MovieChat Forums > Night of the Demon (1958) Discussion > I Think Showing The Creature From The St...

I Think Showing The Creature From The Start Actually Works


For several reasons.

One, if the entire film's primary suspenseful element relied on what the monster looked like, it would take away from what the movie is about -- not what, but when and how the demon will strike: what we learn from the beginning, other than how the demon looks, is how it uses an open space, almost like an airport runway, before heading towards its victim...

In that, particular scenes, like when Dana's in the hotel after the library, or the smoke in the sky scene, are more suspenseful since we, the audience, knows exactly what will happen, but the main character doesn't...

Also, since Dana's Holden is such a stubborn doubter, the fact we get to see the demon so closely makes his unbelief in the thing that much more relevant. If we didn't see the demon, we would have to think maybe he's on to something, and it would be too much of a mystery film instead of a horror suspense.

What we're really waiting for is Holden to finally come around, and the reason for it is knowing what he doesn't know.

The movie, in my opinion, is about the CURSE, not the DEMON. Plus the fact the demon is shown in those sketches and the devil itself is known from historic pictures, etc (despite this devil resembling part grizzly bear).

Also, just a bonus point: I think CURSE is far superior to NIGHT as I don't think the additional scenes move the stories and, at the same time, I think without those scenes, the movie cuts to the chase, which is, in the end, quite literal. And speaking of literal, since the words "Night of the Demon" are spoken on a loop towards the end, that's good enough reason to not have that as a title. The NIGHT is important, sure, but the CURSE is everything, and has to do with both Holden and his dead predecessor.

Anyhow, the more I see this movie, the more I see in this movie and the more I realize... seeing everything in the beginning not only doesn't matter to me, but it's something that adds to making the rest of the movie stronger by knowing what I know, which is what Holden doesn't.

My Review along with FEARMAKERS: http://www.cultfilmfreaks.com/2016/08/feardemon.html

All Movie Reviews www.cultfilmfreaks.com

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