Line #42 Film/DemonKnight


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/911l3vqra7l_sx522.jpg]]
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3	TheMovie of the {{Creator/HBO}} television series ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'', directed by Ernest Dickerson and released in [[TheNineties 1995]]. ''Demon Knight'' tells the story of a [[TheDrifter drifter]] named Frank Brayker (Creator/WilliamSadler) who arrives in Wormwood, Texas, and seeks refuge in a church-turned-hotel where he meets the no-nonsense landlady Irene (Creator/CCHPounder) and her niece Jeryline (Creator/JadaPinkettSmith), [[TheAlcoholic alcoholic]] Uncle Willy (Creator/DickMiller), [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold prostitute]] Cordelia (Creator/BrendaBakke) and her [[DomesticAbuse abusive boyfriend]][=/=]pimp Roach (Creator/ThomasHadenChurch), and fired mailman Wally (Creator/CharlesFleischer) who's hopelessly in love with Cordelia.
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5	Not long after Brayker's arrival, a [[TallDarkAndHandsome handsome]] and [[AffablyEvil charming]] gentleman in a [[BadassLongcoat trenchcoat]] and cowboy hat known only as The Collector (Creator/BillyZane) shows up with Sheriff Tupper (John Schuck) and Deputy Bob (Creator/GaryFarmer), seeking a [[ArtifactOfDoom key-shaped artifact]] that he claims Brayker stole from him. The Collector soon reveals that he's actually a demonic BountyHunter and quickly [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs lays siege to the hotel]], raising up an army of skeletal minions to aid him in getting his dirty hands on the Key and going about tempting some of the hotel's residents with their innermost desires. Brayker reveals to the residents (well, those who survive the demonic onslaught...) that the Key once contained the [[ThePowerOfBlood blood of Jesus Christ]] and subsequently that of previous guardians of the Key. The Key can ward off evil if it contains blood, but will bring about TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt if it runs out of blood and is used by the forces of darkness.
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7	Not to be confused with ''ComicBook/DemonKnights''. Followed by ''Film/BordelloOfBlood''.
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9	!This film contains examples of:
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11	* AbandonedMine: The occupants of the hotel discover an old mine shaft that abuts the wall of the basement. Despite Brayker's exhortations not to, they break through the wall and attempt to escape through the mine. However, they discover the demons are already in the mine and are attacked and forced to retreat back to the hotel.
12	* TheAlcoholic: Uncle Willy really loves his liquor.
13	* AlienBlood: The Collector and his minions have [[SicklyGreenGlow florescent green]] blood.
14	* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: The Collector's minions lay siege to the hotel in their efforts to retrieve the Key.
15	* AndIMustScream: The reason the "shoot-for-the-eyes" tactic works is that it ''frees'' the tortured souls within the demons.
16	* AndShowItToYou: The Collector's threat [[spoiler:(and final words)]] are that, since Jeryline won't love him, at ''least'' he can have her heart--and extends a finger with a large scalpel on it.
17	* AndStarring: Creator/JohnKassir as the voice of the Crypt Keeper.
18	* AppliedPhlebotinum: The blood in the Key wards off demons, or [[BloodyMurder kills them if they touch it]].
19	* ArbitrarySkepticism: When Brayker explains the origins of the Key, a few characters are openly skeptical despite having already spent a good deal of time fending off demons.
20	* AnArmAndALeg: Irene has her arm ripped off by the possessed Cordelia. The Collector later offers to restore it for her as part of her temptation.
21	* ArrowCam: When the Deputy shoots the Collector with an arrow.
22	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: When The Collector is trying to tempt Jeryline:
23	-->'''The Collector:''' You know, it doesn't have to be unpleasant. Hell, I'd rather it wasn't! All right, I know what you're thinking. You [[DealWithTheDevil give up your soul]], you turn into a demon, you look like ''shit''. Where's the payoff, right?
24	* ArtifactOfDoom: Slight subversion--the Key can ward off demons as long as there's blood in it, but can be used to bring about TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt if it's empty.
25	* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Roach, who gives The Collector the final key just to save his own ass. He's RewardedAsATraitorDeserves.]]
26	* AttackItsWeakPoint: To destroy a demon, you have to aim for the eyes.
27	-->'''The Collector:''' That eyeball shit? Only works on low-level demons.[[note]]Or rather, attacking the eyes with ''conventional'' weapons (guns, knives) only works on low-level demons. Spitting the sacred blood inside the Key '''''INTO''''' them, on the other hand...[[/note]]
28	* BadassLongcoat: The Collector. He's introduced wearing a nice trenchcoat with a nice hat. He ditches both after his demonic nature is revealed.
29	* BadassNormal: Brayker has no special powers (aside from a really long lifespan) but holds his own pretty well against demons.
30	* BaldOfEvil: The Collector is bald.
31	* BequeathedPower: Combined with TakeUpMySword with the Key, and the powers that accompany it, being periodically passed on to a new bearer since the Crucifixion. [[spoiler:Brayker tells Jeryline after he's passed on the key to her, that she'll have to do the same thing someday.]]
32	-->'''Brayker:''' When the stars align, you'll know what to do.
33	* BetterThanSex: In the opening sequence, Amanda tells her lover over the phone that killing her husband was almost better than sex. She laughs at his (unheard to the audience) response and points out she did say "almost".
34	* BigBad: The Collector pursues the Demon Knight and antagonizes him through the film in the hopes of starting the apocalypse.
35	* BigNo: Yelled by Brayker just before Roach shoots at his possessed boss and ends up destroying a barrier keeping the demons out.
36	* BilingualBonus: When Roach says "''Vaya con dios''," The Collector replies, "And a ''vaya con diablos'' to you, sir!"
37	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:All the characters save Jeryline and her cat are dead and the cycle begins again, with a new Collector appearing to chase her until the day she makes her own last stand. But in the process, Jeryline at least gets to fulfill her dreams of travelling and seeing the world, and the Crypt Keeper assures us she's having a fabulous time.]]
38	* BlackAndGrayMorality: While the Collector is definitely evil, a Demon Knight will go to any lengths to prevent the key from falling into the wrong hands, [[spoiler:except harm the next Demon Knight.]]
39	* BloodyMurder: The blood of Jesus and that of other guardians of the Key can harm and even kill demons.
40	** BloodMagic: The blood can also be used to create barriers that ward off and even ''kill'' demons if they're dumb enough to try passing through. In a twist, using the key and the blood therein are unambiguously holy, as God himself was the one who put the blood in the key to begin with, according to Brayker.
41	* BulletproofHumanShield: The demon possessed Cordelia uses Wally's body to block Brayker's shots, and then [[GrievousHarmWithABody throws the corpse at him]].
42	* CallBack: When the residents of the hotel doubt Brayker's story, he angrily mutters that he didn't make the rules. Later, the Collector chuckles about [[WhoWritesThisCrap how the rules seem to be arbitrary.]]
43	* TheCameo: An uncredited Creator/JohnLarroquette is briefly seen as a SlasherMovie monster in the first Cryptkeeper [[BookEnds book-end segment]].
44	-->'''John Larroquette:''' Where the hell did they dig this guy up?
45	* CassandraTruth: Two-thirds of the movie seems to be this with regards to Brayker, as none of the others really take him seriously until he fully explains the backstory and why protecting the key is so important.
46	* CatScare: This tactic is used a few times, the cat in question belongs to the heroine Jeryline.
47	* ChangingOfTheGuard: Brayker comes to the hotel because he knows [[spoiler:he'll find TheChosenOne there]].
48	* CharacterDevelopment:
49	** Jeryline seems to be a delinquent who'd rather blow off Irene's chores and snap at anyone who asks anything of her. She slowly mellows out as she seems to find a kindred spirit in Brayker. [[spoiler: Turns out this is because she's the next {{Chosen One}}]]
50	** After Roach leaves her to die and she's saved by Wally, Cordelia starts to stand up to Roach and be more assertive. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, it's cruelly cut short when she's possessed shortly after and killed by Brayker]].
51	* TheChosenOne: Brayker, [[spoiler:later Jeryline]].
52	* ClaimedByTheSupernatural: As shown in flashback, when Dickerson passed the Key on to Brayker, making Brayker the new [[TheChosenOne Demon Knight]], a pattern of seven stars were burned into Brayker's palm, and then rearranged themselves. [[spoiler:The same thing happens when Brayker passes the Key and the mantle on to Jeryline.]]
53	* ClusterFBomb: The Collector's rant after being fended off by Brayker using the Key.
54	-->'''The Collector:''' Humans! You're not worth the flesh you're printed on! Fuck this cowboy shit! You fuckin' ho-dunk, po-dunk, well then there MOTHERFUCKERS!!!
55	* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Wally gets his moment when he runs outside to save Cordelia from a demon, grabbing a handgun from Deputy Bob and shooting a demon multiple times in the head. Turns out later on that Wally was planning to blow up the post office.
56	* CosmicHorrorStory: The Key Brayker carries is the last of seven that were scattered across the universe to prevent the forces of evil that existed before the Genesis from taking over. The demons have already successfully taken six of the keys, and as soon as the Collector gets his hands on Brayker's (or it runs out of the holy blood it contains), it won't be just Hell on Earth, the ''entire universe'' will fall back into PrimordialChaos, "Just like that".
