I've had this DVD for ages but never got around to watching it until now. Today seemed like the perfect day for it. It's stormy outside and I'm feeling a bit bleah so I curled up in bed with NIGHT OF THE DEMON and a glass of single malt Scotch. I didn't bother to watch the edited CURSE OF THE DEMON. Is there any point in watching this version? The box calls it "the rare, truncated American release" but just because it's rare doesn't mean it's worth watching when you've got the uncut original.

Anyway, I quite enjoyed NIGHT OF THE DEMON. It's just the kind of modern skeptical scientist meets old world magic story that I like. I love all the old Jacques Tourneur/Val Lewton films. Tourneur made NIGHT OF THE DEMON without Lewton who was dead by then, but it feels like something Lewton might have produced, if not quite as atmospheric as CAT PEOPLE. And I can finally say I've seen the film referenced by Kate Bush in "Hounds of Love" and "Science Fiction Double Feature" in THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.

I know the film is based on an old M.R. James story, but it's been riffed on many times in recent years. There was a novel by Christopher Fowler called "Rune" that I read years ago with a similar theme. That one involved a cursed video tape, not unlike THE RING [though I think "Rune" predates the Japanese novel that started the RING franchise]. I'm sure Fowler has read the James story. I've been looking for an etext of it that I can download onto my Palm, but so far, I've only found an HTML version. I might actually have it in a dead tree compilation somewhere.

Here's the original James story, if anyone is interested:

http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~fadey/castrunes2.html

"Casting the Runes" was also adapted to radio (BBC?) as "The Hex" in the early 1980's. They didn't even credit James but it was obviously a lift.

The Curse of the Demon version isn't really worth watching since it just runs 15m shorter and has a couple of scenes in a different order - there's a big article in Video Watchdog (either 93 or 96) comparing the two versions which is a better read than sitting through the short version.

This is a pretty good (UK TV) adaptation: click

Just watch the USA version for the slightly different opening/credit sequence, then you'll never need to see it again. The longer version is one of my top ten!

Some folks may take issue with me here. Although the UK version is better, I think some of the cuts made in the US were warranted. While the US cut lacks a few important scenes (notably the extened version of Holden and Joanna's incidental meeting on the plane and Holden's visit with Hobart's family) it also excised several bits of monologue which do little to advance the plot or enhance character imho.

I do see your point (believe me!), but I kind of feel in this case I want every frame of this film which exists!

I've never compared the two versions closely, but all I know is that when I watched the American version first, I wasn't very impressed. When I later decided to give the British version a try, I was totally blown away. I've never gone back to see what I think of the American version now, or if I could see what the changes were that made the difference for me.

Having never compared the two movies, I like knowing that two of them are available. If for no other reason than seeing how producers, distributors, and exhibitors have a hand in altering a production.

CURSE OF THE DEMON has one my all time character revelations. It’s when Holden (Dana Andrews) arrives at Julian Karswell’s (Nieal McGauinnes) humble abode. At first you see Karswell as a happy go lucky fellow. Dressed as a clown he entertains the kids with magic at a Halloween Party. What a nice guy. And latter his dear old mother is about to fix some homemade ice cream. It’s all for the children so let us give this guy a discount. He sure does love the kids. He even shows Holden a few tricks.

And then they share some time together the library. While Karsell is removing his makeup, his true persona is revealed to be just a plain mean man. The more he removes it the more emotional he gets. When the grease paint is off, Karswell has become visibly upset and begins threatening Holden’s life. He isn’t just mad; he promises “mental disintegration”. When Karswell’s clown make up is removed, you have character development, symbolism (showing his true face), and plot development (foreshadowing and explaining of the story’s mythos). Best thing about it, Holden just shrugs it off. It should be known that Dana Andrews was great at mocking and annoying people with tempers. Now it shows Karswell as a big brat showing a temper tantrum and giving more depth to the children’s party setting. When Holden leaves, Karswell finds comfort with his mother. Yet still being the brat he puts on a condescending attitude to overshadow her good will. Despite it all, one feels a bit sorry for Karswell. He is in his own private hell. The only way he can seemingly escape is to dig his own grave.

It should be noted that in M.R. James’s story “Casting the Ruines”, that Karswell takes more delight in horrifying the children with a “magik lantern”. In this adaptation he hides among the children. Both serve a purpose but the film version a slight improvement in that regard. It does make you wonder if he perhaps had a “magik lantern” show for his Halloween Party. Maybe he did. Maybe it was not much of a diversion.

I'm of the opinion that any publicly-exhibited version of a film should be protected in the face of later revision - done-deal, across the board, no exceptions.

So... yeah - totally agree! ;)

I've read that one too. I think I've got a copy somewhere.

"Rune" is, of course, the Japanese pronounciation of "Ring."


If I don't put a smiley face in, would you believe me?


:)