The Demon Murder Case (1983 TV Movie) User Reviews

TV possession

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 1 October 2018]

Originally airing on March 6, 1983 on NBC, The Demon Murder Case was based on the trial or Arne Cheyenne Johnson, better known as the Devil Made Me Do It Case. It was the first court case in the United State in which the defense sought to prove innocence based on the defendant's claim of demonic possession.

The story starts on November 24, 1981 in Brookfield, Connecticut when Johnson was convicted for the first-degree manslaughter of his landlord. The Glatzel family claimed that their 11-year-old son David was possessed and after the aid of Ed and Lorraine Warren (you knew they'd get involved here), as well as some Catholic priests, the demon was cast from their child's body. Unbeknownst to them, it went into the body of their daughter's boyfriend - Johnson - before caused him to kill said landlord after an argument.

The day after, Lorraine Warren informed the Brookfield Police that Johnson was indeed possessed when the crime was committed. Soon, the media got involved - fueled by the Warrens - who began working on a book, lectures and movie deals.

The major motion picture never happened, but Gerald Brittle, with the assistance of Lorraine Warren, published The Devil in Connecticut. While Lorraine Warren stated that profits from the book were shared with the family, it's claimed that they only got $2,000 for the book.

Members of the family claim that the possession story was a hoax concocted by the Warrens to exploit a mental illness. The famous demonologists also claimed that the story would make the family millionaires and would help get Johnson out of jail.

For what it's worth, Johnson and Debbie got married and still support the Warrens' account of demonic possession and have stated that her family is just out for money.

I told you all that so that I can tell you about this.

You have to love a movie where a demon is described as looking like a cloven-footed man burnt from head to toes, wearing ripped jeans and a flannel. You also have to love this cast! Eddie Albert as an exorcist delivering priest? Cloris Leachman? Ken Kercheval? Kevin Bacon as the killer? Andy Griffith and Beverlee McKinsey as Warren stand-ins Guy and Charlotte Harris? And who is that doing the voice of the demon? Harvey Fierstein in his first screen role, just using his normal indoor voice!

For being a TV movie, this one has some pretty great VHS box art.

This also has good direction from William Hale, who was behind several Night Gallery episodes and the two Lace mini-series.

It's not going to be the best demonic possession movie you've ever seen, but for a TV movie, it's pretty fun. No one spits nails or anything. But it has some fun scares. I found it on YouTube, seeing as how it's never been released on DVD or streaming. Come on - why are these great TV movies being withheld?

The Exorcist meets John Grisham

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 27 June 2016]

I'd never heard of this one before (I soon found out why) but the cover looked exciting (yep, I'm a sucker for any drawings of monsters). As I rewound the tape in my VCR (don't you hate people who don't bother rewinding their videotapes?) it made a horrible clanking/screeching sound, which led me to believe the VCR had somehow become possessed by the demon from the film. I think the VCR was just annoyed at having to rewind such a mediocre film though.

This film sorely loses out by being a TV movie, as the format is too restricting for this kind of film. What starts off as a standard rip-off of that granddaddy demonic possession film, THE EXORCIST, develops into something else. The signs of the rip-off are all there; the boy even screams "it burns!" when he is sprayed with holy water during an exorcism (Regan anyone?). Kevin Bacon takes on the role of Jason Miller, begging the demon to fight him instead. However it then turns into a court case, which is a fairly interesting premise, of whether a court will allow Bacon to walk free after he stabs his girlfriend's employer after claiming he was demonically possessed. The last third of the film is concerned with this case, a wraparound affair. Unfortunately, far too much time is spent on the events building up to the stabbing, and it seems to drag on relentlessly. I'll leave the ending for you to find out.

The film tries hard to be scary, and the child actor is fairly convincing in his possession scenes. However when he describes the Beast as wearing a shirt and "ripped jeans" this quickly throws all credibility out of the window. The rest of the cast is generally made up of bland, middle-aged or old actors, which doesn't help. Kevin Bacon does acquit himself well in his early role as the everyday guy who ends up combating evil.

The film contains no special effects, apart from a few camera tricks during the possession and the age-old levitation scene. It's an interesting film, but it suffers from being too bland, too timid in its portrayal of evil, having a dull assortment of characters, and being too derivative of the miles better classic which inspired it. No wonder it's a forgotten film and Kevin Bacon doesn't mention it too often in public.

This is not a film to watch late at night.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 2 February 2022]

Five priests, two lay people, a bishop, but no nuns? According to Andy Griffith, it's a confrontation between the devil and the human race, alleged possession of Kevin Bacon who has been ordered to kill due to the demon inside a young boy (Charles Fields) that brings controversy among the church. The film starts with Bacon being taken to court then begins to flashback where the possession story is explained from the beginning, the issues it raises between Bacon and his girlfriend Liane Langland, and struggles in the church which includes priest Eddie Albert and several others, the boy's mother (Joyce Van Patten) and a married couple who are experts on demonic phenomena (Griffith and Beverly McKinsey).