57	* DeadpanSnarker: The Collector revels in snark, but the quote below early on in film from the Sheriff counts too:
58	-->'''Sheriff Tupper:''' Well, Bob, it's too late to give them a ticket. But if it'll make you feel better, you can shoot their ashes.
59	* DealWithTheDevil: The Collector tries to bribe or threaten each character into helping him get the Key. [[spoiler: He never gives a single person who gives in and takes his offer the thing they damned themself for, and mocks them the whole way.]]
60	* DeathOfAChild: [[NightmareFace Horribly, horribly]] [[spoiler:played straight...]]
61	* DeathGlare: [[spoiler:The second Collector gives a potent one at Jeryline.]]
62	* DefiantToTheEnd:
63	-->'''Irene:''' Suppertime!
64	* DefrostingIceQueen: Jeryline is initially hostile to the others but gets better.
65	* DemonicPossession: What happens to the poor people who fall for The Collector's devilish charms.
66	* DemonLordsAndArchdevils: The Collector himself distinguishes himself by saying that the eyeball weakness only applies to "lower-level" demons; the reason is that those lower level demons have trapped tortured souls. The Collector, who has ''no soul'', sports a [[OneWingedAngel true form]] that is the only demon that we see with wings.
67	* DiegeticSoundtrackUsage: [[spoiler:The second Collector]] whistles the ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'' theme tune.
68	* ThisWasHisTrueForm: See OneWingedAngel.
69	* DiesWideOpen: [[spoiler:Brayker dies this way]] near the end. Jeryline respectfully shuts his eyes. When The Collector finds him, [[KickTheDog he opens them back up]].
70	* DirtyCoward: Roach. During the demons' attack on the hotel, he ventures outside with Cordelia and tries to make it to his truck, only to spot a demon that then comes right at him and Cordelia. What does good ol' Roach do? He ''pushes Cordelia toward the demon'' as he hauls ass back into the hotel.
71	** It doesn't help that The Collector flat-out says he was ''counting'' on Roach to give him the Key to save his own skin.
72	* DirtyOldMan: Uncle Willy. His topless women fantasy is the best evidence for this trope.
73	* DroppedABridgeOnHim: In a sense. With all the adult residents the Collector has to charm and seduce them, appealing to their flaws or insecurities, before he can possess them. With the kid Danny, he just takes over him through a comic book. Meaning that... [[SpaceWhaleAesop comic books are inherently tools of Satan]]?
74	** More like, just with Uncle Willy who was tempted with Booze and Women, the Collector Tempted Danny with the promise of superpowers and a superhero career. Danny could "Save everybody" if he "Just let me in"
75	* TheEndOrIsIt: [[spoiler:The Collector is defeated and killed, but a strange man in a black hat starts following Jeryline, who has taken on the duties of guarding the Key, on her way out of town. However, if one can believe the Crypt Keeper, she survived long enough to have a happy ending.]]
76	* EroticEating: One of the topless women in Uncle Willy's temptation fantasy offers him a 'long hard one' before taking a pull from a bottle in an extremely suggestive fashion.
77	* EveryCarIsAPinto: While the Collector's car catching fire when Brayker shoots the engine is just about plausible, Brayker's car explodes in a fireball the second the Collector's car crashes into it.
78	* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Collector's actual name is never revealed.
79	* EvilCannotComprehendGood:
80	** The Collector is [[GaggingOnYourWords physically incapable of saying the word "love"]], which leads to yet another hilarious moment with Creator/BillyZane:
81	--->'''The Collector:''' I l-l-l-l-l... uh... you. I l-l-l-l-l... uh... you. Do you think you could ever find it in your heart to l-l-l-l-l... uh... me back?
82	** He does, however, understand the noble Brayker well enough to know he wouldn't follow on his threat to kill a hostage. [[spoiler: Not because he's particularly concerned with human life, but because she's the next Demon Knight. Jeryline later says she instinctively knew she was in no danger whatsoever from Brayker.]]
83	* EvilOnlyHasToWinOnce: The entire deal with the keys, as soon as the Demons have all the Keys together, HellOnEarth begins, whereas the Knights will have to keep running and passing the Key down, forever, to ensure that doesn't happen, even killing the Collector is a minor victory at best, within hours a new Collector pops up to continue the chase.
84	* ExoticEquipment: At one point, the Collector's fly opens, a column of flame bursts out, and he cries out, "Woo! Woo! ''Down'', boy!" When it retreats back into its pants (and his fly zips back itself), he sheepishly apologizes. Jeryline is not amused.
