Monsters, demons, ghouls, murderers, ghosts, zombies, killers, over-sized animals, vampires, lunatics, mutants, madmen

SPOILER WARNING!!
All entries in the TBDB are likely to carry spoliers so if you ain't seen the movie they relate to don't read 'em!

ANGELA

AKA:

Amelia Kinkaid, Shannon Elizabeth

Was a bastard in:

Night of the Demons (1988), Night of the Demons 2, Night of the Demons 3, Night of the Demons (2009)

So who the hell is she?

In the original series of films Angela was a not-particularly-popular Goth girl who decided to throw a party in Hull House, a deserted run-down mansion rumoured to be cursed. This party is supposed to in some way increase her popularity although quite how inviting people who don’t like you very much to a condemned building that probably stinks of tramp piss is supposed to do that is a little unclear. Something to do with scaring them into liking her apparently (a surprisingly ineffective technique). Since when was set-up important in an ‘80s horror flick though? As long as the horny teenagers end up in the haunted house all is well in the world.

Of course, once there it isn’t long before demonic forces are awoken and start possessing the kids. Though Angela is the only recurring character in all the films she is not actually the first to be possessed. She is however the most memorable as the black wedding dress-wearing, weirdly seductive ‘leader’ of the demons. She uses her offbeat sex appeal to mesmerise her victims before kissing them and turning them into fellow demons or sometimes just simply horrifically murdering them and then turning them into demons. Come to think of it, it seems odd that she goes to all the bother of seducing so many of her victims. It doesn’t seem to make much difference whether she does or not, they still end up dead and demonified. Maybe she’s lonely. Or horny.

Whatever the case, we’re glad she does because she gives us some great scenes in her efforts to turn on her former friends as she gets down with the girls, sucks bullets out of gun barrels and dances to Bauhaus (check here for more on that amazing dance scene). Unfortunately Angela’s sexy shenanigans all end up the same way- with her turning into a repulsive drooling monster and doing something really very unpleasant. Like sticking her big forked tongue out the back of your head for example or maybe, as in the remake, pulling your top down, tearing your nipples off and separating your face from your head. It really does spoil the romance of the whole thing really - terrible behaviour.

Speaking of the remake, Angela as played by Shannon Elizabeth is still a bit gothy but a hell of a lot more popular and a hell of a lot more aware of the fact that a good party consists of more than 7 people who don’t like each other very much in a burnt out old shit-hole. Her party is a much bigger affair (even Victor Crowley is there if you keep your eyes open) though it still ends up with a bunch of kids getting torn apart by horrible hellish bastards.

That’s not a knife…

Being possessed by a rather powerful ancient demonic entity has its benefits and Angela uses these hell-fuelled powers to do all manner of nasty things like turning people’s hands into snakes, using a sheriff’s badge to scalp him and most impressively (though rather strangely, seeing as she has never done anything like it before or after in the whole series) turning into a massive angry serpent-woman.

So what’s the damage?

Angela is personally responsible for some of the kills in the Night of the Demons series but by no means all. Her little gang of demons get their fair share of action too. Seeing as they all seem to be possessed by the same hellish force though we might as well not split hairs. Together they kill nearly the entire cast of all 4 films. The only one who causes them a little bit of trouble is Sister Mary in the first sequel, a distinctly puritanical nun who somehow has the ability to grow another head when her first one is chopped off. Cool trick but, you know, a bit weird.

It’s a million to one chance but it might just work…

Holy water seems to work quite nicely on many of Angel’s buddies but for the lady herself something a bit more impressive is needed. Though, not that much more impressive to be honest – pulling her across a stream does the trick quite nicely. Demons can’t cross running water apparently (unless they’re hidden in the form of a lipstick). She doesn’t react very well to sunlight either. So, holy water, sunlight and running water… she doesn’t have too much of a problem with garlic thankfully.

The remake’s demons have a similar aversion to the rays of the sun but with the additional weakness of, erm rust. This rather arbitrary vulnerability is explained during the film but trust us, it really doesn’t matter. In a good way.

Words of wisdom:

“Open wide and give me some tongue.” (sortly before ripping some poor schmuck’s tongue out and eating it)  

By Matt Compton