483 reviews
When people say they don't make original movies any more
Late Night with the Devil is a new and unique horror flick. Even having seen 500+ horror films, I can't compare this to anything else. It's not groundbreaking or mind-blowing, but it's different and original.
It's also really good, well-made in most aspects. It hooks you early on, even before any of the horror starts. For a while you're just enjoying a fabricated late night TV talk show. And then when the horror kicks in, oh does it kick. There are a few memorable and jaw-dropping scenes.
My headline is referring to something that drives me crazy. People, including close friends, complain that Hollywood has run out of ideas and only makes sequels, remakes and superhero movies. I respond by showing them all of the original movies released in a year, and how they did not watch any of them. They only go to the theaters a few times a year, and only for the blockbusters. What they're complaining about is their own fault.
If you're a fan of horror and are looking for something far from traditional, Late Night with the Devil is for you. And if you're sick of the perceived lack of original ideas, this is the kind of movie you should be supporting.
(1 viewing, 3/31/2024)
It's also really good, well-made in most aspects. It hooks you early on, even before any of the horror starts. For a while you're just enjoying a fabricated late night TV talk show. And then when the horror kicks in, oh does it kick. There are a few memorable and jaw-dropping scenes.
My headline is referring to something that drives me crazy. People, including close friends, complain that Hollywood has run out of ideas and only makes sequels, remakes and superhero movies. I respond by showing them all of the original movies released in a year, and how they did not watch any of them. They only go to the theaters a few times a year, and only for the blockbusters. What they're complaining about is their own fault.
If you're a fan of horror and are looking for something far from traditional, Late Night with the Devil is for you. And if you're sick of the perceived lack of original ideas, this is the kind of movie you should be supporting.
(1 viewing, 3/31/2024)
An enjoyable film with an ending that might not please everyone
The opening narration does a great job at setting the tone for the rest of the film. It gives off that creepy mystery documentary vibe and it draws you into the story right away. The narration provides us with a quick summary about Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian) without spending too much time building up his character. Usually that would be a negative but it does it in such an interesting way that we are automatically intrigued by the character. The narration also sets up the story perfectly by letting us know that we will be witnessing an episode from this late night talk show that goes horribly wrong.
The episode begins and we are entranced into this 70's talk show. It does feel like we are watching this show at home. With each guest being interviewed and building upon this Halloween episode. The host makes jokes and interacts with the live audience members and even cuts to commercial breaks. But instead of commercials we get insight into the behind the scenes footage of this programing. All of this builds the story and is fun to watch.
David Dastmalchian delivers a very believable performance as a 70's late night talk show host. All of the cast does a great job and their chemistry helps to sell this story. The production design and the wardrobes are also well done.
Where the film fails is in its ending because the build up just didn't pay off. The ending feels rushed and the film could have benefited from a longer run time after it spent so much time building up this story. The ending isn't terrible but may seem confusing. Some might find the ending enjoyable but personally I thought the character Lily should have been explored more. The film seemed more terrifying when she was more of the focus. Instead the film downplays the horror elements and dishes out an overall theme of "the price of fame". Not to mention there are also some scenes with special effects that seem dated and diminished the films early efforts.
I would still recommend this film but I expect many not to enjoy the ending.
The episode begins and we are entranced into this 70's talk show. It does feel like we are watching this show at home. With each guest being interviewed and building upon this Halloween episode. The host makes jokes and interacts with the live audience members and even cuts to commercial breaks. But instead of commercials we get insight into the behind the scenes footage of this programing. All of this builds the story and is fun to watch.
David Dastmalchian delivers a very believable performance as a 70's late night talk show host. All of the cast does a great job and their chemistry helps to sell this story. The production design and the wardrobes are also well done.
Where the film fails is in its ending because the build up just didn't pay off. The ending feels rushed and the film could have benefited from a longer run time after it spent so much time building up this story. The ending isn't terrible but may seem confusing. Some might find the ending enjoyable but personally I thought the character Lily should have been explored more. The film seemed more terrifying when she was more of the focus. Instead the film downplays the horror elements and dishes out an overall theme of "the price of fame". Not to mention there are also some scenes with special effects that seem dated and diminished the films early efforts.
I would still recommend this film but I expect many not to enjoy the ending.
- moviemanmo973
- Mar 21, 2024
- Permalink
Worth Staying Up For
It is 1977, and Johnny Carson reigns supreme over the world of late night television. Looking to usurp his throne is Jack Delroy, host of Night Owls, a programme that has always played second fiddle to Carson in the ratings. Delroy thinks the show he has planned for Halloween night will finally land him the top spot on the Nielsen ratings list. A psychic, a conjurer-turned-sceptic and the sole survivor of a Satan-worshipping cult are to be his guests- though when the broadcast gets underway, his dream show turns into a nightmare.