85	* ExtremelyShortTimespan: One night. [[spoiler:The final scene of Jeryline boarding the bus is probably the following morning but, even if it is not, the fact she is still in the desert indicates that it cannot be more than a few days later.]]
86	* EyeScream: Possible subversion, in that it's the only thing that can kill the demons.
87	* {{Fanservice}}: Uncle Willy's fantasy involves a bunch of topless women.
88	-->'''Willy:''' ''[wide-eyed]'' Ho-leeeee ''shit''!
89	** The opening sequence is there purely for Peggy Trentini to give a {{Fanservice}} overdose.
90	* FaunsAndSatyrs: The Collector's {{Mooks}} are particularity grotesque looking satyrs with long legs that have cloven hooves. Given their demonic nature, it's evoking of the GruesomeGoat.
91	* FauxAffablyEvil: The Collector is an evil [=SOB=], but boy he is charming and polite to anyone he meets, even as he tries to corrupt them into eternal damnation, murders them horribly, or attempts to trigger the apocalypse.
92	* FinalGirl: [[spoiler:Jeryline, who must take down the Collector.]]
93	%%* TheFinalTemptation
94	* {{Flashback}}: A few interspersed to show the Key's origins, the first guardian (Sirach) protecting it and how Brayker eventually came to possess it.
95	* ForegoneConclusion: InUniverse. The Collector keeps telling Jeryline that Brayker is gonna die. [[spoiler:He's right.]]
96	* {{Foreshadowing}}:
97	** Brayker, on hearing Jeryline was on work release, casually asks what Jeryline was jailed for. He gives a subtle smile when she replies she was a petty thief. [[spoiler:All Demon Knights are former thieves.]]
98	** After getting upstairs, the Collector gets hit with an arrow in the eye and only falls over. This lets the audience know in advance that the "shoot for the eyes" tactic alone won't work on him.
99	** Earlier in the film, Wally (a postman) demonstrates some ImprobableAimingSkills by nailing some approaching demons with headshots and then ''eye shots''. Later on it's discovered that he had a stash of military-grade weapons and explosives he planned to use to [[GoingPostal blow up his old workplace,]] [[JustifiedTrope justifying]] his familiarity with guns.
100	** Jeryline spitting in the Collector's face. [[spoiler:The second time, with Demon Knight blood, has a far more potent effect.]]
101	** Jeryline being tempted by the Collector with her desire to be a world traveler. [[spoiler:She ends up WalkingTheEarth eternally running from demons.]]
102	* FrameStory: Not a story exactly, but as with ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'', we get a wraparound featuring the Cryptkeeper, this time embodying the role of a ham-fisted (or is it just [[LargeHam hammy]]?) Hollywood director.
103	* GoingPostal: We find out Wally ''actually was'' crazy ''and'' reading everyone's mail ''and'' was '''''going to blow up the post office for Cordelia'''''.
104	* {{Gorn}}: As per usual, there’s plenty of blood and violence. Anyone who gets possessed becomes a showcase of gory BodyHorror.
105	* GrandStaircaseEntrance: When [[spoiler:Brayker]] dies and all of the blood barriers vanish, The Collector makes one of these to a swelling score.
106	* GrievousHarmWithABody: The demon possessed Cordelia uses [[BulletproofHumanShield Wally's body to block Brayker's shots]], and then throws the corpse at him.
107	* GrossUpCloseUp: Happens a few times.
108	* AHandfulForAnEye: The Collector seems to have the upper hand against [[spoiler:Jeryline...until she spits a mouthful of blood from the Key into his eyes. Due to the blood being an extremely diluted mixture of Jesus Christ's, it actually has the [[BloodyMurder effect of acid against the demon]]]].
109	* HarbingerOfImpendingDoom: Brayker's arrival brings with him the Collector, and all of the chaos that follows in his wake.
110	* HateSink: Roach, Cordelia's abusive boyfriend and an all-around {{Jerkass}} and DirtyCoward. He leaves his girlfriend to die, mocks everyone around him, serves as a constant obstacle to Brayker's plans, and [[spoiler:gives the Collector the Key he's looking for, knowing he's dooming the world to the apocalypse, just to save his own hide. He didn't even have to be tempted into possession like any of the others. The Collector even tells Roach he was counting on him handing over the Key, and another [[FunnyBackgroundEvent demon mook nods in agreement]]. Luckily, he's RewardedAsATraitorDeserves when the Collector has his demons rip him apart.]]
111	* HereWeGoAgain: [[spoiler:After [[FinalGirl Jeryline]] escapes in the end, we catch a glimpse of another Collector, [[ArchEnemy tailor-made for her]].]]
