Dr. Julian Karswell is the main antagonist on the 1957 film Curse of the Demon. He was a mad scientist and was portrayed by Niall MacGinnis.
Biography[]
Any villain inspired by the legendary Alistair Crowly deserves respect. Based on a short-story by the classic ghost story writer M. R. James, the villain of this movie is the mysterious Dr. Julian Karswell, a magician and leader of a cult. When a psychologist famous for debunking the paranormal threatens to expose crimes perpetrated by the cult, Dr. Karswell has no choice but to put a curse on him, which invokes a fire demon to kill the victim. With supernatural powers and demons at his disposal, Niall MacGinnis plays a formidable villain who transcends his Gothic type thanks to a dose of dry humor and an unsettling politeness, making him look like an anicent.