I had never heard of this film until recently. I don't think it has ever been run on UK TV which is a real shame. The film starts with a montage of demonic imagery and an ominous voice over telling us about the demons cast from hell and how they want dominion over earth, how they come every six hundred years and we have captured their look as gargoyles. Then it is straight into the film which moves quickly, scientist author interested in demonology goes with his daughter to a ramshackle house and museum of the strange in the Arizona desert. There they hear Indian tales and see a demonic looking skeleton.
Soon creatures are walking across the roof of the hut and it is ablaze. From there the film really takes off, the demons being visible in great costumes. Each demon is different and when fighting or killing are shown in slow motion, heightening their impact. They sometimes look very chilling indeed and when they attack cars and bikers, it is quite unsettling. They look down from the desert, it slowly becoming clear that they are breeding again and seeking to remove man from earth. They kidnap the daughter of the scientist and the film moves towards its confrontation climax. The film is short, so it doesn't outstay its welcome and has a lot going for it. The remoteness of the Arizona settlement, the shadows of flying demons overhead, Stan Winston of Terminator II and Jurasic Park's on the whole great costumes all add to the sense of unease. I imagine watching this as a kid, late with your parents asleep in the next room could be quite scary. A minor gem that once seen, isn't easily forgotten. 7/10.
Special Thanks to Mark Coyle for this Movie Review.