Curse of the Demon (1958)

100% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(3,702 ratings)

In this film, American Professor Dana Andrews investigates a devil-worshipping cult active in England. The cult has apparently been responsible for more than one death in recent months. When Andrews comes too close to the cult for comfort, the devil-worshipping leader slips a cursed parchment into… More In this film, American Professor Dana Andrews investigates a devil-worshipping cult active in England. The cult has apparently been responsible for more than one death in recent months. When Andrews comes too close to the cult for comfort, the devil-worshipping leader slips a cursed parchment into Andrews' research files. This 1958 American release is a re-edit of Tourneur's original 1957 British film. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Jacques Tourneur
Written By: Mr. James, Charles Bennett, Hal E. Chester
Genres: Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jul 1, 1958 Limited
On DVD: Aug 13, 2002
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Intelligent, delicate, and actually frightening.
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.
, 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.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
As in any Tourneur horror film there are some unforgettably nightmarish sequences.
Ian Berriman, SFX Magazine
Tourneur brings to bear the same mastery of shadow that he demonstrated on under-stated chillers such as Cat People, and Niall McGinnis is simply superb as the sinister, politely-spoken magician.
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter
One of the most intelligent and thoughtful horror films ever made.
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Classic with extraordinary atmosphere.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
It's a movie that many people remember with affection and respect from their childhoods -- because it scared the crap out of them.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
Columbia TriStar's 'double feature' disc holds both versions of the movie. The original U.K. version, Night of the Demon clocks in at 95 minutes. The American re-edited edition, Curse of the Demon is shorter by 13 minutes.
, Time Out
One of the finest thrillers made in England during the '50s.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Eerie, low budget horror classic.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
As a horror film, there may never have been a better one.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Tourneur's tools for elevating the horror are elements like wind and offscreen noises -- and believe it or not, it can still make you jump.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This was a first-rate classic horror story, whose richness is enhanced because the shock scenes are understated and left mostly to one's imagination.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I love all of Tourneur's work.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

I absolutely loved this horror movie. The story is classic, but also modern. The actors are great. And the ending is way cool. If you've seen the new movie, Drag Me to Hell, you'll see many similarities with this movie.
Tim S

An early classic. I loved it.
Stella D

creepy and atmospheric occult thriller with plenty of tourneur's signature style, marred somewhat by campy special effects
Stephen M

Based on an M.R. James story called "Casting of the Runes", in certain respects "Night of the Demon" brilliantly anticipates Richard Matheson's adaptation of Dennis Wheatley's "The Devil Rides Out". The crucial difference between the two movies… More
Based on an M.R. James story called "Casting of the Runes", in certain respects "Night of the Demon" brilliantly anticipates Richard Matheson's adaptation of Dennis Wheatley's "The Devil Rides Out". The crucial difference between the two movies is that, here, Dana Andrews' smugly rational paranormal investigator, sent to discredit a charismatic black magician (Niall MacGinnis), is stubbornly sceptical of the malevolent forces gathering about him, whereas in Terence Fisher's movie, Christopher Lee's occult scholar is only too aware of the dread evil he is battling. Due to the producer's unfortunate insistence that the audience actually got to see the demon, Jacques Tourneur's suggestive horror mastery is completely undermined at the start and close of the picture, and the director's intended ambiguity - as to how much of the terror is real and how much imagined - is all but lost. Even so, "Night of the Demon" is still one of the best British fantasy-horror movies I've seen. Perhaps assisted by the censorship constraints of the day, Tourneur, unlike Fisher a decade later, neatly sidestepped the problem of portraying devil-worship without making it look silly by showing us very little of MacGinnis' cult followers and nothing of their rites. If Dana Andrews is a bit dull as the hero, Niall MacGinnis' perfect blend of charm and menace again prefigures Charles Gray's similar role in "The Devil Rides Out". Collectors of dotty English character performances should find plenty to enjoy, and fans of the sitcom "Porridge" will be amused by Mr Barrowclough's (Brian Wilde's) auto-defenestration. Nice b&w photography and a good score too.
Dr Blood

Based on M.R. James' short story "Casting the Runes", this is an intelligently scripted and superbly atmospheric chiller which achieves several frightening and memorable sequences.
xGary X

I was looking forward to this one as I'd read a lot of great things about it, but unfortunately these high hopes were thoroughly crushed. Dana Andrews plays a scientist out to debunk "witchcraft" when he encounters a sinister cult headed by Niall MacGinnis (not one, but… More
I was looking forward to this one as I'd read a lot of great things about it, but unfortunately these high hopes were thoroughly crushed. Dana Andrews plays a scientist out to debunk "witchcraft" when he encounters a sinister cult headed by Niall MacGinnis (not one, but BOTH being introduced by the old "newspaper headline" exposition trick). Cue Peggy Cummins as the typically sexist B-movie love interest and what follows is a load of absurdly pointed dialogue, even punctuated at various intervals by a thunderclap sound effect. Andrews does little but go round repeating the same Scullyisms to eccentric scientists spouting the usual "scientists have become too arrogant! We must open our minds to mumbo jumbo!" platitudes so favoured by fundamental christians. True, Tourneur does have a nice eye for composition and there are a couple of atmospheric scenes, but the "demon" looks laughable, and despite it's "classic" status, the whole thing was clumsy, absurd and a real disappointment.
Pierluigi P

Jacques Tourneur was a master of suggestion, his flawless and impressive mise-en-scene shines all over, as well as the job done by the whole cast. doesn't matter satan itself looks dated, it still keeps an eerie and menacing atmosphere.
Steve B

Also known as Night of the Demon, this horror noir is based on a short story called Casting the Runes. It's a classic noir, predating Cast a Deadly Spell by something like 40 years, but also a top-notch horror flick. Well worth watching -- if you can find it.
Brandon K

At times it's brilliant visually. To its credit, it actually scared me a bit, too. The weakest part is the actual demon, which thankfully only appears very briefly at the beginning and the end.
Barry L

Absolutely daft...but still a quality shlock horror...