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Curse of the Demon

Original title: Night of the Demon
  • 1957
  • Approved
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins in Curse of the Demon (1957)
American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshiper Julian Karswell.
Play trailer2:10
1 Video
99+ Photos
FantasyHorrorMystery

American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshiper Julian Karswell.American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshiper Julian Karswell.American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshiper Julian Karswell.

  • Director
    • Jacques Tourneur
  • Writers
    • Charles Bennett
    • Hal E. Chester
    • M.R. James
  • Stars
    • Dana Andrews
    • Peggy Cummins
    • Niall MacGinnis
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jacques Tourneur
    • Writers
      • Charles Bennett
      • Hal E. Chester
      • M.R. James
    • Stars
      • Dana Andrews
      • Peggy Cummins
      • Niall MacGinnis
    • 259User reviews
    • 113Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:10
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos121

    Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins in Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins in Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Dana Andrews and Niall MacGinnis in Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Dana Andrews and Maurice Denham in Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Dana Andrews in Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Niall MacGinnis in Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Dana Andrews in Curse of the Demon (1957)
    Dana Andrews in Curse of the Demon (1957)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dana Andrews
    Dana Andrews
    • John Holden
    Peggy Cummins
    Peggy Cummins
    • Joanna Harrington
    Niall MacGinnis
    Niall MacGinnis
    • Doctor Julian Karswell
    Maurice Denham
    Maurice Denham
    • Professor Henry Harrington
    Athene Seyler
    Athene Seyler
    • Mrs. Karswell
    Liam Redmond
    Liam Redmond
    • Mark O'Brien
    Reginald Beckwith
    Reginald Beckwith
    • Mr. Meek
    Ewan Roberts
    Ewan Roberts
    • Lloyd Williamson
    Peter Elliott
    • Kumar
    Rosamund Greenwood
    • Maggie Meek
    Brian Wilde
    Brian Wilde
    • Rand Hobart
    Richard Leech
    Richard Leech
    • Inspector Mottram
    Lloyd Lamble
    Lloyd Lamble
    • Detective Simmons
    Peter Hobbes
    • Superintendent
    Charles Lloyd Pack
    • Chemist
    • (as Charles Lloyd-Pack)
    John Salew
    • Librarian
    Janet Barrow
    • Mrs. Hobart (deleted from US print)
    Percy Herbert
    Percy Herbert
    • Farmer (deleted from US print)
    • Director
      • Jacques Tourneur
    • Writers
      • Charles Bennett
      • Hal E. Chester
      • M.R. James
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jacques 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.]
    • Goofs
      At the beginning, when the doomed Professor Harrington is driving to Dr. Karswell's place, the steering wheel is on the left, and the POV is from the shotgun 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).
    • Quotes

      Professor Henry Harrington: It's in the trees! It's coming!

    • Alternate versions
      This 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."
    • Connections
      Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: Curse of the Demon (1970)
    • Soundtracks
      Plain Song
      (uncredited)

      Music by Fela Sowande

      Chappell Recorded Music Library

    User reviews259

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    A horror-night to remember!
    "Night of the Demon" is, hands down, one of the most superb horror/occult thriller films ever made, and that's particularly remarkable because the original concept got pampered with a lot of additional ideas and effects the director didn't agree on. Jacques Tourneur ("Cat People", "the Leopard Man") initially wanted to put the emphasis purely on the psychological aspects, but the money-suppliers didn't like this and insisted on bringing an actual demonic monster into the movie. It would be enormously interesting to see the non-existing version like Tourneur imagined it, as then you'd constantly be wondering whether the occurring events are real…or all just going on inside the characters' heads. This creative and innovating (for 1957, at least) impact is naturally ruined by explicitly showing the hideous demon early in the film, so it's extra praiseworthy that the whole finished product is still extremely suspenseful. The plot revolves on a headstrong and overly rational scientist who travels from the States to England, exclusively to prove that the supposed blackly magical powers of a certain Dr. Julian Karswell are all just a swindle. Even the mysterious circumstances surrounding his overseas partner's death as well as multiple warnings from close friends and colleagues can't convince Dr. John Holden to abort his mission to expose Karswell as a fraud. The latter eagerly accepts this challenge and places a curse on Dr. Holden that gradually becomes eerier and pretty much inescapable… the curse of the demon! This is a marvelously atmospheric and genuinely unsettling horror masterpiece! The dialogues and acting performances of the entire cast are downright impeccable and the script (adapted from a story by M.R. James) is so intense & persuasive that you almost begin to believe in the supernatural yourself! Ever encountered a film that has such an impact on you? "Night of the Demon" is very likely to become the first. Several sequences showing our good Dr. Holden pursued by evil forces are truly haunting, while the stylish black & white photography and the beautiful set pieces only increase this effect. You can honestly trust the high IMDb-rating and the praising reviews on this one; "Night of the Demon" is one of those rare films that every self-respecting horror fan simply HAS TO see for him/herself.
    helpful•48
    6
    • Coventry
    • Oct 3, 2006

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 30, 1958 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Casting the Runes
    • Filming locations
      • Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK(as "Lufford Hall, Warwickshire")
    • Production company
      • Sabre Film Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1(original aspect ratio & theatrical release)

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