Night of the Demon (1957)

Director:

Jacques Tourneur

Writers:

M.R. James (story)
Charles Bennett (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

July 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Who will be the next in line to defy the curse?

Plot:

Dr. John Holden ventures to London to attend a paranormal psychology symposium with the intention to expose devil cult leader...

Plot Keywords:

Cult | Curse | Witchcraft | Demon | Deep Focus

Cast

Dana Andrews	...	Dr. John Holden
Peggy Cummins	...	Joanna Harrington
Niall MacGinnis	...	Dr. Julian Karswell
Maurice Denham	...	Professor Henry Harrington
Athene Seyler	...	Mrs. Karswell
Liam Redmond	...	Professor Mark O'Brien
Reginald Beckwith	...	Mr. Meek
Ewan Roberts	...	Lloyd Williamson
Peter Elliott	...	Professor K.T. Kumar
Rosamund Greenwood	...	Mrs. Meek
Brian Wilde	...	Rand Hobart
Richard Leech	...	Inspector Mottrarn
Lloyd Lamble	...	Detective Simmons
Peter Hobbes	...	Superintendent
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	Chemist (as Charles Lloyd-Pack)

Also Known As:

Curse of the Demon (USA) (recut version)
Haunted

Runtime:

95 min | USA:83 min (cut)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:PG | UK:X (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #18459)

Filming Locations:

Associated British Picture Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Sabre Film Production

Trivia:

Jacques Tourneur originally planned to shoot the movie without directly showing the monster, but the studio pressured him to add it for commercial reasons towards the end of filming.

Goofs:

Continuity: Runic Parchment: When Holden first discovers the parchment which Karswell has passed to him, it has 2 rows of runic symbols. Moments later, when the parchment is trapped against the fire guard, it only has one row. Again, there is only one row on the parchment when Holden visits Stonehenge.

Quotes:

Professor Mark O'Brien: Hobart, what is the order of the true believer?
Rand Hobart: Those of us who believe that evil is good and good, evil.
Professor Mark O'Brien: Yes, go on.
Rand Hobart: Who blaspheme and desecrate. In the joy of sin will mankind that is lost, find itself again.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Small Soldiers (1998)

The perfect tonic to quell the craving for a good horror movie

We all have our vices. For some its smoking. Others it's gambling. Some are drawn to the drink. While still other unfortunates find themselves caught in the vile grip of drugs.

With me its hokey horror movies. My passion for such things began in my youth during those weekly popcorn eating sessions glued to the late night creature features. My interest in such things did not wane with the coming of adulthood. Rather, it intensified into a full blown addiction!

Unlike most junkies my addiction is harmless. The only negative side effect being the occasional let down caused by the worst of these cinematic efforts. Regardless, I still need my fix. So once a month or so I invariably find myself scanning the horror film section at the local movie rental store attempting to locate a flick capable of satisfying my need.

One evening when the 'fever' was upon me, I happened upon a film sitting on the bottom shelf of a lonely section of the rental store titled: 'Curse of the Demon'. I looked it over carefully. It seemed to have all the necessary requirements. Lurid title. Made in the 50's during the height of hokey horror and best of all its cover bore the image of a laughable demonic creature. Perfect! Just the tonic needed to quell my current bout of addiction. Greedily, I snatched up my prize and raced to the checkout line membership card in hand.

Back home, armed with a bag of BBQ chips and a coke I popped the movie into the VCR and awaited the coming onrush of cinematic nonsense.

As the credits rolled I noticed the film was based on the classic 19th century story 'casting the Ruins' by M.R. James. I recalled the tale as one read during my college days. It told of a demonologist whose studies had supposedly granted him certain forbidden knowledge and powers. Chief among these abilities is the power to mark his foes for death though the use of a 'caller'; a slip of paper upon which are written certain ancient runic symbols. The 'caller' has the ability to summon a vicious demon who will slay whomever is in possession of the 'caller.

My interest peaked I awaited the films start. 'Curse of the Demon' stayed true to James's basic concept while expanding upon it with quality filler.

The plot details skeptical psychologist Dr. John Holden's attempt to disprove the existence of the occult. The debunkers main target is Julian Karswell the wealthy leader of a so-called devil cult. Not wishing any negative press concerning his groups activities Karswell demands Holden drop his investigation. Holden refuses and Karwell responses by slipping him a 'caller'. Holden scoffs at the implications but soon has second thoughts when strange things begin to occur.

Holden begins to suffer strange bouts of dizziness and blurred vision. He hears unearthly sounds. He feels overcome by an odd sense of mortal dread. During a visit to Karwell's home he is attacked by Karswell's house cat seemingly transformed into a deadly jungle cat. On a nocturnal stroll through a wooded area he is apparently pursued by a monsterous unseen force. Is it the hex? Or is Holden the victim of a clever hoax performed by a master of manipulation?

The film has slow but steady pace, gradually building to a predictable but satisfying conclusion.

As the film ended my expression became one of utter contentment. For cinematically speaking I had enjoyed the best of both worlds. Not only had I satisfied my 'B' movie craving, but at the same time I witness a film that bordered on genius.