112	* HeroOfAnotherStory: The Key's previous guardians--two of whom (Sirach and Dickerson) are shown during brief flashbacks.
113	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Irene and Deputy Bob.]]
114	%%* HeroicWillpower
115	* HolyBurnsEvil: Brayker drives the demonic Collector out of the hotel by pressing the holy key against his cheek. Collector screams in pain and performs a SuperWindowJump out of the building.
116	* HumanoidAbomination: The Collector, by way of OurDemonsAreDifferent and a few RealityWarper sprinkles.
117	* HurricaneOfPuns: It's the ''Crypt Keeper''. What did you ''expect''?
118	-->You call that 'hack'-ting?!... Well, let me tell you something, pal--you're no 'Gory' Cooper! You're not even a Robert 'Deadford!' Another take like that, and it'll be back to 'bit parts' for you, and I won't say what bits I'm talking about!
119	* ILied: The Collector says this directly to [[spoiler:Roach]] just before he is RewardedAsATraitorDeserves.
120	* IgnoredExpert: Brayker early on.
121	* ImprobableAimingSkills: Since the only thing that destroys demons (other than the holy blood) is a shot in the eyes, Brayker is insanely good at hitting that relatively small target using just about any weapon he gets his hand on. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that he does have the power of {{God}} on his side, and he is at least a hundred years old, giving him lots of time to work on his marksmanship.
122	** Less so with the postman Wally, who lands a few head-shots on a demon, and when Brayker tells him to aim for the eyes, puts them out with two more perfect shots. [[spoiler: Later on it's revealed that Wally has a huge cache of ''assault weapons'' stashed in his room (though he hadn't gotten around to finding much ammunition yet), implying that he's put in the footwork in learning how to use them.]]
123	* InMediasRes: The movie begins in the middle of a car chase that marks the beginning of the end of a century-long game of cat and mouse between the Collector and Brayker.
124	* InfoDump: Brayker is forced by the hotel residents to explain what's going on. Learning it doesn't make them feel better. Also, when a Demon Knight [[TakeUpMySword receives the Key]], they get forced fed the memories of ''every'' Knight in history.
125	* ItWorksBetterWithBullets: Wally had saved up quite the firearm collection - but had no ammo for it, to Deputy and Irene's dismay.
126	* ItsAllAboutMe: Roach is astoundingly selfish. Even when he learns the entire universe is at stake, he still can only think about saving his own ass.
127	* JackassGenie: The Collector offers to grant wishes to a few characters if they help him, but all he ever really does if they accept is turn them into demons. Of course.
128	* {{Jerkass}}: Roach. While trying to escape the hotel during the demonic attack with Cordelia, he gets spotted by a demon and pushes Cordelia into the coming demon's path while he runs back inside. Not long after, he shows himself to be [[DomesticAbuse abusive towards Cordelia]] and overall rude to others. And he [[spoiler:later steals the Key from Brayker and makes a deal with the Collector for safe passage, only to be RewardedAsATraitorDeserves.]]
129	** Roach is indirectly responsible for [[spoiler: Cordelia's possession and death, as his taking her to her room so he can threaten her leaves her isolated and vulnerable to the Collector's attempt to seduce her. He also fires at his demon-possessed boss and destroys the blood-barrier at the mine entry, granting demons access to the inside of the hotel and leaving the survivors trapped on the second floor with only fading hope of lasting til morning. And then there's his attempts to trade the key for his life as mentioned several times on this page. In short, ''Roach is just as much an antagonist of this story as the Collector is'']].
130	* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:Roach]] again.
131	* ALadyOnEachArm: The Crypt Keeper segment that ends the film has the Keeper attending a red carpet Hollywood premiere accompanied by a pair of starlets.
132	* LargeHam: Creator/BillyZane as The Collector, having a grand old time.
133	** And of course, this being a ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'' production, we get a wraparound featuring the Crypt Keeper, an animatronic entity that somehow manages to be the largest ham in the history of television.
134	* LegacyCharacter: One Demon Knight, one Collector. [[spoiler:The first Demon Knight, Sirak, and Jeryline are both thieves, so it ''could'' be all Knights are thieves of one sort or another.]]
135	* LifeOrLimbDecision: The Collector offers [[spoiler:Irene]] her severed arm in exchange for her soul. On a platter. [[spoiler:Irene]] [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu flips him off where her arm is missing]].
136	--> '''Collector:'''' Is that a yes?\
137	'''[[spoiler:Irene]]:''' No, that's me [[FlippingTheBird giving you the finger]], asshole.
138	* LosingYourHead: Brayker is being strangled by Uncle Willy. but manages to [[OffWithHisHead decapitate him]] with a machete. However, because Willy is possessed, and demons can only be destroyed by the Key or by having their eyes destroyed, Willy's body continues to strangle him while the head controls it from the floor.
