Demon Lover

I bought this for a friend who's mother was evidently in the movie. Other than that connection for her, this was a total waste of money. This makes bad movies look great. Absolutely "no" redeeming value. Spare yourself and do not buy, rent or otherwise see this movie.

I was one of the stars in this movie and it was a blast. I was the nerdy whiny one as referred to in another review. It was really fun making this film, although I never received any royalties from it, and have had many laughs with friends while watching it again. You really need to buy a copy and watch it.David Howard

Also known as The Devil Master, Master of Evil and Coven, this movie purported to tell you the whole truth — finally — about demons. It seems that demons are kind of like the kids left behind in my small hometown, stuck drinking in bars, doing drugs and balling because there’s nothing else to do but rot.It comes from the team of Donald Jackson — yes, he of the Roller Blade, Rollergator and Hell Come to Frogtown fame — and Jerry Younkins, who only made this film. It was shot close to my wife’s hometown in Jackson, Michigan.MIT graduate students Jeff Kreines and his girlfriend Joel DeMott, along with soundman Mark Ranc, shot a video diary while filming this movie, entitled Demon Lover Diary. It details the film falling apart as its being filmed. However, it’s been alleged that the incompetence and infighting shown in this video were all made up to get publicity for the film. But who can say? Any movie that ends with Ted Nugent’s guns being fired directly at the filmmakers is totally worth a watch. Kreines and DeMott would go on to co-direct the documentary Seventeen while Kreines would be a cinematographer on the documentary Depeche Mode: 101.As for the actual film The Demon Lover, it’s all about a group of teenagers hanging around a cemetery that gets involved with a Satanic priest named Lavall (Younkins) who conjures up a demon from hell that looks like an ape that kills all of them. That’s pretty much the entire movie, right there, minus some scenes of the upper class dabbling with the occult that go absolutely nowhere. Oh yeah — there are also disco, nude sex slave and kung fu scenes just to ensure that this regional wonder got to play on some screen, somewhere.Also — Younkins severed a finger at work to pony up the $8,000 to make this movie, so that pretty much explains why he got to do pretty much anything he wanted. He’d go on to write Combat and Survival Knives: A User’s Guide and wears a black glove throughout to hide his missing digit.According to L.A. Weekly, the filmmakers so loved The Texas Chainsaw Massacre that they “initially consulted director Tobe Hooper for info on film stock, hired Chain Saw cinematographer Daniel Pearl until their money ran out, solicited original Leatherface Gunnar Hansen for a two-day top-billed cameo, and eventually played the Lyric Theater on 42nd Street in New York City, whose marquee can be glimpsed sporting the Chain Saw title in a famous shot from Taxi Driver.”Damian Kaluta, one of the protagonists of the film, is played by Val Mayerik, who is also one of the creators of Howard the Duck. I’d assume that’s his art on the poster as well. The name of his character Kaluta comes from 1970’s comic book artist Michael W. Kaluta and many of the names in the film are also derived from comic and horror icons of that era, like Detective Tom Frazetta (painter Frank Frazetta, who designed most of Fire and Ice), Officer Lester Gould (Chester Gould, creator of Dick Tracy perhaps?), Profesor Peckinpah (director Sam Peckinpah), Elaine Ormsby (Alan Ormsby of Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things), Alex Redondo (Filipino Swamp Thing artist Nestor Redondo), Susan Ackerman (Forest Ackerman, of course), Charles Wrightson (Berni Wrightson, who drew the comic for Creepshow), Jane Corben (Richard Corben, who created Den from the Heavy Metal magazine and movie, as well as the painter of the poster for Spookies), Garrett Adams (Neal Adams), Janis Romero (George Romero) and Pamela Kirby (Jack Kirby).This movie also features early special effects work by Dennis and Robert Skotak, who would go on to work on movies like Escape from New York, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Mars Attacks!, Galaxy of Terror and so many more.While this movie is junk — enjoyable junk that I will force people to watch — there’s a lot to be learned from it. Isn’t that what loving movies is all about? Actually, it’s also what the occult is all about too: the secret messages lurking behind the veneer of what seems like nothing.

