Indicator, out October 22

Jacques Tourneur’s 1957 adaptation of M R James’ Casting the Runes gets a deluxe treatment from Indicator for its UK Blu-ray premiere and really has never looked so good.

If we’re to believe the lyrics of The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Science Fiction Double-Feature, then ‘Dana Andrews said prunes gave him the runes’ and this indeed is said film that Richard O’Brien was cheekily referencing. It’s an odd little British, black and white movie which terrified me when I first saw it on late-night TV in 1980 (the same time as horror expert Sir Christopher Frayling, as we later discover) and it has remained with me ever since.

The story follows American professor John Holden, investigating the mysterious death of a colleague, but it’s the visuals and titular beast that’s most remembered. This Fire Demon sits at the middle of the movie’s greatest controversy – Tourneur allegedly didn’t want it to be shown, the producer thought otherwise. I’m in the same camp as horror aficionado Jonathan Rigby who really likes the creature, and Kim Newman, who feels the reveal should have been saved until later in the movie.

Whatever your take on the beast, there’s four ways to watch the new crystal-clear high definition transfer by the BFI. There’s the UK release of Night of the Demon (full-length and truncated double-bill cut) and the renamed US Curse of the Demon (both lengths again) as well as the ability to watch in 1.75:1 or 1.66:1 ratio.

As for the extras, you are spoilt rotten by what’s been crammed onto these discs. In addition to a commentary by the movie’s ‘Making of Book’ author Toby Earnshaw, this limited edition has a double-sided poster and 80-page book, a 20-minute ‘making of’, 22 minutes on the differences between the shorter and full-length cuts, numerous appreciations from experts like Christopher Frayling, Kim Newman, Ramsey Campbell, two audio versions of the James story… you get the picture. Particularly charming is the seven-minute silent Super 8 version of the movie… it’s like an extended trailer.

Verdict: It’s in the trees! It’s coming! Ignore the sometimes pedestrian pacing (the shorter version actually works best) and creaky acting and prepare to be terrified by the best screen demon… EVER! And if you’re not sold on the ancient beast, stay for the encyclopaedic coverage from experts who rightly recognise its influence on their careers. 10/10

Nick Joy

Click here to pre-order this Limited Edition from Amazon.co.uk