139	* LoveableRogue: Jeryline used to be a thief. [[spoiler:Which makes her a superb candidate as a Demon Knight.]]
140	* MacheteMayhem: Brayker uses a machete (grabbed off Willy's wall) to [[OffWithHisHead decapitate the possessed Uncle Willy]]. Beacuse this does not destroy his eyes, [[LosingYourHead the head and body keep functioning even they are no longer connected]].
141	* MadeOfPlasticine: Special mention goes to Sheriff Tupper, who dies when the Collector punches a hole through his head.
142	* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: The Collector, of course. After getting stabbed in the eye, he is more concerned about the broken Ray-Bans. "I liked them, too. Damn."
143	* ManipulativeBastard: The Collector; who screws with the heads of every character through normal or supernatural means.
144	* MeaningfulName: The town of Wormwood is a reference to the Book of Revelations concerning the end of the world: "The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood."
145	* TheMillstone: Roach, who spends his time insulting Brayker and trying to oust him out of his position as leader, criticizing everything he does while never offering an alternative aside from giving the demons the key, which absolutely no one else is willing to do, and screwing things up with his cowardice and assholery. [[spoiler:Immediately after learning that if the key falls into the Collector's hands, the entire universe will be destroyed, Roach steals it from Brayker and hands it to the Collector to save his own ass]]
146	* MindRape: The Collector's weapon of choice.
147	* MonsterProgenitor: The Collector can produce low-level demons by spilling his blood on the ground.
148	* MoodWhiplash: The film alternates between comedy and horror.
149	* MrSmith: Brayker checks into the hotel under the name of 'Mister Smith'. He pays Irene enough in cash that she doesn't care.
150	* NaziZombies: Kinda. Brayker kills a demonic German soldier in one of his flashbacks, and although the scene is set in UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, the choice to put the later stahlhelm on the German instead of the pickelhaube is invoking some Nazi-like imagery, as the stahlhelm is more associated with ThoseWackyNazis than the [[UsefulNotes/ImperialGermany Imperial Germans]].
151	* NearVillainVictory: The Collector comes dangerously close to winning before any bloodshed takes place when he convinces Sheriff Tupper that Brayker is a thief that stole the key from him. He would have won then and there had it not come up at the last second that the Collector was driving a stolen car, causing Tupper to doubt his story.
152	* NeverendingTerror: TheLegionsOfHell are chasing after an [[TheAgeless ageless]] ChosenOne who carries a holy flask containing the blood of UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} and previous Chosen Ones. The Chosen One must stay on the run from them, constantly moving and never slowing down too much for an instant or else, they get the flask and unleash HellOnEarth. [[spoiler:Also, the Chosen One bears a mark on his/her arm counting down how much time is left until they must make their LastStand, at which point they must face an onslaught of DemonicInvaders and then pass on the flask to the SoleSurvivor, who is the next Chosen One.]]
153	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Roach nearly brings about TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt simply because he can't resist taking a parting shot at his asshole boss.
154	-->Homer? This is for five years of minimum wage, you asshole!
155	* NoodleImplements: prostitute Cordelia is asking Jeryline where her clean sheets are, and then offhandedly comments on how hard is to get guacamole stains out.
156	* NothingIsScarier: After the Collector [[spoiler: attempts to seduce Jeryline, she quietly walks back out into the main hall and is eerily silent for a while, leaving the viewer to wonder if she's been possessed herself or not]].
157	* {{Novelization}}: By Randall Boyll.
158	* MsFanservice: Peggy Trentini in the opening framing segment.
159	** Cordelia, HookerWithAHeartOfGold.
160	** The two ladies with our horror host in the closing framing segment.
161	** The temptation the Collector offers to Uncle Willy is a bar of topless women offering him beer and making sexual innuendos about "enjoying a long, hard one." And for the kicker, some of them were played by porn stars.
162	* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: [[invoked]] In-universe, the Collector gives up the cowboy disguise, followed by a ClusterFBomb.
163	* OffWithHisHead:
164	** The Collector rips Tupper's head off after killing him and throws it in Deputy Bob's hands. After yelling "[[{{Pun}} Heads-up!]]" of course.
165	** Brayker uses a machete to decapitate the possessed Uncle willy. Because this does not destroy his eyes, [[LosingYourHead the head and body keep functioning even they are no longer connected]].
166	** In the ending the Crypt Keeper gleefully allows himself to get guillotined by the vindictive producers.
167	--->'''Crypt Keeper''': Well, whaddya know! I asked for ''[[{{Pun}} final cut]]''... and I got it!!
