Let's be honest. If you grew up in the late eighties, your local video rental store probably had a copy of My Demon Lover sitting right next to The Lost Boys or Fright Night. It wasn't the biggest hit. Critics actually kind of hated it. But there is something undeniably sticky about this 1987 supernatural rom-com that keeps it surfacing in conversations decades later. It’s a movie that doesn't just lean into its premise—it jumps off a cliff with it.
Scott Valentine plays Kaz. He's a street performer in New York with a bit of a problem. Every time he gets "in the mood," he physically transforms into a literal demon.
Not just a little bit of horns or some red contact lenses. We’re talking full-blown, practical effects body horror that oscillates between terrifying and goofy. It's a bizarre metaphor for the anxieties of dating in the eighties, sandwiched between scenes of New York grit and synth-heavy transition music.
The Practical Effects Magic of My Demon Lover
One thing you have to respect about My Demon Lover is the commitment to the bit. This was the era of Screaming Mad George. If you don't know that name, he’s the visual effects artist responsible for some of the most visceral, "melt-your-brain" imagery in horror history, including work on Society and A Nightmare on Elm Street 4.
In an era before CGI ruined the tactile feel of monsters, this film used foam latex and animatronics to handle Kaz's transformations.
The effects aren't just for show. They tell the story. Depending on the "type" of attraction or emotion Kaz feels, his demon form changes. Sometimes he's a satyr. Sometimes he's a multi-limbed creature that looks like it crawled out of a fever dream. Honestly, the sheer variety of the prosthetics is probably why the movie cost about $4 million to make, which was a decent chunk of change for a genre-bender in 1987.
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Why the Critics Weren't Feeling It (But Fans Were)
When the film hit theaters in April '87, the reviews were... rough. Roger Ebert famously gave it a thumbs down, basically calling it a one-joke movie that didn't know if it wanted to be a comedy or a slasher.
He wasn't entirely wrong.
The tone is all over the place. You have Michelle Little playing Denny, the "good girl" who keeps falling for the wrong guys, and then you have a sub-plot involving a literal serial killer stalking the streets of New York. It’s jarring. One minute you're watching a quirky romantic montage, and the next, there’s a genuine sense of menace.
But that's exactly why it works for a specific type of cult film fan. It doesn't follow the rules. It feels like a product of a time when studios were willing to throw money at "weird" ideas just to see if they'd stick. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s very, very New York.
The Cast: From Family Ties to Demon Horns
At the time, Scott Valentine was a household name because of Family Ties. He played Nick Moore, the lovable, grunting boyfriend of Mallory Keaton. Casting him as the lead in My Demon Lover was a smart move. He brought that same "bad boy with a heart of gold" energy, but cranked it up to eleven.
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Michelle Little plays the perfect foil. She brings a grounded, almost naive sincerity to the role of Denny that makes the supernatural absurdity around her feel more real.
And we can't forget Robert Trebor as Charles. He’s the eccentric "occult expert" who provides the exposition. You might recognize him later as Salmoneus from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. His performance is pure camp, and it’s glorious.
Is My Demon Lover Actually a Metaphor?
If you look past the rubber masks and the eighties hair, there’s a surprisingly relatable core to the story. It’s about the fear of intimacy.
Kaz is terrified of getting close to someone because he’s afraid his "inner demons" will come out and hurt them. Denny is so desperate for love that she ignores the very obvious red flags—like, you know, her boyfriend growing extra arms during a make-out session.
It captures that specific 1980s anxiety regarding the "hidden dangers" of the dating world. It was the height of the slasher era, but also a time when people were becoming increasingly aware of the complexities of relationships and personal baggage. My Demon Lover just happens to turn that baggage into a physical monster.
The Legacy of the New Line Cinema Era
New Line Cinema, often called "The House That Freddy Built," was the studio behind this. By 1987, they were trying to branch out from just Nightmare on Elm Street sequels.
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They wanted to find a middle ground between horror and mainstream comedy. My Demon Lover represents that experimental phase. While it didn't become a massive franchise, it helped pave the way for the "genre-mashing" films of the nineties.
If you watch it today, the pacing feels different than modern movies. It breathes. It takes detours. It’s not afraid to be awkward.
Where to Watch and What to Look For
Finding a high-quality version of My Demon Lover used to be a chore. For years, it was stuck on aging DVDs or grainy VHS tapes that people traded like underground relics. Thankfully, boutique labels like Shout! Factory eventually gave it a proper Blu-ray release, preserving those incredible practical effects in high definition.
When you watch it, pay attention to:
- The background details in the New York street scenes; it's a time capsule of a grittier Manhattan.
- The transition shots during the transformations—some of the bladder effects are genuinely impressive.
- The soundtrack, which is a masterclass in mid-80s electronic scoring.
Actionable Insights for Cult Film Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of 80s horror-comedies like this one, here is how to navigate the landscape:
- Prioritize Physical Media: Because of licensing issues, movies like this often disappear from streaming services without warning. If you find a Blu-ray of a cult classic, grab it.
- Follow the Artists: If you liked the look of the demons, search for other films worked on by Screaming Mad George or the makeup crew. That’s how you find the "hidden gems" of the era.
- Check the Credits: Look for the director, Charlie Loventhal. Seeing how directors transitioned from these quirky indies to bigger projects gives you a great perspective on film history.
- Compare the Versions: Sometimes international cuts or TV edits of these films have slightly different scenes. It’s a rabbit hole, but a fun one for collectors.
The movie isn't a masterpiece in the traditional sense. It’s better than that. It’s a weird, specific, ambitious swing that couldn't be made today. Whether you're watching it for the nostalgia or seeing Kaz sprout horns for the first time, it remains a quintessential piece of 80s cult cinema history.