Demon Under Glass

Customer Reviews:

Privileged to be a part of the fun.......2006-06-08

I was privileged to be one of the "independent" contributors to this movie/DVD. Demon turned out so much better than I could have ever imagined. It's not "Oscar"-worthy, but it was never meant to be. The movie definitely makes you think and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Jason and Garett both brought life to their roles in a marvelous and actually believable way. I may be biased due to my involvement, but I still think it's a really good movie and encourage open minds and imaginations when viewing.

A new and intriguing twist on the Ancient Vampire legend........2006-03-04

Demon Under Glass

Well, I won't use the sweeping phrase "best vampire movie I ever saw," but I will term this unheralded DVD the most interesting of the genre. Made possible by an entity called "Dragoncor/EarthDragon," the film-makers definitely put forth a lot of intellectual effort, and, in doing so, offset the underfunded production values with considerable success. Their cerebral approach? Attempting to attach intriguing scientific explanation to enduring legend; placing supernatural manifestation under the microscope in an attempt to unravel the secrets of a scary phenomenon.

The movie starts off with a briefly written explanation: A serial killer is loose in Los Angeles. Nicknamed "Vlad" by the media due to the distinctively gruesome condition of his victims, the murderous criminal is very soon caught in a prostitution sting, then abruptly confronted by a mysterious task force of the U.S. Government. In a running, pitched battle, the hypothetical vampire is brought to heel and then whisked away to the research section of a VA Hospital.

This unknown, frighteningly dangerous creature becomes the centerpiece of a research project code-named "Delphi." Soon enough the captive earns the term "living impossibility" by the lead scientist, a man who readily blinds himself to risk because of an insatiable thirst for hidden knowledge. Amidst a series of discoveries that unfold in an environment rife with tension-surprising revelations that turn the known mechanics of human physiology upside down-one significant yet slowly revealed "revelation" is grasped too, too slowly by the people who think they hold all the cards: "Vlad" can be persuasive, insidiously so. Secure doors, one-way mirrors and ever-present guards just might not be up to the challenge of keeping him down.

With the overview of this good horror picture out of the way-a production cast and crew alike should be proud of-I will mention here some of the nagging defects that briefly bothered my eye, tickled my ear and caused my brain to spasm during what was largely a superb effort that bore plentiful fruit.
The action scenes at the beginning of the movie could have been choreographed a bit more professionally. I guess such flaws are to be expected; this was definitely a film whose "shoe-string budget" put a damper on the visuals.

The security barriers that kept the outside world away from the research project were ludicrously inadequate; from what I gathered, there was but one: A nurse behind a desk, who seemed to be constantly on the phone. That hardly makes for an effective deterrent against potential intruders, especially anyone who might be motivated to track down a notorious serial killer; a shadowy figure whose results were widely known to the media and certainly impacted the victims' survivors.

It struck me as oddly puzzling how dense and callous one of the leads-a bright and caring young internist-could act at times. First, it took him far too long to link the strange man under his care-a position, admittedly, that was thrust upon him-with the killer tagged "Vlad" by the media. (Maybe because he was so busy seeing to Veterans, he never had the chance to read the papers before the real deal itself showed up and altered his life forever.) Second, he started cooling to the creature a bit late in the game. I mean, any person with the moral fiber this man obviously possessed would have suspected from the get-go his enigmatic patient's fresh blood needs more than likely involved a history of murder.

On top of the youngest doctor's briefly strange lapses, two of his senior cohorts' behavior toward the end also threw me for a loop. Suffice to say the effort to advance the study had one acting in rapid succession fiendishly appalling than brutally uncaring; the other reached disgustingly culpable shortly after oozing a stench of wimpish criminality. (I guess "Vlad" could have been acting telepathically behind the scenes, but, if so, I must have missed that angle entirely.)

Finally, there were a few significant loose strings still hanging at the closing credits. I don't want to get into too much detail here, because it might spoil crucial aspects of the story, but Vlad's past doings could have been explored and explained a bit more comprehensively.

In this last paragraph I do feel compelled to end on a positive note. I mean, it's the least I can do, since I did enjoy the film, very much so. All the actors throughout, despite the aforementioned inconsistencies in behavior and "Vlad's" elegant darkness, struck me as everyday people with everyday good looks realistically and believingly confronting an alluring yet disturbing mystery. No "ravishing divas, incomparably handsome leading men and celebrated acting skills" of the big budgeted movies here. These actors, in an understated professionalism, duplicated very closely what one would expect to see in the environment and situations presented.