168	* OhCrap: Brayker gives an "Oh, ''shit''!" when he realizes The Collector is going to summon an army of demons.
169	* OhCrapFakeout: When The Collector is stabbed in the eyes (which kills demons), he screams in horror, then chuckles sadly at his broken sunglasses, "Damn, and I liked those, too."
170	* OneWingedAngel: We do briefly to get to see The Collector's true form [[spoiler:just before he dies]]: a gigantic, skeletal being with a ram's head and enormous wings. [[spoiler:[[MadeOfExplodium He blows up real good]].]]
171	* OnlyAFleshWound: [[spoiler:Irene]] has her arm ripped off early in the film, but [[spoiler:she]] neither bleeds to death nor goes into shock despite never getting the serious medical treatment that surviving such an injury would require.
172	* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: It's not even clear if demons actually have names, so it's just "The Collector" to you.
173	* OurDemonsAreDifferent: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by The Collector, who ponders just ''who'' makes all these rules.
174	%%* PeekABooCorpse
175	* PineappleSurprise: Done deliberately when [[spoiler:Irene and Deputy Bob]] pull the pins on Wally's suicide belt of grenades while [[spoiler:Irene]] is wearing it in a TakingYouWithMe moment as they blow up the demons to stop them reaching the attic.
176	* ThePowerOfBlood: The Key was filled with the blood of Jesus Christ (and later guardians of the Key) to prevent the demons from using it. The blood can create barriers and [[BloodyMurder hurt demons]].
177	* PrimaDonnaDirector: Apparently, give the Crypt Keeper control of a movie and he turns into one.
178	-->'''Crypt Keeper:''' I ''give'', and I ''give'', and I ''give''...
179	* PrimordialChaos: The forces of evil the Collector works for want to revert the universe to that state by taking back the final key the Demon Knights protect.
180	* ProperlyParanoid: [[spoiler: In the epilogue, Jeryline gets on a bus, then uses a drop of blood to seal the door. Moments later, the bus stops to pick up another passenger carrying a case identical to the Collector's, who considers the bus for a moment before deciding he'll take the next one.]]
181	* ProsceniumReveal: The opening scene of the movie turns out to be the set of a ''Tales from the Crypt'' episode, directed by the Crypt Keeper himself.
182	* PushedAtTheMonster: Roach forces Cordelia to join him in a run for his truck when the demons surround the hotel. When one ambushes them, he INSTANTLY shoves her towards it and runs back inside to save his own skin. Luckily Wally and Brayker manage to get her back into the hotel.
183	* RealityWarper: The Collector, who dumps Uncle Willy into a lewd and extravagant party beyond his wildest dreams, and apparently warps a comic book to mirror the events happening in the film, though it's never made clear how much of it is simply him [[MindRape getting into his victims' heads]], as the first is a hallucination.
184	* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Being the guardian of the Key means you don't age. Brayker is at least a hundred years old. Since the movie doesn't date itself, the fact that Brayker became immortal during UsefulNotes/WorldWarI just makes him older and older as the film ages.
185	* SassyBlackWoman: Jeryline. Irene gets her moments, too.
186	* ScaryBlackMan: [[spoiler:The Other Collector.]]
187	* SeenItAll:
188	--> '''[[spoiler:Roach]]''': You know this HellOnEarth business? Big fucking deal! I've got hemorrhoids.
189	* ShoutOut: To ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'', of course.
190	** The [[https://c7.alamy.com/comp/GHPC48/demon-knight-ritter-der-dmonen-der-collector-billy-zane-befehligt-GHPC48.jpg demonic monsters]] summoned by the Collector look quite similar to Film/{{Pumpkinhead}}.
191	** The Collector does a Creator/HunterSThompson impression when he poses as a mixologist in Uncle Willy's fantasy.
192	** In the same scene, the Collector references ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'' by saying "Here's looking at you, Uncle Willy!"
193	** The way [[spoiler:Irene and Deputy Bob]] [[HeroicSacrifice go out]] is similar to Vasquez and Gorman's deaths in ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' (using grenades, a [[FacingTheBulletsOneLiner snappy one-liner]] and holding hands in their last moments to take out pursuing enemies).
194	--->'''Irene:''' [[PreMortemOneLiner Suppertime!]]
195	* SexSignalsDeath: The prostitute Cordelia, despite being a sweet girl, is unfortunately the first of the residents to be possessed and killed shortly after. Her asshole boyfriend Roach, whom she has sex with earlier in the movie, follows later on.
196	* SmolderingShoes: Jeryline kicks [[spoiler:the possessed Danny]] through a window that has been sealed with the holy blood. Passing through the barrier causes him to explode, and all that hits the ground is one smouldering tennis shoe.
