Night of the Demon (1957)'s comments

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the3rdman

Funny that the most pathological person in this film is Dr. Holden. At first he just seems like a smug know-it-all chauvinist but his obstinacy begins to seem irrational at some point.
I liked the demon personally. It was sort of cute.

9 years 6 months ago

Siskoid

Is it true that the British version of Curse of the Demon, NIGHT of the Demon, doesn't show the animatronic demon? I don't know how I feel about that. Sure, it's a little silly (though when it goes to town, it's VIOLENT!), but it was part of the charm for me. Though perhaps "charm" isn't what you want from a horror movie. Regardless, if you don't have the demon, I'm sure you're complaining about the plush leopard attack. For 1957, I still think Jacques Tourneur turned in a pretty cool flick, with neat effects (the atmospheric disturbance that heralds the demon's appearance was repeated in Deep Space Nine 35 years later, so I'd say it's cutting edge), strange shots, and a ripping yarn about an unbelieving psychologist coming across what appears to be real, no bunk, supernatural events and having to face off against a warlock who's passing death runes around. Nobody told me this was a Dr. Thirteen movie! There's a way to interpret this movie so that the hero's right, but it's not that ambiguous. Even he's nudged a bit to the believer's side, but only a bit. Psychosomatic or real, the means of murder in this film, and how the hero gets out of it, is my favorite thing about it.

5 years 7 months ago

cfish80

Wonderfully evocative and atmospheric, fueled by the strong power of suggestion. Yes, the shots of the creature (especially at the beginning) hurt the film, but Tourneur plows ahead regardless; he was a fantastic director, with his witty, allusive style. Love his use of light and shadow.

7 years 8 months ago

dombrewer

I've been looking forward to watching this movie for some time having read James's excellent short story- and it was finally shown on TV last night after who knows how long. It's such a shame that studio pressure famously forced the director to show the demon not only because it looks so silly that it defuses some of the tension right from the start, but also because it contradicts the central concept of Holden's scepticism. How much more frightening to not know for certain how the cursed really died? Holden's closing thought that sometimes it's better not knowing applies to the audience better off not seeing. Other than that it's a great little film; I think with a decent director and sensitive screenwriter this film could justifiably and successfully be remade.

13 years 5 months ago

E. T. Blunt

Is occult noir a genre? Because it should be.

3 years 6 months ago

CinemaRaven

i love this movie!!! what a compelling & thrilling horror film!!! some ppl dont like the demon appearing & would like it better without it. i know 2 versions were made, 1 with and 1 without the demon (the usa version & uk version). i always saw it with the demon and i love how its shown.... makes it more creepy! but thats just my opinion.

13 years 1 month ago

rehimmel

FYI, watched on Netflix (disc). They have both versions and I was confused.

Beginning in the 1980s, Columbia Pictures replaced their edited 83-minute U.S. version with the uncut original 95-minute version while retaining the U.S. title "Curse of the Demon." The various video releases, and pay-tv showings, have used this restored version. A DVD release contained both versions.

Oddly, the They Shoot Pictures list shows the shorter run time. Not sure if that is intentional, as they consider the better version.

6 years 5 months ago