Written and directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes, 'Late Night with the Devil' is an original, enjoyable comic-horror packing chills and thrills a-plenty. Taking on the form of a piece of found-footage, the narrative has some genuinely unsettling moments, which are very well-realized; a worm-filled display of conjuring power in the latter half being particularly hard-to-forget. Furthermore, the Cairnes brother's characterisation and satirical take on 70's programming is consistently entertaining, if not exactly profound, and their dialogue is sharp.
However, the whole affair is rather predictable, with the denouement effectively given away in the film's opening minutes. In addition, although much mention is made of the rivalry between Delroy and Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett- whose show Delroy's more closely resembles and who, in reality, was often a close second to Carson ratings wise- never comes up. Neither, in fact, do the numerous others who had late night style shows at the time; which seems like an oversight.
Further, the found-footage gimmick doesn't make much sense, as during the ad-breaks that would have occurred in the broadcast, the film adopts a documentary style- begging the question: why were there two documentary cameramen filming a behind the scenes look at a show that doesn't do particularly well in the ratings?
Despite that, it is a fun film, and a fine looking one to boot. In fact, the only reason that the aforementioned issues with realism matter at all is because the 1970's visual aesthetic is so faithfully recreated. Production designer Otello Stolfo, alongside costume designer Steph Hooke, perfectly capture and reproduce the look and feel of a 70's, Dick Cavett-style talk-show, from the orange and beige dominated colour scheme to the cartoon intertitles- created with the help of AI.
Moreover, director of photography Matthew Temple makes clever use of the traditional three-camera set-up, lending proceedings additional authenticity. Furthermore, Glenn Richards' score is stirring, while Roscoe James Irwin's arrangements with The Night Owls Studio Orchestra are headily atmospheric. Additionally, the special effects and make-up are effectively disquieting and the aforementioned sequence involving worms features some truly stomach-churning practical effects.
David Dastmalchian, starring as Delroy, gives a thoroughly convincing performance as one powered by ambition, willing to risk it all to get ahead. He carries the film squarely on his shoulders, working well with his co-stars, all of whom do fine work. Ian Bliss is particularly good, as the arrogant, James Randiesque sceptic Carmichael Haig, as is Fayssal Bazzi as the psychic Christou, whose abilities might be greater than even he thinks. Although each of the characters are essentially one-note parodies of real people; the cast elevate them nevertheless.
An entertaining comic-horror, Colin and Cameron Cairnes' 'Late Night with the Devil' may not be perfect, but it is an awful lot of fun. The production design and costumes effectively harken back to the 70's, while Glenn Richards' score is stirring. Boasting brilliant practical special effects and make-up, as well as a frighteningly strong performance from star David Dastmalchian, 'Late Night with the Devil' is well worth staying up for.
Written and directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes, 'Late Night with the Devil' is an original, enjoyable comic-horror packing chills and thrills a-plenty. Taking on the form of a piece of found-footage, the narrative has some genuinely unsettling moments, which are very well-realized; a worm-filled display of conjuring power in the latter half being particularly hard-to-forget. Furthermore, the Cairnes brother's characterisation and satirical take on 70's programming is consistently entertaining, if not exactly profound, and their dialogue is sharp.
However, the whole affair is rather predictable, with the denouement effectively given away in the film's opening minutes. In addition, although much mention is made of the rivalry between Delroy and Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett- whose show Delroy's more closely resembles and who, in reality, was often a close second to Carson ratings wise- never comes up. Neither, in fact, do the numerous others who had late night style shows at the time; which seems like an oversight.
Further, the found-footage gimmick doesn't make much sense, as during the ad-breaks that would have occurred in the broadcast, the film adopts a documentary style- begging the question: why were there two documentary cameramen filming a behind the scenes look at a show that doesn't do particularly well in the ratings?
Despite that, it is a fun film, and a fine looking one to boot. In fact, the only reason that the aforementioned issues with realism matter at all is because the 1970's visual aesthetic is so faithfully recreated. Production designer Otello Stolfo, alongside costume designer Steph Hooke, perfectly capture and reproduce the look and feel of a 70's, Dick Cavett-style talk-show, from the orange and beige dominated colour scheme to the cartoon intertitles- created with the help of AI.
Moreover, director of photography Matthew Temple makes clever use of the traditional three-camera set-up, lending proceedings additional authenticity. Furthermore, Glenn Richards' score is stirring, while Roscoe James Irwin's arrangements with The Night Owls Studio Orchestra are headily atmospheric. Additionally, the special effects and make-up are effectively disquieting and the aforementioned sequence involving worms features some truly stomach-churning practical effects.
David Dastmalchian, starring as Delroy, gives a thoroughly convincing performance as one powered by ambition, willing to risk it all to get ahead. He carries the film squarely on his shoulders, working well with his co-stars, all of whom do fine work. Ian Bliss is particularly good, as the arrogant, James Randiesque sceptic Carmichael Haig, as is Fayssal Bazzi as the psychic Christou, whose abilities might be greater than even he thinks. Although each of the characters are essentially one-note parodies of real people; the cast elevate them nevertheless.
