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CURSE OF THE DEMON (1957) (***1/2)

I'm quite a fan of classic horror films because they are often tales of terror that play on the mind more so than making our bodies jerk from being assaulted via "boo" moments and crashes on the soundtrack. My attention was brought to this film when a few years back TOTAL FILM magazine included it on their 50 best horror films of all time list. Because I'm a list junkie, I had to check it out and learning that it was directed by Jacques Tourneur (I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE, CAT PEOPLE) only made it more interesting.

Released in the U.K. in a longer version as NIGHT OF THE DEMON, the story follows American Dr. John Holden (Dana Andrews, LAURA) as he travels to London for a conference on paranormal activity. Upon arriving he learns that his colleague Prof. Henry Harrington (Maurice Denham, THE DAY OF THE JACKAL) has died in a bizarre accident, which we know may have been caused by a giant demon summoned by the mysterious Dr. Julian Karswell (Niall MacGinnis, LUST FOR LIFE). Upon meeting Harrington's niece Joanna (Peggy Cummins), Holden begins to look deeper into what really happened to the professor.

The core conflict is between the scientific skeptical views of Holden and the mystical beliefs of Dr. Karswell. Joanna serves as the bridge between the two views. As Holden gets deeper into his investigation of Karswell, Karswell threatens to put a curse on Holden to scare away criticism. My skeptical side loved how Holden doesn't just fall for the mumbo jumbo witchcraft that is being presented to him. There is always a logical explanation. Naturally, Holden's cynicism only emboldens Karswell more.

Based on M.R. James' CASTING THE RUNES, Tourneur and writers Charles Bennett, Hal E. Chester and uncredited Cy Endfield do a fine job walking the line between the scientific and the supernatural. The question whether the demon is real or not helps drive the narrative. In the end, the film seems to commit to one direction, but slyly winks that it still could be read the opposite way.

I never considered Andrews as A-list actor of the Golden Age, but here he is quite convincing as the skeptical scientist. His reactions at the séance are wonderful. Tourneur brings the same shadowy spookiness that defined his other horror films. Though they haven't aged well, the special effects create a nostalgic, cheesy charm while subsequently helping the cynical reading of the story.

Tourneur's horror films are about ideas and atmosphere. There's more tension in CURSE OF THE DEMON then many of the snuff fests that qualify as horror these days. Visceral shock isn't tough to pull off, but getting into someone's mind is a much trickier game. CURSE OF THE DEMON stays with the viewer because it addresses our own relatable fears. It was just a shadow we think — or was it?

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks