NIGHT OF THE DEMON (1957)
Special effects from older films are often the subject of debate. Is less always more? Did they have the time and money to achieve what was original planned? Should the monster be teased in only brief glimpses, until a third act showdown? The eponymous demon in this case wasn't even supposed to be in the film at all, and the makers had a more mysterious story in mind. However, in the end the creature is shown immediately. It loses any sort of psychological element of course, but I think the results work for the most part. It's usually tough to side with studio interference. This time around I'm going to side with whoever built the glorious rubber monster.
It adds to what is already a moody supernatural thriller full of eerie hallways and shadowy forests. It's a story that oozes this kind of atmosphere throughout. This isn't a fun 1980s shlock-fest, and it's not a film about... (checks notes) Bigfoot? I guess that's a thing too. Anyway I digress, this definitely a film about a demon being summoned. But it's a story which is taken seriously and a film dripping with sinister vibes. Despite the lack of subtlety and the way everything is revealed very early on, it's also a fairly engaging mystery plot. Why is there a demon exactly, and who hopes to control the powers of darkness? Well, it's clearly the local Satanist Dr. Karswell (Niall MacGinnis.)
After arguing with Karswell about a mysterious curse and an evil rune, Professor Harrington (Maurice Denham) has a nightmarish vision and crashes his car into a power line which electrocutes him. But the obvious antagonist and a genuine supernatural threat doesn't result in a lack of intrigue. Why is Karswell so genial about everything, and why is his mother so worried? Why are the local farmers and their children on his side? It's hardly villainous to help with agriculture, or to throw parties and magic shows. In fact one of the most interesting elements is MacGinnis and his relaxed performance. He's never phased by those interfering with his business, even when they break into his house.
The burglar in question is Dr. John Holden (Dana Andrews) who arrives from America to carry on the exposé that got Professor Harrington killed. His daughter Joanna Harrington also turns up to take care of family matters, and soon the pair are involved in a joint investigation. According to the late Professor's diary a lot of strange goings on took place before his death, but Holden is a pure sceptic despite the day of his demise was accurately predicted. He's only interested in proving that Karswell is a fraud, even after the portent of death is now placed on him. He has no patience for ghouls and magic spells, and is only concerned with looking into the murder of another local man.
There are a lot of spooky sequences involving ominous parchments and creeping dread. Even a scene in which Holden checks out a few library books is full of atmosphere. The choices of lighting and some of the sound design hint at something peculiar going on, before the whole runic curse is discovered. The curse involves a simple piece of paper being passed from one person to another. But each moment involving these runes is strangely tense. If anything was a good example of less being more, it's these kind of moments. The most memorable one involves a cat in Karswell's study. It's brief but effective, thanks to clever editing and the use of perfectly placed shadows. When the demon itself materialises it's also impressive as it warps into the human world through a sinister cloud.
Things perhaps get out of hand only once, during a seance that breaks with the tone of the story. Karswell's mother thinks that Holden needs help, but the way she goes about it just makes him more sceptical. It's an odd sequence in which a medium (Reginald Beckwith) conjures up the voices of several spirits, including the late Professor Harrington. His daughter might be convinced, but Holden has no time for it. Perhaps it's the way it seems like a comedy moment in an otherwise straight laced thriller. Perhaps it's just because I associate Beckwith with his roles in certain other films. Still, it at least follows thematically as the faithful and the non-believers continue to clash.
Overall though it's just a great mixture of strange goings on and eccentric characters. Something like what might later be called folk horror, or the kinds of supernatural tale found in The Devil Rides Out. The two leads might be a little too stoic to have any overt screen chemistry, but at least it avoids the usual clichés and pitfalls. To be a movie like this and avoid feeling like a B-picture is quite something, despite the aforementioned rubber monster costume. It might not be entirely convincing but it's an excellent piece of production design. The seance and a scene involving hypnosis do start to push things a little in a sillier direction, but it's never quite enough to spoil the mood.
4/5
BONUS REVIEW
IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953)
Speaking of silly movies, here's another one about aliens landing in the Californian desert. In 3D naturally. There are clashes between law enforcement authority figures and rational minded scientists, and there are lots of scenes in which people drive up and down remote highways. There's a guy and there's a girl. There's a bunch of angry small town people. Does it offer anything else of its own merit? Well that's debatable. It does tell a story in which the powers of imagination and open mindedness are a force for good. Unlike say, The Thing From Another World. The idea of a benign intelligence crashing on Earth, one that wants to get away from the violence of mankind, is a fascinating take on the subject. But it's not executed in an engaging way.
The ship that lands and it's inhabitants are at least well realised. After seeing a meteor landing, astronomer John Putnam (Richard Carlson) and schoolteacher Ellen Fields (Barbara Rush) head to the crash site. John goes into the crater to find a huge ship built of a strange honeycomb material, only to have a near miss when the area is buried by falling rocks. Inside, a race of strange one-eyed creatures look out and begin to survey the local area. The design work is very good, and the mystery as local people are taken over by an unknown force is interesting. But there's just no urgency to the whole story and the pacing is lethargic at best. The melodrama between John and the local police, particularly over his marriage to Ellen, just feels forced.
John always manages to get the clues to the mystery just before they vanish, so nobody believes him. Apparently science is all about getting press in a small town newspaper. Meanwhile the aliens are really bad at doing things in an inconspicuous way. Without suspicious activity there would be no film of course, but it feels as though these hyper-intelligent beings are being really sloppy. Particularly when it's clear they can duplicate human bodies and don't need to abduct or brainwash anyone. The result feels like a contrived way of getting sci-fi thrills, from the equivalent of an alien flat tire. Perhaps it should be told from their perspective? But they're not here to make contact or spread and altruistic messages, and as a result the story feels empty.
2/5
