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1[[quoteright:345:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/night_of_the_demon_1957_29.jpeg]]
2
3->"''Dana Andrews said prunes\
4 Gave him the runes\
5 And passing them used lots of skill''"
6-->-- '''''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow''''', "''Science Fiction Double Feature''"
7
8Classic 1957 British horror film based on the short story "Casting the Runes" by Creator/MRJames, directed by Creator/JacquesTourneur, produced by Hal E. Chester, and starring Creator/DanaAndrews.
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10The plot involves Dr. John Holden (Andrews), a visiting American psychology professor, and his attempts to put down an English devil-worshipping cult led by the evil but charming Julian Karswell (Niall [=MacGinnis=]), who is able to use Celtic runes to summon a demon to attack his enemies. Of course, Karswell is able to slip some runes on Holden, who must try to avoid death at the demon's scaly hands. Holden enlists the aid of Joanna Harrington (Peggy Cummins), the niece of a rival of Karswell's who had died under suspicious circumstances.
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12The script is very intelligent, the characterizations are awfully good, and it's got a slew of creepy moments and excellent suspense. The demon is well done, and the other effects, though not particularly fancy, do a good job of ramping up the fright.
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14Released in the U.S. as ''Curse of the Demon''. [[SimilarlyNamedWorks Not to be confused with]] the 1988 horror flick, ''[[Film/NightOfTheDemons1988 Night of the Demons]]'', or with the 1980 [[VideoNasties Video Nasty]] ''Film/NightOfTheDemon1980'' featuring Bigfoot. See also ''Film/DragMeToHell'' which is basically a remake of this with a few character changes and directed by Creator/SamRaimi.
15
16----
17!!''Night of the Demon'' provides examples of:
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19* AdaptationalNiceGuy: [[EvilSorceror Karswell]] is this in comparison to the original story, in which he was a [[{{Jerkass}} vicious bully]] who delighted in [[DisproportionateRetribution setting his pet demon on people for even minor insults]] and ended childrens' party by [[ForTheEvulz traumatizing the children for laughs]].
20* AffablyEvil: Karswell is an extremely likeable, charming man. He's also a spell-casting Satanist who murders casual acquaintances.
21* AgentScully: Holden is a rock-solid skeptic about the supernatural.
22* DontGoInTheWoods: Karswell warns Holden not to do this; Holden ignores him and sees the demon for the first time.
23* ElementalPowers: Karswell very casually conjures up a terrific windstorm.
24* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Karswell's relationship with his mother is very gentle and loving, [[spoiler: even after she betrays him.]]
25* EvilIsOneBigHappyFamily: Rand Hobart's creepy family rejected him because he wasn't dedicated enough to ''die'' for Karswell's cult. ''"It were meant for him, but he passed it to a brother... A true believer. Not like him."''
26* FolkHorror: A secretive cult, sinister runic magic, and Stonehenge all play into the narrative.
27* FlatEarthAtheist: Holden gets almost ridiculous when he starts rationalizing away the most utterly unnatural events imaginable as 'some sort of a trick'. [[SubvertedTrope It is subverted]] at the climax, however, when he tells Karswell that he does indeed believe in his powers now... [[spoiler:so much so that [[TakingYouWithMe he'll keep Karswell with him so the demon can kill BOTH of them]]]].
28* FriendToAllChildren: Karswell hosts Halloween parties for local children. He appears to really like them, and vice versa.
29* HalloweenEpisode: Karswell hosts a Halloween party for the local children.
30* HollywoodSatanism: Although note that this movie came out before the foundation of the actual Church of Satan.
31* GothicHorror: In contrast to the SciFiHorror that dominated most of the decade, this movie draws its scares from folklore, the past, and the supernatural. Its success foreshadowed an entire wave of British-made gothic horror films that would start the very next year with ''Film/TheCurseOfFrankenstein'' and ''Film/HorrorOfDracula'' and last into the '70s.
32* GuileHero: [[spoiler:Holden becomes this at the climax, initially attempting a TakingYouWithMe with Karswell then pass the parchment onto him when handing him his coat when the satanist tries to leave.]]
33* IdiotBall: Whoever thought it was a good idea to bring an insane, suspected murderer in front of an audience, and inject him with drugs to revive him from a catatonic state, without using any restraints?
34* InstantRunes: Averted. Karswell's runes are written on simple strips of paper.
35* LotteryOfDoom: It's strongly implied that this is how [[ReligionOfEvil Karswell's devil cult]] chooses its victims for HumanSacrifice. Unlike most such examples, they normally do it to their own members.
36* MonsterClown: Karswell dresses as a clown for the Halloween party. He's not a particularly monstrous clown, he's nice to all the children, and basically friendly with the protagonist... but the guy is a storm-summoning Satanist...
37* NothingIsScarier: The original intent was to never actually show the demon, leaving [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane its existence ambiguous]]. ExecutiveMeddling inserted a few effects shots against the director's will. They're very good effects shots and the demon's design has become iconic, so it's hard to say whether Tourneur's more minimalist original vision would have resulted in a stronger film or not.
38* OhCrap: [[spoiler:Karswell appears to have escaped, but Holden hands him his coat. Unthinkingly, Karswell takes it... and then the penny drops: "You've passed me the parchment!"]]
39* RailroadTracksOfDoom: What gets the blame when [[spoiler: the demon kills Karswell]].
40* ReligionOfEvil: Karswell's devil cult, what else?
41* RightHandCat: Karswell's pet cat Graymalkin [[spoiler: that can turn itself into a leopard.]]
42* SkepticNoLonger: Holden finally gives up his skepticism, at least about Karswell's powers.
43* SpookySilentLibrary: Holden has a creepy encounter with Karswell in the British Library.
44* SpookySeance: Karswell's mother takes Holden and Joanna to a seance to try to convince them to believe in the supernatural.
45* SuperSmoke: The demon's appearance is heralded by an approaching ball of smoke, with the demon rising out of it.
46* SuperWindowJump: How [[spoiler: Rand Hobart]] kills himself.
47* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Karswell]] panics when he realized [[spoiler:Holden's intentions to attempt a TakingYouWithMe when the demon shows up]].
48* VocalDissonance: The medium at the seance speaks in a wide variety of voices as he channels spirits.
49* TheXOfY

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