Funny that the most pathological person in this film is Dr. Holden. At first he just seems like a smug know-it-all chauvinist but his obstinacy begins to seem irrational at some point.
I liked the demon personally. It was sort of cute.

I've been looking forward to watching this movie for some time having read James's excellent short story- and it was finally shown on TV last night after who knows how long. It's such a shame that studio pressure famously forced the director to show the demon not only because it looks so silly that it defuses some of the tension right from the start, but also because it contradicts the central concept of Holden's scepticism. How much more frightening to not know for certain how the cursed really died? Holden's closing thought that sometimes it's better not knowing applies to the audience better off not seeing. Other than that it's a great little film; I think with a decent director and sensitive screenwriter this film could justifiably and successfully be remade.

Is occult noir a genre? Because it should be.