This bloody, slow-moving occult horror film was directed by Marcello Avallone (
Maya). The plot concerns an archaeological dig outside of Rome, where
Donald Pleasence unearths a monstrous demon (created by effects-guru Sergio Stivaletti). Murder scenes are swiped from
A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Night Has 1000 Eyes and the gore is well-handled, but the demon is rarely shown, and the first hour leading up to all the mayhem is a talky bore. Screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti has written over 150 films, including most of the best Italian horror movies of the last quarter-century, but he fumbled the ball with this one. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide