Rating: 
Summary: Good adaptation of M.R. James story.
Review: Jacques Tourneur was a master of subtle horror, achieving his effects with shadows and implication. The studio supposedly forced him to include the explicit demon in this movie--otherwise this might have been a 5 star. The evil magician is supposed to have been based on Alastair Crowley.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic film has wit, style and intelligent direction/script
Review: Lost amid Hammer films' color horror films and black & white grade Z monster movies, Night of the Demon was a rare bird; it's intelligent script, sharp direction and strong acting make it one of those underappreciated classics of horror cinema. This supernatural thriller is among director Jacques Tournier's best films. Once again Tournier demonstrates that it's what we don't see that can be truly terrifying. Yes, the monster ultimately looks a bit chessy by today's standards (it doesn't help that the image of the monster was added at the insistence of the film's producers over Tournier's objections). It's clearly a puppet but the film's powerful and sharp script overcomes many of the weaker elements of the film. Dana Andrews is a stoic hero and does a decent job but, it's the marvelous performance of Niall McGinnis that really sparkles. He's got an imp's quality and clearly relishes every bit of screen time he's given. Even though he's the villian, he's the most memorable performer. The transfer is sharp and looks great. It's the first time to my knowledge that Night of the Demon has been presented in its correct aspect ratio. A pity that they couldn't locate the trailers for both versions of the film as it would have been preferrable to the trailers included (for such forgettable films as The Bride). An audio commentary from a film scholar or Tourner expert would have helped the film or, perhaps, any stories from any surviving film crew member or performer (although that's unlikely as the film was made over 40 years ago I'm sure they could have located someone). Also, an audio or video essay on this fine film documenting it's history (or, perhaps, even a copy of the original story/screenplay) would also have been nice. Still, it's nice that Columbia did such a nice transfer (particularly when compared to the bare bones DVD's of Horror of Dracula and Curse of Frankenstein that Warner has released within the last year). I also like the fact that the British version and US version is included. I grew up watching the US version was impressed with this classic film when it would show up on late night Creature Features programs.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe the best horror film you've never seen, a true classic
Review: There is really only one thing significantly wrong with the 1957 horror classic "Curse of the Demon" is that the producer insisted the "demon" had to make its appearance at the beginning and ending of the film. The better move would have been to leave the appearance of the monster up to the audience's imagination as director Jacques Tourneur intended, but you know producers. Still, "Curse of the Demon" (originally released in England as "Night of the Demon") is a great horror film. The film is based on "Casting the Runes" by M. R. James, with a literate screenplay by Charles Bennett and Hal E. Chester. The story deals with a curse cast by an evil magician, supposedly based on the self-proclaimed English sorcerer Aleister Crowley. The tone for the film is amply established in the opening sequence where a terrified Professor Harrington (Maurice Dehnam) comes to the home of Dr. Julian Karswell (Niall MacGinnis). Harrington the scientist had led an expose of Karswell's devil cult and made the mistake of telling the sorcerer "Do your worst." Now he wants Karswell to call off the demon, but, of course, it is way too late for that now. The protagonist in this story is Dr. John Holden (Dana Andrews), a noted American psychologist who comes to England to help with the investigation of the cult. Holden does not believe in the occult, but then Karswell slips him a parchment marked with runes and learns the rules of our little game: whoever holds the parchment will die on an appointed day UNLESS they can pass it on to a WILLING recipient. Sounds like big time fun, right? Holden tries to hold on to his skepticism, but in due course he becomes a true believer. Allied with Joanna Harrington (Peggy Cummins), daughter of the late professor and Holden's obvious romantic interest in the film, the pair try to turn the tables on Karswell. The star of this film is Karswell as portrayed by Niall MacGinnis, who manages to give nice shadings to his villain. When Holden first meets the man trying to kill him at Lufford Hall, Karswell is dressed up as Dr. Bobo the Magnificent entertaining the local orphans. He even gives Holden a chance to recant his disbelief and when the psychologist becomes even more insulting Karswell summons a cyclone to take the American down a peg. One of the best sequences involves Holden breaking into Lufford Hall only to be attacked by the wizard's demon familiar. Andrews manages the passage from disbelief to understanding and horror adequately, but Karswell steals every scene. Even with the cheesy monster, "Curse of the Demon" is a classic horror film featuring a first rate script, solid performances, and artful direction. This may well be the proverbial best horror film you never heard of.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Good, Creepy B Movie. Niall MacGinnis Is Great.
Review: Night of the Demon is a first-rate B movie that some consider a classic, or at least a cult film. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but it is consistently interesting. I wouldn't call it a horror movie exactly, but it works up a good head of steam in the eery department.
Dr. John Holden (Dana Andrews) arrives in England to help debunk a cult leader, Dr. Julian Karswell (Niall MacGinnis), who says the devil can be raised through the ancient spells and incantations he has discovered...and this evil can be directed toward individuals. Karswell and his mother live very well from the donations given to him by his cult followers, who live in fear. Holden is absolutely sure Karswell is a charlatan, and when a colleague is found dead and mutilated, he is even more determined to expose Karswell.
What makes the movie work for me is three elements:
First, Tourneur's direction. He was a hugely experienced director who took on many assignments, some of them, in my view, second rate. He also was capable of outstanding work. He was the director of Out of the Past and Cat People. Here he keeps things moving tightly; there are no slow spots. And he builds up a sense of unease and dread. He does this partly though atmosphere and camera work, but also through set pieces that stay with you. There's a seance scene which is slightly funny and very weird. In one scene (cut, I believe from the American version) Holden visits an isolated, ramshackle farm house to get written permission from the mother of a catatonic cult member to use hypnosis on him. The scene isn't long, but it builds suspense when it turns out the aged mother has many sons and they all join her while Holden tries to explain what he wants. It seems they are all members of the cult. The climax in a train and in the train yard at night is all shadows and light. And the thing in the forest, while small potatoes in this age of Computer Generated Overkill, is still worth watching.
Second, the script. This is not a corny movie. The usual cliches are gone. In the scenes where Holden and Karswell verbally duel -- there are four or five -- the dialogue is good.
Third, the performance of Nial MacGinnis as Dr. Julian Karswell. MacGinnis gives the role a hefty dose of charm and irony, but also is convincing as a man who believes in what he has discovered and how it can be unleashed. Or is he really just a shrewd charlatan after all? MacGinnis gives the role enough shading that, now and then, I wasn't sure. One scene has Holden going to meet Karswell at Karswell's country home, where he and his mother are giving a party for the village children. Karswell is dressed as a clown with full clown makeup, but their discussion is serious and a bit tense. MacGinnis plays the part absolutely straight, and his seriousness combined with his clown makeup make for a very odd and effective sequence.
The DVD looks first rate and the disc includes the cut version (by about 14 minutes) of the movie retitled and shown in the U.S. as Curse of the Demon. I didn't bother to watch this one.
Rating:
Summary: I am so glad others have found this film!
Review: This is one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen. It is truly in a class by itself. As others have pointed out, the only drawback is actually showing the cheesy monster, briefly. And the strong-minded scoffing American (Dana Andrews) is a bit of a cliche. But don't let that put you off. For those who prefer the days when film-makers used atmosphere and suggestion to scare, and for those curious about what that can look like in a movie, try this classic horror film, in glorious black and white!
Rating:
Summary: An Unsurpassed, Unforgettable Supernatural Thriller
Review: I can't think of enough superlatives to describe this film. If you love intelligent acting, plotting, scripting and if you love the supernatural literary genre but are disappointed with almost all horror films, this is probably your film. If writers like T.E.D. Klein, Robert Aickman, and L.P. Hartley are your cup of tea, you are almost certain to love this film.
Niall MacGinnis playing Karswell is perfectly cast. His performance was so good that I find it a great pity he didn't act in more films. One in which he did play the lead role was the late 1940's film "Martin Luther", and he did an outstanding job there, as well.
The rest of the cast are all terrific in their roles, also. Dana Andrews, for example, plays the rationalistic scientist flawlessly, as far as I'm concerned.
This is a very rare film, in that I've seen it at least five times, and probably more like seven times, and still love it as much as ever. Part of the reason for this is that Tourneur does not at all insult your intelligence, events move quickly, and in each scene there's a lot going on on the surface and just below it. (I must add that generally even films that I enjoy a great deal usually lose, for me, much of their appeal the second time I see them.)
This film mixes wonderfully all sorts of things, including humor, with a supernatural tale, that will leave the refined connoisseur of the genre absolutely spellbound.
Of the hundreds of films of suspense that I've seen, this is by far my favorite.
Rating:
Summary: Best Supernatural Thriller ever filmed
Review: This is my favorite supernatural thriller of the 20th century (and 21st century so far.) The artistic way it pulls you through a tale of occult danger quite easily meet the requirement of suspended disbelief. The settings and locations really add to the atmosphere. The basis for terror is psychological unlike today's gore fests. Moments, instead of shocks are the tools used. If Horror were taken more seriously it would rank up at the top of classic film noir.
Rating:
Summary: If they'd only gotten rid of the big rubber demon!
Review: This is one heck of a stylish, well-paced thriller. The story centers on a character loosely based on Aliester Crowley, a well-known thaumaturgist and devil-cult guru. To rebuff investigations into his legitimacy, he unleashes an ancient demonic curse as proof of his arcane powers.