Wow! Where to start? Also known as "The Devil Master", this old 70's movie has it all if you are looking for a really chintzy mind boggling evening of yucks.Here's the plotline...A group of teenagers get involved with a satanic priest who calls up a demon from hell. This flick is ripe with unintentional hilarity. Probably shot on a $300 budget, it definitely delivers the goods as far as head scratching "what were they thinking?", gut busting, "so bad it's good" fun. The only real name in the cast is Gunnar Hansen (The original "Leatherface" from "Texas Chainsaw"). He must have needed a couple bucks for the weekend & shot his 2 minute cameo as a professor with a specialty in Demonology. The rest of the cast adds to the hilarity. Most notable is Christmas Robbins as "Laval Blessing" who is awesome in his role of the evil Devil Master. Where did they find this guy & why hasn't he been in anything else? In addition to his demonic scenes summoning up a really bad looking demon (with horns & some kind of shaggy pelt suit), he has numerous karate scenes where he truly kicks butt (well in a funny sort of way). In a few scenes the punches & kicks barely land (if at all!) & his victims go down hard none the less. You have to see it to believe it. You'll go down hard too while laughing. Good stuff. Then there's the cop with the crazy 70's style pants & tough talk. His entrance near the end of the film where he bounds into the evil castle "Starsky & Hutch" style is a winner too. The crazy 70's "rock" songs are truly bad. There's a whole party scene that you'll love as well. Bad music, bad clothing, bad fake partying. Another hilarious character is the nerd of the group. He has some great scenes where he does some pitch perfect whining. "Come on guys! I have to be home by 10:00!". The guy looks a bit long in the tooth to have a curfew. Must be about 30 years old for cripes sake! There's some pretty good death scenes during the climax. Nothing very gory mind you if that's your bag but pretty funny none the less. The music score is actually pretty effective I must say. Creepy & strange. I dug it (as opposed to the previously mentioned "rock" tunes mixed in there). Of course as much as I am busting the film, it's really quite interesting & fun. I think the grainy look, eerie score, strangely poor acting & locations really give it a kind of nauseating feel which really works in the film's favor. There is some creepiness mixed in between laughs. Very, very unique...hard to describe, hard to forget. I'd imagine those involved must have had a blast making this oddity. I applaud the film makers in finding the resources to get this thing made. It must have been cool back in the day to get your friends together & make a low budget flick such as this. Directed by the late Donald G. Jackson (check out his resume on imdb.com) & Jerry Younkins, this is an experience to not be missed! If you are a fan of crazy 70's cinema, rent or pick up a copy of this one. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.Hard to find a crisp version of this film & this version doesn't deliver either. I think my old VHS version is probably cleaner believe it or not. But beggars can't be choosers with a chestnut like this. Yep it's muddy, grainy, soft focus, glitches...the evening shots are very dark. Maybe one day someone will pair it with it's documentary "Demon Lover Diary" about the filming of this classic which I have yet to see but have heard it's a fascinating look into this cheesefest. I can't wait to see the documentary. I've been told it is even crazier than the film itself. Perhaps we'll get a cleaned up version down the road. Of course the muck & mire of a print they "mastered" this with adds to the atmosphere. And as the tag line for this film goes...At Last! The Truth About Demons! So if you truly want to see the best of the worst, "Demon Lover" is the true champ!

I could not watch this past the five minute mark. It is obvious that the studio simply transferred a VHS to DVD. When will be people stop doing this? How hard could it be to track down the film master and do a proper release? I had seen the "Demon Lover Diary" which is a great documentary on this film and couldn't wait to buy this. Well I'm going to wait til a proper release is done because the quality on this is REALLY REALLY WRETCHED. I would say worse than VHS because it rolls and flutters and looks like crap. AVOID. It is possible to find both this film and the documentary combined but amazon would probably not allow such sources to be revealed. Do a search.