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Curse of the Demon

Play trailer Poster for Curse of the Demon Released Feb 28, 1958 1h 22m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
American professor John Holden (Dana Andrews) arrives in London for a conference on parapsychology only to discover that the colleague he was supposed to meet was killed in a freak accident the day before. It turns out that the deceased had been investigating a cult lead by Dr. Julian Karswell (Niall MacGinnis). Though a skeptic, Holden is suspicious of the devil-worshiping Karswell. Following a trail of mysterious manuscripts, Holden enters a world that makes him question his faith in science.
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Curse of the Demon

Critics Reviews

View All (17) Critics Reviews
James Jackson Times (UK) ... 66 years on the demon will still send chills through you. Oct 30, 2023 Full Review Clark Collis Empire Magazine Night Of The Demon packs a powerful punch despite featuring no gore or, demon excepted, much in the way of special effects. Rated: 4/5 Oct 17, 2011 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Intelligent, delicate, and actually frightening. Oct 17, 2011 Full Review Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia It's a beguiling and enveloping tale of the power of the occult and the susceptibility of the human mind to suggestion. Oct 30, 2018 Full Review MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin This essay in the occult is handled with much of the assurance the same director brought to Cat People, and is well above average. Feb 7, 2018 Full Review Film4 Staff Film4 A film that survives even its most unsubtle special effects to earn its place as not only one of the great films of British vintage cinema but also a classic supernatural thriller. Oct 17, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steven M The first time I viewed this film I thought it was terrifying. The second time I watched it I thought that it was interesting. From time to time I would watch it because I’d find some angle of vision that I missed. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/01/24 Full Review Patrick M This was a great movie 68 years ago, and I still enjoy it enough to have bought in on Prime. For such a basic horror movie, with almost no special effects (the corny "monster" strapped to a platform on train tracks, which is why it never leaves the tracks when killing the victim. Clever writers!), the movie maintains a spooky atmosphere and a terrific sense of suspense all the way through to the end. It still has the ability to make me forget that I'm almost 80 and instead feel like I'm 12. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/19/24 Full Review Robson C O professor John Holden viaja para Londres para participar de uma conferência sobre parapsicologia. Lá ele descobre que um dos seus colegas morreu em circunstâncias estranhas. Ele acaba se encontrando com o Dr, Julian Karswell e sua seita que está sendo investigada pela conferência. Clássico do terror inglês dos anos 50, dirigido por um dos cineastas mais ligados com este gênero na época, Jacques Tourneur. Tirando o demônio que aparece no início do filme, não há grandes efeitos visuais, mesmo porque é nítido que o filme não tinha muito orçamento, mas mesmo assim a figura assusta e produz medo até os dias de hoje. Toda a parte sobrenatural do filme fica apenas na parte da sugestão, representado por um pergaminho que o protagonista recebe do seu oponente, o Dr. Karswell. A direção consegue criar bons momentos de tensão, como a luta de Holden na biblioteca contra uma espécie de felino selvagem. O elenco está muito bem, mas o destaque é de Niall MacGinnis, que constrói o vilão de tal maneira que, ao mesmo tempo que ele é simpático e amigável, também é ameaçador. No fim, o espectador resolve se era tudo apenas sugestão e truques ou o demônio atacou mesmo. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/04/24 Full Review Will G Superlative. One of the best ever. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/23/24 Full Review Blobbo X Scary for Blobbo kids. Memorable for adults, too.. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/06/24 Full Review Logan D A professor journeys to London for a conference to find his colleague has died under mysterious circumstances. It's in the trees! An exceptional horror film that deserves notice along with other classics. The creature effects are outstanding for its time. I loved the investigation into the death and how to prevent future murders. Trivia: Kate Bush's single, Hounds of Love, begin with a clip from the film. "It's in the trees! It's coming!" In the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the song Science Fiction Double Feature mentions the film. "Dana Andrews said prunes gave him the runes And passing them used lots of skills." Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Curse of the Demon

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Movie Info

Synopsis American professor John Holden (Dana Andrews) arrives in London for a conference on parapsychology only to discover that the colleague he was supposed to meet was killed in a freak accident the day before. It turns out that the deceased had been investigating a cult lead by Dr. Julian Karswell (Niall MacGinnis). Though a skeptic, Holden is suspicious of the devil-worshiping Karswell. Following a trail of mysterious manuscripts, Holden enters a world that makes him question his faith in science.
Director
Jacques Tourneur
Producer
Frank Bevis
Screenwriter
M.R. James, Charles Bennett, Hal E. Chester, Charles De Latour
Distributor
Image Entertainment Inc., Columbia Pictures, GoodTimes Home Video [us]
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sabre Film Production
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 28, 1958, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2012
Runtime
1h 22m
Sound Mix
Mono
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