One is immediately struck by the startlingly effective cinematography--the pristine black and white textures, the gloom-filled night scenes, the sumptuous tones. The acting is remarkably natural for a piece from the 1950's, and the story is taught, well-crafted, and thoroughly engaging.
I'm told that the studio insisted on having a "real" demon for the audience to see. What a shame. Without the rubbery, stiff-fingered demon, this film would have easily earned five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Great chills for a fifties film!
Review: I remember with great relish the chills this movie created in my as a child. I watched it on Sleepwalkers Matinee in Oklahoma City hosted by Count Gregore in the early 70's.
It creates excellent mood and setting and the creature is enhanced by the use of atmosphere. The viewer makes it much more real than the special effects of the time were capable of.
Wonderful and well worth the time if you appreciate old movies.
Rating:
Summary: The best film of its type for the period
Review: This film was released in 1957 as the B movie of a double feature, the A film being Revenge of Frankenstein. As if to show the relative status of the two films, Frankenstein was in color, whereas Curse of the Demon was in b/w. I went with a friend who found Frankenstein scary and Demon silly. My reaction was exactly the opposite. As we walked home after the movie she teased me about having "the parchment." It sent chills through my body then and it still does today.
Of all the horror movies that were cranked out in the fifties, this one was the very best of the lot. It was the cliche then to not show the monster until almost the end of the picture, but in this case we see the demon up close and personal at the very beginning, when it descends on and mangles the electrocuted corpse of Professor Harrington, who committed suicide by grasping a downed power line rather than be killed by the monster. The film makers have been criticized for reversing the cliche in this case, but the device works. Thrice again we hear the noise that always accompanies the monster's appearance. The next time we see nothing but expect Dana Andrews to be swiftly devoured at any moment. The time after that we see the ball of smoke in which it customarily appears. On the last go round the monster disposes of the sorcerer who called it up, leaving his smoking and mangled corpse beside a railroad track. We assume the sorcerer is now in hell, but as Dana Andrews is made to say at the end of the film, "sometimes if is better not to know." Indeed. He must be a pretty compassionate man, considering that it was the sorcerer's intent for him to be in hell instead. But the significance for us viewers is that the film makers are not going to tell us whether Karswell's soul is the demon's toy or not, even though the seance scene earlier in the movie implies that this would be the case. It is for them to know and for us to figure out.
Pretty compelling stuff. Some subtleties that fifties reviewers either did not notice or could not refer to: Peggy Cummins plays Joanna Harrington, niece of the deceased Professor Harrington, who is determined to get to the bottom of her uncle's death. Dr. Holden (Dana Andrews) wants to go to bed with her, but her interest in him is merely to have an ally in her confrontation with the sorcerer Julian Karswell (Niall McGinnis.) One can certainly understand why she would want one. This makes her, more than Holden, the main character of the drama, although that is not apparent to most viewers. The plot would not move forward without her. More than his scientific cynical interest in proving Karswell a crank, Holden's lust for Joanna is what keeps drawing him to her until through the association he discovers that Karswell is for real and intends to kill him with black magic. Karswell, on the other hand, is clearly a homosexual, a wealthy middle aged man who lives with his mother, nary an available female in sight. What the screen writers were doing with this is not clear, unless it is to make sense of the scene in which Karswell kidnaps Joanna at the end of the film. As a homosexual Karswell neither wishes to make love to Joanna nor even to talk to her. Instead he hypnotizes her so he can endure an intolerably boring train ride in silence. This may have been fifties prudery or the screen writers may have been saying something here. The train ride does set the stage for the final confrontation between Karswell and his intended victim (Holden, played by Andrews), and, in turn, between Karswell and the demon, which must kill one of the two men and clearly does not care which it is. Unlike Harrington before him, Karswell lacks the courage to commit suicide by throwing himself in the path of the train, and is alive and conscious when the demon mangles him.
The usual fifties horror cliches are here. There is a seance scene in which the unfortunate Professor Harrington is called forth from hell to say he is still being menaced by the demon. There is a hypnosis scene in which Hobarth relives his encounter with the demon. But these scenes are so well done and contribute so much to the plot development that we do not recognize them as standard horror movie fare for the period. The film makers have managed to freshen them up so that we shudder and do not groan.
The trailer is not on the DVD, so for the benefit of horror fans, here is a recap by someone who saw it in its first theatrical release. The same voice which introduces the movie says: "Do not laugh at supernatural demons from hell, because THEY DO EXIST!" Then a train roars by and the words "Curse of the demon" appear on the screen. Not the best preview ever done. By telling the audience not to laugh, it got twitters from every direction, and it conveyed nothing of the bone freezing, teeth rattling terror the thing produced in 1957 in kids who knew they would have to walk home in the dark after the show was over.
Watch it. And leave the light on when you go to sleep. You might want to hang a cross over your bed. And by all means sleep tight.
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