TCM Underground will be featuring Jacques Tourneur’s “Curse of the Demon” (1958) at 2:00 AM Saturday EST. I remember seeing this movie a few times on TV when I was very young…it’s pretty scary. Well compared to today’s movies, maybe not much, but the creature in this flick is vile. Not surprising since this dragon-like creature was modeled on 3,400-year-old woodcut prints from demonology books according to Tourneur.

An anthropologist Dr. John Holden played by (Dana Andrews) investigates a devil worshipper (Niall MacGinnis) who commands a demon to wreak mayhem all over town. Dr. Holden is not a believer in the supernatural, but a friend, Professor Harrington (Maurice Denham) has died under mysterious circumstances. The professor’s daughter Joanna (Peggy Cummins) believes that the devil worshipper, Dr. Julian Karswell (Niall MacGinnis) has something to do with her father’s death. Holden’s investigation discloses that in fact Dr. Karswell is involved in the occult and practices black magic. He also finds out Dr. Karswell had placed a deadly curse on Dr. Harrington which killed him. But now the logical, and intellectual, scientist Dr. Holden is torn between two opposing philosophies: the occult and a total refutation of it. Will he be convinced even after getting warnings and signs about his impending death? I won’t ruin the end for ya.

Although its known for its “B” movie status, this movie is actually well done. Tourneur who also directed movies like Cat People (1942), Dead of Night (1945), The Innocents (1961) uses lighting, shadows, a good cast including the vile creature, in this movie to make us believe the unbelievable even if just for one hour or so. Tourneur was well aware of what scared most of us, things like, the unknown, the unbelievable, and fear of darkness. The movie has a suspenseful plot and a witty script. It will be hard for you to see it as a “b” movie. Get a glimpse of the creature here.

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