[katdad]

The great Brit classic "Night of the Demon" d. Jaques Tourneau, retitled "Curse of the Demon" in the US TV cut, what a terrific fun movie! And scary without any gore or quick camera jerky stuff.

Niall MacGinnis was wonderful as the demon cult leader. A couple of fine turns he gave, like at the estate party and he's describing the game Snakes & Ladders and said he liked sliding down the snake, when Dana Andrews said "Maybe you're a good loser" and MacGinnis instantly switches from Mr nice guy and says "I'm not, you know" in this very cold manner.

Also during the storm he conjures up, how he just stands there with a calm smile on his face (all the while wearing that goofy clown nose, which makes him all the more sinister) while Dana Andrews is scared witless.

The sceance was also interesting, because it's probably how a "real" sceance might be, sort of silly but with an undertone.

I also liked that the Andrews character isn't really much of a hero and is sort of a jerk, always hitting on the girl.

Notice when Andrews goes to break into the mansion by walking thru the woods, he only takes about 15 seconds and a few steps, but on the way back, as he's pursued by the demon, it seems to take him forever to traverse that little section of forest.

Then there's that wonderfully spooky moment when Dana Andrews takes the parchment he was given, and finds the same runic symbols on Stonehenge.

The music is also excellent, maybe a teeny bit over the top but really gripping.

If you get the DVD, it contains both the shorter US-TV version as "Curse..." and the full length "Night of the Demon" so be sure to watch the latter.

Anyone else find this movie one of the best supernatural thrillers ever?