IMDb RATING
7.4/10
16K
YOUR RATING
American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshipper Julian Karswell.American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshipper Julian Karswell.American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshipper Julian Karswell.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination
Charles Lloyd Pack
- Chemist
- (as Charles Lloyd-Pack)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJacques Tourneur never planned to show the monster but to leave it instead to the audience's imagination. However, the studio insisted that the monster be shown and added it in post-production, allegedly without Tourneur's consent, approval, or involvement. "The scenes where we really see the demon were shot without me. All except one: I shot the sequence in the woods where Andrews is pursued by this sort of cloud." [Tourneur himself in Midi-Minuit Fantastique 5.65]. He also said, "It should have been unveiled bit by bit without it ever really being shown." [in Cinefantsatique; '73]
- GoofsAt the beginning, when Professor Harrington is driving to Dr. Karswell's residence, the steering wheel is on the left, and the POV is from the passenger seat, looking at the right side of his face. On his way back to his home, it's a mirror image of the original (flipped shot).
Actually, the car is narrow, and it is an optical illusion that the steering wheel on the left. It is a right-hand drive vehicle as can be seen when he looks out the window at the Lufford Hall sign at the gate, as well as when he exits the car at the house.
- Quotes
Professor Henry Harrington: It's in the trees! It's coming!
- Alternate versionsThis film exists in three English language versions: (1) The original British release under the title "Night of the Demon", (2) Columbia's edited version for release in the U.S. under the title "Curse of the Demon", and (3) over 20 years later, Columbia replaced their edited U.S. version with the original British version but with the title also changed to "Curse of the Demon". Columbia's DVD release contains both the edited and restored U.S. versions. Although the cover remains the same, Columbia's more recent copies of the their DVD release removes the U.S. version with the restored footage with a print of the original British release with the title "Night of the Demon".
- ConnectionsFeatured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: Curse of the Demon (1970)
Featured review
This piece has stuck with me since I saw it as a child in about 1960. Our family enjoyed horror films, and we always thought that this one was memorable. Seeing it again recently, I haven't changed my mind. Given the effects available at the time and the creepiness factor, I've always though this was one of the better of the older horror movies around.
It is quaint, British, and builds slowly after the initial shock. Some comments say it was boring, shouldn't have shown the creature, Dana Andrews was drunk and sucked, etc. It isn't perfect, but like "The Haunting" and a few others made around that time, it succeeds well in creating an unsettling and generally engaging mood, including some humor, on a very small budget. I still think that the creature F/X was excellent for its time. I can imagine the film without seeing the creature, and maybe that would have been even more effective, again like "The Haunting".
I give it "A-" for effort and execution, and for avid horror buffs, it's definitely worth a watch or two. I've tested this one out with some younger folks, and they seem to really like it. Even a jaded younger horror fan used to blatant gore and in your face monsters said, "That creeped me out." FYI, the "Night" vs. "Curse" versions are different by several minutes of extra footage, which I recall was the séance scene and some connective dialog.
It is quaint, British, and builds slowly after the initial shock. Some comments say it was boring, shouldn't have shown the creature, Dana Andrews was drunk and sucked, etc. It isn't perfect, but like "The Haunting" and a few others made around that time, it succeeds well in creating an unsettling and generally engaging mood, including some humor, on a very small budget. I still think that the creature F/X was excellent for its time. I can imagine the film without seeing the creature, and maybe that would have been even more effective, again like "The Haunting".
I give it "A-" for effort and execution, and for avid horror buffs, it's definitely worth a watch or two. I've tested this one out with some younger folks, and they seem to really like it. Even a jaded younger horror fan used to blatant gore and in your face monsters said, "That creeped me out." FYI, the "Night" vs. "Curse" versions are different by several minutes of extra footage, which I recall was the séance scene and some connective dialog.
- How long is Curse of the Demon?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Night of the Demon
- Filming locations
- Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK(as "Lufford Hall, Warwickshire")
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 36 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1(original aspect ratio & theatrical release)
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