Late Night With The Devil
Second Site Films
Certificate 15
****
Possession movies and all things holy horror are on trend at the moment but one has stood above all the rest, Colin and Cameron Cairnes’ incredible experience known as Late Night with the Devil. Mixing found footage, satire and the paranormal, the movie is an engrossing and truly chilling experience which thanks to its tight script and superb performances from the cast which includes David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss and Ingrid Torelli.
The year is 1977 and late-night talk show host Jack Delroy’s (Dastmalchian) ratings are in free fall. In a desperate bid to revive his show, Jack plans a Halloween special like no other. He invites a psychic, a sceptic, and, as the main attraction, parapsychologist author June (Gordon) and her subject Lily (Torelli) – a 13-year-old survivor of a satanic cult who claims to be possessed – to join him in the studio. Broadcasting live, Jack sits down to interview his unpredictable and very risky guests, unaware of the unimaginable terror he’s about to unleash. As the terror unfolds, we witness what really happened on set during the infamous late-night recording.
First things first, the setup to the movie is perfectly pitched which is fully supported by some wonderful period detail, in fact the film does genuinely look and feel that it was shot in 1970s. The build up is a masterclass in plotting, the talk-show format is perfectly replicated with all of its fake sincerity and cheap gags. It is here we witness Dastmalchian at his best. This guy hits all the right points, his character is desperate for success, crabs it in fact and uses all that he can to get that all important ratings spike. As we move into the main part of the movie the tonal shift is engrossing and the sleight of hand effects help build up the mystery and darkness.
Then its down to Gordon, Bliss and Torelli to bring the terror to life, their bitter interactions increase the ever-darkening atmosphere before it all comes to its engrossing and satisfying conclusion. The limited use of effects keep it rooted in its own reality culminating in a breath-taking ending.
The Cairnes brothers need to be applauded for giving the horror genre something new, and even though demonic movies rarely differ from each other, this one stands head and shoulders above so many of them.
The image for the 4K release is nothing short of amazing, helping you to marvel at the set which effortlessly captures the look and feel of the 1970s. The sound mix too helps bring the era to life in a solid fashion ensuring that the dialogue is sharp and clear throughout.
This set contains a new audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson, Bringing Their 'A' Game: an interview with directors Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes, Mind if I Smoke?: An interview with actor Ian Bliss, We're Gonna Make a Horror Movie: an interview with actor Ingrid Torelli, Extremely Lucky: An interview with actor Rhys Auteri, Cult Hits: Zoë Rose Smith on Late Night with The Devil, Behind the Scenes shots, The Making of The Night Owl music, South by Southwest 2023 Q&A with David Dastmalchian, Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes and in the Limited Edition release a rigid slipcase with new artwork by Haley Turnbull, 120-page book with behind-the-scenes images and new essays by Kat Hughes, James Rose, Rebecca Sayce, Graham Skipper, Julieann Stipidis and Emma Westwood plus six collectors' art cards.
Late Night with the Devil is prime filmmaking, a horror movie which twists itself into an unforgettable ride and rightly pushes Dastmalchian into the spotlight.