A convoluted and very disturbing film, it could create nightmares just from the sounds coming out of the little boy alone, so horrific and difficult to listen to, and going on endlessly during his scenes. The film also has too many very bizarre close-ups, going close into the various possessed characters faces that it becomes distracting and eerie. Some audiences are going to find this impossible to watch, but it's hard to resist simply because of that cast. It's a rare opportunity to see McKinsey in a role off of daytime, made between her stints as Iris on "Another World" and "Texas" and Alexandra on "Guiding Light". But sadly, not a likable film in any nature, and if you're looking for an interesting follow-up to "The Exorcist", this one seems even more disturbing and creepy.

Be Aware At Your Peril!

[Sylviastel · 7/10 · 5 January 2019]

I don't know about this case. According to one reviewer, the murder took place in Brookfield, Connecticut and not Newport, Rhode Island. Kevin Bacon is the defendant in a bizarre case where he has been possessed to murder somebody else. The cast is first rate and I love Beverlee McKinsey and the psychic wife to Andy Griffith. I was lucky to get a copy of it on DVD off the internet. I thought Beverlee McKinsey gave her best performance and a shame that she never got a career worthy of her talent. Joyce Van Patten is also a terrific actress, under-rated as the mother of the possessed boy. The cast has plenty of familiar names. This was a television movie that hasn't been seen much since it aired in 1983. I wished it was readily available. Kevin Bacon did a superb job in his role. The cast included Richard Masur and Cloris Leachman as well. I wished I knew more about the case now.

this case was based on a murder in Brookfield, CT

[dgallag114 · 9 May 2004]

I lived in the apartment this murder took place in. It was not located in Rhode Island, it was located in Brookfield, Connecticut. I used to study the Black Arts and left my black book of 72 demons in the attic without the pentagram of soloman on it for protection.

The movie set was fashioned after that apartment and there was a pet motel right next to it. It is still there. You can recognize the building by looking at it from the back.

If the murder took place in Brookfield and there was demonic involvement. The Book of Soloman may have had something to do with it. I remember when it happened, it was publicised as the first murder ever in Brookfield.

Dan Gallagher

"The Devil Made Me Do It" Case

[Rainey-Dawn · 7/10 · 30 July 2023]

In real life, Arne Cheyenne Johnson (Kenny in the film), is now out of prison and changed his name. In 2007, David and Carl sued the Warrens (Harris' in the film) for unspecified financial damages.

The film is a pretty good take on the (supposedly) true story of what is known as the first murder ever in Brookfield, CT. It is also know as the "Devil Made Me Do It" case, which is the first known court case in the United States in which the defense sought to prove innocence based upon the claim of demonic possession and denial of personal responsibility for the crime.

Great casting in the film. Unbelievable story. Over all, I enjoyed the movie.

7/10.

"The Last Thing We Need Around Here Is Unbelievers!"...

[azathothpwiggins · 8 September 2022]

THE DEMON MURDER CASE opens with the trial of murder suspect, Kenny Harris (Kevin Bacon), whose novel defense is that he was, and still is, demon possessed. The scene switches to one year earlier to tell the story.

Kenny is staying with the Frazier family, who become convinced that their young son, Brian (Charles Fields), is possessed by a demon. Especially when he becomes nonsensical and violent, speaking in voices not his own.

Enter Demonologists Guy and Charlotte Harris (Andy Griffith and Beverlee McKinsey), brought in to deal with the devilish goings-on. It all hits the fan, spinning increasingly out of control. The obligatory priests are brought in as well. More deviltry ensues.

This made-for-TV horror movie came out about 10 years after William Friedkin's THE EXORCIST cast the mold for this sort of thing. THE DEMON MURDER CASE also came in the wake of about a zillion other productions in a similar vein. It's greatest weakness is its resemblance to just about all of them. It takes this to the point of absurdity, and beyond, becoming more of a parody.

However, it is a lot of fun to watch! Gaze agog as Brian gives Father Dietrich (Eddie Albert) the raspberry! Priceless! His levitation / floating scene is hysterical! Every tried-and-true gimmick is used to mirthful effect. Then, Kenny catches the devil bug, throws himself around like nobody's business, and all bets are off! Brian and Kenny are such a hoot, that by the time the actual "murder" takes place, it's almost a buzzkill.

EXTRA CREDIT GOES TO: Tom Ligon for playing the world's most annoying veterinarian! He also performs one of the funniest death scenes ever! Ever!...

So, if you prefer your cheeeze broiled in the fires of hell, this should certainly satisfy...