The Demon Murder Case is a television film about possession released in 1983 with a surprisingly good cast featuring Kevin Bacon before he hit it big, Richard Masur, Eddie Albert, Cloris Leachman, Beverlee McKinsey, Joyce Van Patten and believe it or not, Andy Griffith. To say it was shocking seeing Griffith in a horror movie is putting it lightly as he would almost always play clean-cut guys for the bulk of his career while here, still a good guy, the subject matter was not something one would usually associate with the man.

As for the story that would take place, it was somewhat confusing and convoluted at times though for the most part, it would chronicle a tale of possession. Bacon stars as the lead and as the victim, on trial for killing a man where it comes out that he is possessed by a demon. This leads to flashbacks where a young boy is seen being possessed and Griffith and McKinsey, who are demonologists, are called in to deal with it and yet can really do nothing so in comes the church who are also unable to do anything and yet at some point, the demon leaves the child, enters Bacon and it all goes full circle.

While the cast alone will have people sitting up and taking notice of this film, there is little else that will. There are nearly no special effects of any kind, this being a television movie horror on TV being hit and miss on what they can and cannot show and one has to think that the budget was spent on those who starred within. All of it moves at a glacial pace at times and it is hard to stay interested when there is little of note happening and yet, when it does, it is almost too little too late. There are a couple of moments where it is a little creepy, the little boy specifically has a scene or two where his demeanour and the sounds that come from him remind the audience that this is a horror movie but aside from that, it is more drama than anything else which is a bit of a shame given how good this cast is.

With the release of The Exorcist, it seemed like everyone had their take on a movie about the subject and it was probably only a matter of time before a network decided to try their hand at it, which they obviously did with this film. While it was okay, it never really rose above being that. It could have and it could have done things a little differently to set itself apart from the pack and to be fair, it tried with the courtroom proceedings and the flashbacks and so forth but the material was just not strong enough. In all, it remains a fascinating curiosity more than anything else and is only worth seeking out for those who star within.

2 out of 5