Firstly, don't go into this film expecting it to be like a DEMONS movie, because the title is a misnomer. Instead this was originally a television movie simply called THE OGRE, which has been retitled to cash in on Lamberto Bava's successful series. It's very different and is more of an old-fashioned "haunted house" style film than anything else (other directors like Fulci and Lenzi also directed horrors for Italian television in the late '80s). Thankfully, Bava was an old hand at the genre by the time this movie was made and he brings some of that unique Italian style to it to make it watchable. As a plus there are also some of the most picturesque rural Italian locations (including an authentic-looking old castle, winding mountainous roads and sleepy town squares) I've seen which gives the film very beautiful visual appeal.
The movie is also boosted by one of the most atmospheric scores I've heard in an Italian film - Simon Boswell's music is, quite simply, wondrous and helps build the various scenes exceptionally well. The film is pretty slow-paced, which may be off-putting to some, but this gives plenty of time for characterisation and scene-building. The horror sequences are generally effective and highlights include a painting bulging demonically from behind, a pulsating egg-thing hanging from the roof of the cellar, a handful of maggots and the ogre itself, a slimy, hulking creature which is briefly seen and all the more effective for it, although the bizarre period costume it wears is a bit odd! Bava also enjoyably adds a kind of fairytale ambiance to the movie which makes it more than watchable, and the central idea of childhood fears and fantasy stories coming to life through the obsession of a human mind is an interesting one.
My favourite scene in the movie comes when Cheryl dives into a weird underground pool in the basement to retrieve a missing page of her manuscript and finds it infested with all manner of rotting corpses and skeletons - a very spooky moment, again enhanced by Boswell's music. Virginia Bryant (DEMONS 2) is okay as the lead, Cheryl, although her shrill and sometimes hysterical performance does get a bit tiring towards the end. Solid support comes from Paolo Malco (TUAREG: THE DESERT WARRIOR) as husband Tom and from the attractive Sabrina Ferilli and Stefania Montorsi as a pair of helpful sisters. Sadly the finale is a bit of a let-down. Although more atmospheric than scary, this is still a hell of a lot better than that other, silly "cellar dwelling monster" flick of 1988 - CELLAR DWELLER.
The movie is also boosted by one of the most atmospheric scores I've heard in an Italian film - Simon Boswell's music is, quite simply, wondrous and helps build the various scenes exceptionally well. The film is pretty slow-paced, which may be off-putting to some, but this gives plenty of time for characterisation and scene-building. The horror sequences are generally effective and highlights include a painting bulging demonically from behind, a pulsating egg-thing hanging from the roof of the cellar, a handful of maggots and the ogre itself, a slimy, hulking creature which is briefly seen and all the more effective for it, although the bizarre period costume it wears is a bit odd! Bava also enjoyably adds a kind of fairytale ambiance to the movie which makes it more than watchable, and the central idea of childhood fears and fantasy stories coming to life through the obsession of a human mind is an interesting one.
My favourite scene in the movie comes when Cheryl dives into a weird underground pool in the basement to retrieve a missing page of her manuscript and finds it infested with all manner of rotting corpses and skeletons - a very spooky moment, again enhanced by Boswell's music. Virginia Bryant (DEMONS 2) is okay as the lead, Cheryl, although her shrill and sometimes hysterical performance does get a bit tiring towards the end. Solid support comes from Paolo Malco (TUAREG: THE DESERT WARRIOR) as husband Tom and from the attractive Sabrina Ferilli and Stefania Montorsi as a pair of helpful sisters. Sadly the finale is a bit of a let-down. Although more atmospheric than scary, this is still a hell of a lot better than that other, silly "cellar dwelling monster" flick of 1988 - CELLAR DWELLER.