Yesterday afternoon I attended a screening of the highly anticipated “urban” horror flick Demons Never Die (formally known as Suicide Kids).

The film follows eight London students who make a pact during an online discussion to each take their own lives after a fellow student seemingly commits suicide.  But when they realise that they each have something to live for the grim reaper rears its ugly head in the form of a masked knife wielding killing machine.

Misfit Archie (Robert Sheehan), model Samantha (Emma Rigby), wide-boy Kenny (Jason Maze), star pupil Ashleigh (Shanika Warren-Markland), conflicted Rickie (Jacob Anderson), Goth-girl Jasmine (Jennie Jacques),  confused Cain (Femi Oyeniren)  and weakling James (Jack Doolan) are all battling their own private demons, from eating disorders to lost parents.  But as a much deadlier assailant hunts them down one by one, their quest for death becomes a desperate fight for their lives.

So is Demons Never Die any good?

After enduring months of Twitter hype on my timeline, the endless ‘3 Reasons To Live’ YouTube promotional campaign, and seeing the word “EPIC” being banded around online like the film was the best thing since sliced bread, I have to now be honest here and say that Demons Never Die isn’t a bad film.

Writer/director Arjun Rose has obviously spent a fair amount of time watching classic slasher flick Scream and The Blair Witch Project because it’s clear for all to see that both films were of a major influence when it came to creating this project.  But nevertheless Demons is stylish and edgy in parts with a booming soundtrack, and unlike most “TeamUK” films churned out these days aimed at the youth market you can see that some actual thought went in to the making and the execution of this film.

However there is no real character development (In future projects Rose needs to focus more attention on character development) and at times the film just seems a little rushed, and you are then left asking a few questions. For example I still don’t know why Ashleigh (Shanika Warren-Markland) entered in to the suicide pact. What was going on in her life that pushed her to make this decision? I didn’t learn anything about her character or life.

And why does a knife wielding maniac want them all dead? This was not made clear.

But Rose hasn’t done a bad job when you take in to account that this is his first major foray in to film.

For me the stand out performance in Demons comes from Robert Sheehan who plays the charming main lead Archie, a young man tormented by a violent and tragic incident that took place when he was a child. Sheehan carries this film and is a man who knows his craft and isn’t just playing at being an actor.

Other performances that stand out in my mind for different reasons came from the following…

Ashley Walters plays Detective Bates who along with his partner Mason(Reggie Yates) is called in to investigate the rising body count.

First let me say that Walters is a really good actor who has branched out and has successfully played different types of roles throughout his career.  But for some reason I just had a hard time believing that he was supposed to be this suited and booted high ranking detective in charge of a major investigation. I can’t quite put my finger on what the problem was yet, but I just wasn’t convinced.  I also felt that his scenes lacked impact and there was no real on-screen chemistry between him and Yates.  Had I been the casting director Yates would have been left to do what he does best, radio and TV presenting for the BBC. I am still baffled as to why Yates was cast in the role. His character added nothing to the film.

Jason Maza plays insane, funny and highly offensive student Kenny who is obsessed with taking his own life and who craves fame and notoriety after his death.  Every time I watch Maza in a film/TV project he just reminds me of actor Danny Dyer. But his performance in Demons is pretty good, and will no doubt generate a few laughs from cinema goers.

X-Factor judge/N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos plays Amber another tormented and distressed soul.  This was my first
time watching Tulisa exercise her acting chops and she isn’t terrible in the
film, but I fail to see what all the fuss/hype is about.

In closing I would like to add that the film is watchable and likely to go down extremely well with its target audience, the 15-21 demographic.

Mad News Rating out of 5 – 2/3 out of 5

Demons Never Die opens in cinemas on October 28th.