there’s something charming about the fact that Cory (the main character) calls his friends because he needs their help, and they just show up. No questions, no regrets: They’re up for whatever. It’s just the right touch of “Stand By Me” vibe, 80s style.

(Yes, I know it was released in 1990, but it’s still the quintessential 80’s movie; that’s my story and I’m sticking to it).

There’s a fun little bit a self-awareness, also. When two of Cory’s friends wake up at night to the siren call of a pretty topless blond chick in a negligee beckoninig to them; when they go out to investigate (guns in hand), there’s no question of them falling for it. They smirk knowlingly at each and say, “Demon.”

Underneath all of this is an epic tale of a destined battle between good and evil. I’m not going to spoil it - but honestly? The hinted mythos behind it and the obvious history between these friends makes me really want to write the novelization, because I would totally rock both those elements.

Anyway. Until I get the chance to so, there’s always the wonderful movie on Tubi.