Atmospheric thriller. Although shot on a Hollywood back lot, it captures the look and feel of the old West Village, a neighborhood of artists, writers, actors, poets, bohemians, eccentrics, shopkeepers, restaurateurs...and devil worshippers? Val Lewton, of course, is the master of creating suspense out of shadows and sounds. There's a disappearing corpse on a subway, a mysterious room with a noose hanging in it, and a great shower scene that anticipates the more famous one in PSYCHO. Unfortunately, the plot is difficult to follow due to several deleted scenes; it would be great if a restored version could be reconstructed.
Historical note: In the movie, the devil worshippers are called "Palladists," and several characters read a book describing Palladism. This appears to be a reference to a real book called "The Devil In The Nineteenth Century ." The book claims, among many other sensationalistic things, that there was a group of Satanists in South Carolina (!) called the Palladists. The book exists, but its authenticity has been questioned; it appears to be a hoax.
Historical note: In the movie, the devil worshippers are called "Palladists," and several characters read a book describing Palladism. This appears to be a reference to a real book called "The Devil In The Nineteenth Century ." The book claims, among many other sensationalistic things, that there was a group of Satanists in South Carolina (!) called the Palladists. The book exists, but its authenticity has been questioned; it appears to be a hoax.