197	* SpitefulSpit: When the Collector attempts to tempt Jeryline into letting him into the hotel, her response is to spit in his face.
198	* StakingTheLovedOne: Jeryline has to do this to the possessed [[spoiler:Uncle Willy]] and [[spoiler:Danny]]. She fails to go through with it the first time, but succeeds the second.
199	* TheStinger: At the end of the closing credits, the Crypt Keeper appears to ask the audience why they're still there and to tell them to look out for his next movie. (He refers to ''Dead Easy'', which production [[WhatCouldHaveBeen ultimately never moved forward with]].)
200	* SuperWindowJump: After being [[HolyBurnsEvil burnt by the holy key]], the Collector shrieks in pain and jumps out of the hotel through a closed window.
201	* TakeUpMySword: [[spoiler:Brayker tells Jeryline after he's passed on the key to her, that she'll have to do the same thing someday.]]
202	-->'''Brayker:''' When the stars align, you'll know what to do.
203	* TakingYouWithMe: "SUPPERTIME!"
204	* [[TallDarkAndSnarky Tall, Bald And Snarky]]: The Collector, as evidenced throughout this page.
205	* ThematicSeries: Along with ''Film/BordelloOfBlood'', making up the ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'' film franchise even though the two stories have no narrative connection, and just feature William Sadler and the Key.
206	* TitleDrop: Easy to miss, but the Collector actually does use the term "Demon Knight" to refer to the guardian of the Key, when he brags no one had ever taken a Demon Knight alive before.
207	* TokenEvilTeammate: The Collector openly admits he was counting on [[spoiler:Roach]] to betray the Universe.
208	* TooDumbToLive: Way too many of the residents during the movie, but especially Roach.
209	* TooKinkyToTorture: The Crypt Keeper, as always. When having his head cut off, he laughs, "Well, whaddaya know--I asked for final cut--and I got it!"
210	* TookALevelInBadass: Of all characters, Deputy Bob, who when we first meet him, was a typical [[BadCopIncompetentCop Bumbling Cop]], but by the end, [[spoiler:he's ordering the others and ''Brayker'' to go without him as he wards off the approaching demons before he and Irene give their lives to take them out]].
211	* TransformationOfThePossessed: What happens to those who get possessed.
212	* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: In one of his flashbacks, before receiving the key and learning about the demons, Brayker seems pretty unperturbed that he and Dickerson were set up by German soldiers with glowing eyes and clawed fingers, and that green light shoots out of their eyes when they die. He just talks about them having "lured us into an ambush" as though they were ordinary human enemy soldiers.
213	** To be fair, Brayker specifically mentions later on that [[spoiler: whenever the Demon Knight has to make their last stand, it requires an exact number of people to be present, being that it's only Dickerson and himself in the flashback, they probably spend all night fighting Demons, meaning he had time to come to terms with it, and everyone else was dead.]]
214	* WeCanRuleTogether: The Collector makes the offer to [[spoiler:Jeryline]]. [[spoiler:Her]] [[AHandfulForAnEye response]] is really something to behold.
215	* WhamLine: "No. S'ok. I'll wait for the next one." ''(cue DeathGlare)''
216	* WhoWritesThisCrap: At one point, The Collector asks who makes up all the rules for the demons.
217	* UsefulNotes/WorldWarI: One of Brayker's flashbacks takes place during this conflict.
218	* WouldHitAGirl: The [[HateSink loathsome]] Roach slaps his girlfriend Cordelia round.
219	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: When Brayker [[spoiler:is performing his TakeUpMySword moment]], he reassures a dubious Jeryline.
220	-->'''Jeryline:''' Look, Brayker, I can't ''do'' this! I'm not the right type of person for this ''shit''!\
221	'''Brayker:''' The demon tried to seduce you, right?\
222	'''Jeryline:''' ''[nods]'' He tried.\
223	'''Brayker:''' You're the ''exactly'' the right type of person.
224	* YouCantFightFate: [[spoiler:Discussed by Brayker--especially when it comes to the TakeUpMySword.]]
225	* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: "I lied." [[spoiler:Said by the Collector to Roach after he hands over the Key he stole from Brayker.]]
226	* YourDaysAreNumbered: All Demon Knights end up with a grisly fate, according to the Collector who is an UnreliableNarrator. However, at some point, all Demon Knights pass on the Key to a new one at an unspecified but predetermined place and time.
227	* YouShallNotPass: [[spoiler:Irene and Deputy Bob]] make a heroic last last stand on the landing; detonating a suicide belt of grenades to prevent the demons from reaching the attic.

Context Film / DemonKnight