(Okay, I lied!! There is one more complaint, and it's not just for this movie: Military guards, who find themselves in imminently hostile environments, are not in the least likely to remain at parade rest incessantly, staring straight ahead and needlessly tiring themselves out, thus being less than fully prepared for danger when it strikes!)

http://www.frankrheins.com

Peeking THRU the glass.......2005-07-21

..........and what do we find inside?
"Vamp gets caught by nasty Gov and gets the lab-rat routine"
Sounds like Ho-hUM. WRONG. VERY (!!) well made and HIGH quality independant film, well acted and scripted. Nothing new, but presented so well, you will want to watch more than a few times, if not add to your collection. More psychological than scare tactics....but it's the hook that will keep you a fan of this film.

Demon Under Glass is Dead On.......2005-04-25

This was no big-budget production. The cast and crew did not rely on special effects or large explosions. Instead they place their faith in stellar performances by the central cast and an interesting script with a new take on the vampire mythos. It works.

Demon Under Glass was a pleasant surprise. Thoughtful, fun, intelligent, and insightful ... it was a pleasure to watch. I only wish they'd filmed a sequel, because this film deserves one.

Garrett Maggart plays Dr. Joe McCay with wisdom and humanity, and his reluctant friendship with the vampire, Simon Molinar (brilliantly played by Jason Carter, who sucks the audience right in - even when you know, you just KNOW, this guy is bad news, you're still rooting for him right along with the other characters in the film, despite his "evil" nature), is the highlight of this story. Neither man chooses to be there, but they deal with the situation and each other, despite a lack of trust that grows into something akin to mutual respect if not downright friendship.

The back cover of the DVD led me to believe that this would be an action pic, a battle between the police and a killer, but in truth, it is a study of what "humanity" is and takes place primarily in the lab where Simon is being studied. Kudos to the film-makers for this rare and perfect choice. It is what makes this film so special.

In my opinion, if you enjoy a fun, engaging movie, then Demon Under Glass is for you. Watch it and enjoy. It was wonderful!

NATURE OR NURTURE.......2005-04-10

Watching DEMON UNDER GLASS reminded me of the old soap opera DARK SHADOWS, only in that its filming was reminiscent of how they used to do that 70s series. But whereas SHADOWS opted for campiness, DEMON tries to take a serious look at how we might "capture" a vampire and use him to study his genetic makeup and just what makes him tick. The movie posits the question as to just who is the demon? The vampire Vlad or the scientists who would torture him to discover how quickly his regenerative powers work. In the film, Vlad is responsible for the deaths of several lovely prostitutes whom he brutally beats and mutilates when finished. As he is captured, however, we see a different vampire: he seems appreciative of the care of young Dr. McCrady; he cooperates fully; and he doesn't seem all that bad..until the obsessed doctor in charge of the program takes his experimentations a little too far. By the end of the movie, the vampire is pleased with who and what he is, and he sees nothing wrong in needing human blood.
DEMON UNDER GLASS tries hard to be different, and in some ways, it succeeds. The production values are very amateurish, and this does detract from the film. Garet Maggart does well as the idealistic and conscience-stricken doctor, and Jason Carter has a certain vulnerability to match his evilness. The rest of the cast is pretty bad, though--particularly Jack Donner as the scientist and Denise Alessandra Hurd as the police detective whose own fascination with Vlad is never fully explored.
DEMON UNDER GLASS won't make you forget the Hammer Dracula films or even Barnabas Collins, but it isn't as bad as it could have been.

Average customer rating:

If it has C Thomas Howell in it and it's not the Outsiders it probably sucks
Not SCARY.....FUNNY!
LET'S GET ANTSY
PLEASE READ BEFORE BUYING OR RENTING!!!!
This Glass Trap is DEFECTIVE JUNK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glass Trap
Starring: C. Thomas Howell , Stella Stevens , Siri Baruc , Brent Huff , and Chick Vennera
Director: Fred Olen Ray
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009PVZSW
Release Date: 2005-08-02

Customer Reviews:

If it has C Thomas Howell in it and it's not the Outsiders it probably sucks.......2006-10-20

I had to write a review so that I could save someone else the energy from thinking this might be even a wee bit entertaining. The effects were so far subpar that you could not fool a 5 year old into believing in the large ants. This movie has been done repeatedly in different ways (the giant killer insects) and better. In the 50's at least there was an excuse for the cheesy effects. This is the 2nd adult C Thomas Howell movie I purchased in which I realized that this poor guy needs to go into real estate or something. The Crimson Code is also very poor.

