Runtime: I saw the 96 minute cut
Directed by: Jacques Tourneur
Starring: Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, Niall MacGinnis, Maurice Denham, Athene Seyler
From: Columbia
Night of the Demon was a swell way to shut the crypt on Spooky Season 2024. I use the movie’s UK title rather than the United States title Curse of the Demon for a specific reason. Those pondering why this hadn’t been reviewed by me in the past: the cut available on streaming and shown on TCM is the shorter cut 82 minutes long that played in America as Curse of the Demon. It’s presumption which told me that tracking down the full version-nevermind how-was the way to go. Like the film I saw the previous night (The Seventh Victim) a ”devil cult” is a key plot point; however, this handled that aspect completely different.
Dana Andrews is a psychologist who is a skeptic when it comes to the supernatural; he flies to the UK to help a colleague debunk the cult and its leader Karswell. However, there is in fact a curse, a demon (sorry to spoil but when the demon is literally on the theatrical posters and is shown less than 10 minutes in…) which looks quite impressive, and Andrews becomes the target. There is plenty of interplay between him and Peggy Cummins-the colleague’s niece-who is a believer in all that hocus pocus. There is a bit of casual 50’s sexism from Dana’s character, although not much more than you see in other pictures of the time.
As a random aside, you Kate Bush fans (there had to be at least a few reading this) will be delighted to know the opening of Hounds of Love-the title song from that album-is sampled from this film. The rest of the song has nothing to do with the events depicted in Night of the Demon. In addition, those puzzled by the reference to Dana Andrews and runes… no, he didn’t have them in this movie! Rather, runic writing is a key plot point in Demon.
The film’s more about the threat of the demon than getting to view it in action. Andrews remains skeptical despite the odd happenings and the pleadings of Cummins. Those magical events are presented in a way where his logical reasoning can remain through much doubt. The film delivers plenty of frights & jolts throughout; naturally, Jacques Tourneur’s direction is solid, despite a variety of squabbles w/ the producers. It’d be devilish to give away much more as I was surprised at times with the plot; my familiarity with Niall MacGinnis is limited but he nailed his role as the villain Julian Karswell. The part was more complex and not quite as stereotypical as it appeared at first glance. By the conclusion, the relationship between him and his mother becomes clearer.
It contained many elements appropriate for a viewing on Halloween night. Hopefully everyone had a nice Spooky Season. For those that have followed me these past two months: not only will a full Spooky list be posted during the weekend, but I’ll return to checking out a wide variety of films, from all decades.
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