Not only is the acting questionable and not entertaining (except for Stella Stevens, she did great!) but the costume designer needs to be punished. C Thomas was dressed like a french painter slash janitor with the ascot and all. PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE!

I would have rated this movie lower then 1 if it had been offered. If it comes free on Sci-Fi and it's a Sunday and you are bored, give it a shot. If it's for actively purchasing this thing and paying shipping.... well, I wouldn't do it.

Not SCARY.....FUNNY!.......2006-09-12

This was the Cheesiest horror movie I've ever seen it was hilarious, especialy when Stella Stephens got Eaten by the Ant.
WE All Prayed she would DIE.... and then at the end she did.
(People who watched this movie Know what I'm TALKIN about.)
I'm giving it 3 stars just for that one scene!!!

LET'S GET ANTSY.......2005-09-08

Remember THEM....THE BLACK SCORPION...BEGINNING OF THE END..TARANTULA? Those magnificently corny but loveable big bug movies of the fifties? Well, THE GLASS TRAP whether intentionally or unintentionally pays homage to these movies in its own delightful way. The ants don't look too bad from a distance, but the close ups are cheesy and pedophilic! But that's what makes this movie so tolerably enjoyable. C. Thomas Howell looks completely lost in his heroic janitor(?) role; Stella Stevens (always Linda Rogo from THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE) chews up the scenery a'la Joan Crawford and Bette Davis; B movie stalwarts Brent Huff, Andrew Prine, Ron Harper and Chick Vennera add cult status; and Martin Kove is hilarious as the "specialist" who comes in to save the day. The movie is rightfully ridiculous but if you loved those killer bug movies aforementioned (as I did growing up on them), then THE GLASS TRAP can be forgiven for its clunky amateurishness.

PLEASE READ BEFORE BUYING OR RENTING!!!!.......2005-09-08

...YOUR SANTITY MAY DEPEND ON IT.

OK - this may just be the single worst straight-to-video "horror" movie ever released. Where to start? The mind reels!! Well, it could be the CGI, which must have been coded by a five year old. Or, it could be the acting - it seems like the actors were playing roles that had nothing to do with the fact that they were all staring death in the face. Or, it could be the action sequences - the one where the tactical military commander shoots his buddy eight times because he thinks it's funny that the buddy can't get the ant off his back. Hmm... where else? Suffice it to say, you will know within the first two minutes when the overweight actor in the plant nursery starts wandering around his shop looking for the missing employees. It makes me wonder if the director and producer got together over a few beers and decided to take a trip down to the local community center acting class and just close their eyes and pick a cast at random, just for kicks.

You would be better off donating this money to Katrina victims. Actually, you would be better off getting a soft teddy bear and hitting yourself in the head with it for 90 minutes.

By the way, Blockbuster is running ads for this film on their in-store TV systems - don't get suckered in like I did. The ad and the movie are two TOTALLY different things in the end... (i.e. the ad looked reasonably scary - the movie itself, well, it just WAS scary - as in scary-bad).

This Glass Trap is DEFECTIVE JUNK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-08-03

When I think back to all those Sci-fi movies dealing with radioactive insects I think of THEM,EMPIRE OF THE ANTS,TRANTULA,and of course the DEADLY MANTIS.These movies were unreal but not with the thought of possibilities.This thing has the worst story line,hammyest acting and the most poorly computerized ants that I've ever seen.A group of people are trapped inside a tall skyscraper{LOOKS LIKE THE MODEL FROM TOWERING INFERNO}on a Saturday buy a bunch of oversized ants that came in via plants that were delivered. The main star is C. THOMAS HOWELL a janitor who got the job as a probation from jail for hot wiring cars.The worst actor in todays market has to go to MARTIN KOVE {KARATE KID} as a special agent to exterminate the ants.I'm not going to ramble on but its junk like this that makes me wonder; If you're going to make junk woundn't you at least spend the money to create realalistic creatures or at least put some good people in there? Oh and one more thing, since when do people from the agricultural society know anything about ants?! They don't carry guns either. Do your self a favor folks save your money,if you want a laugh rent Empire of the ants if you want to be frusterated then by all means go for it.YOU'LL See how stupid this thing really is and boring.I gave it 1 star only because of C.Thomas Howell,he didn't speak much but when he does its sincere,not like those others who wouldn't shut up.Who still uses sugar cubes? didn't that go out of style in the fifties. NICE 50'S TOUCH FRED OLSEN RAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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