An entertaining comic-horror, Colin and Cameron Cairnes' 'Late Night with the Devil' may not be perfect, but it is an awful lot of fun. The production design and costumes effectively harken back to the 70's, while Glenn Richards' score is stirring. Boasting brilliant practical special effects and make-up, as well as a frighteningly strong performance from star David Dastmalchian, 'Late Night with the Devil' is well worth staying up for.
- reelreviewsandrecommendations
- Jul 22, 2024
- Permalink
A lot of fun
I really enjoyed this.
Sort of found footage, sort of faux documentary, I really loved how this movie was presented.
David Dastmalchian is really very good. And the supporting cast are enjoyable, particularly Ingrid Torelli.
This movie is pretty creepy, and there are tones of exorcist and of VHS 85. There's a kind of Faustian deal at the stories core that I really liked and I found myself smiling quite a lot during the third act.
This movie may not be for everybody. It's obviously not big budget and the effects may not land with everyone but I thought it was a whole lot of creepy, campy fun.
Sort of found footage, sort of faux documentary, I really loved how this movie was presented.
David Dastmalchian is really very good. And the supporting cast are enjoyable, particularly Ingrid Torelli.
This movie is pretty creepy, and there are tones of exorcist and of VHS 85. There's a kind of Faustian deal at the stories core that I really liked and I found myself smiling quite a lot during the third act.
This movie may not be for everybody. It's obviously not big budget and the effects may not land with everyone but I thought it was a whole lot of creepy, campy fun.
- davidwalker-94471
- Apr 20, 2024
- Permalink
Campy Fun (MAMI MFF 2023 #13)
Late Night with the Devil is nothing like I have seen before. It has an amazing narrative, which is in the form of a showing of recorded tapes of a late night TV show led by a host who's grieving his wife's death and facing low ratings. The frontman is terrific and a sight for sore eyes. He manages to keep your attention as you see the plot unfold from a mild talk show into something drastic, horrendous as the guests come in. Late Night with the Devil bends a few horror genre tropes and manages to entertain throughout. I had a ball watching this with a packed audience at the 2023 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. If you like fun horror films that grow on you, this is for you.
Could Have Been a Nine
This film is proof you don't need a ton of money to make a good movie. You just need the right talent and some thought.
Late Night with the Devil starts out with a documentary style very similar to Woody Allen's Take the Money and Run. It soon morphs, however into a Halloween episode of a late night talk show, purporting to re-air a live episode including scenes never show on TV.
This part is a bit weird because the scenes shown during the commercial would have never been filmed, so how did they have them? No matter, the movie is so compelling, you'll probably disregard this minor point.
The show's first guest is a psychic, then a skeptic, then a girl who is supposed to be possessed by a demon. It unfolds really well and I really loved the movie.
Until the ending.
For me, the ending took two stars away from the review. It was just too abrupt and ethereal. Still worth a watch, however.
Late Night with the Devil starts out with a documentary style very similar to Woody Allen's Take the Money and Run. It soon morphs, however into a Halloween episode of a late night talk show, purporting to re-air a live episode including scenes never show on TV.
This part is a bit weird because the scenes shown during the commercial would have never been filmed, so how did they have them? No matter, the movie is so compelling, you'll probably disregard this minor point.
The show's first guest is a psychic, then a skeptic, then a girl who is supposed to be possessed by a demon. It unfolds really well and I really loved the movie.
Until the ending.
For me, the ending took two stars away from the review. It was just too abrupt and ethereal. Still worth a watch, however.
More proof that Dastmalchian is a leading man
One of the most unique and entertaining horrors I've seen in a LONG time - I really didn't want it to end!
Far from the tired Blumhouse cookie cutter approach to the genre, LNWTD is vibrant, entertaining, gripping and above all - creepy as hell.
I particularly loved the old-school style practical effects and filmmaking. Apart from a few electrical sparks, there wasn't really any CGI - a huge relief, as I feel it's a real detriment to creepy, organic horror films.
The cast were fantastic and had great chemistry, with David Dastmalchian once again proving he's a charming and compelling leading man.
Far from the tired Blumhouse cookie cutter approach to the genre, LNWTD is vibrant, entertaining, gripping and above all - creepy as hell.
I particularly loved the old-school style practical effects and filmmaking. Apart from a few electrical sparks, there wasn't really any CGI - a huge relief, as I feel it's a real detriment to creepy, organic horror films.
The cast were fantastic and had great chemistry, with David Dastmalchian once again proving he's a charming and compelling leading man.
Unusually good
Where to start with this movie, the acting from David dalmastchian is top drawer and for me he makes the movie, it has a uniqueness about it. The way the movie is very much just like watching a chat show on television and how it goes for the interval and we see backstage is freaking cool. I think the ending was very strange and as I said earlier unique to say the least. Dalmastchian does a grand job and hope this gets him some more unusual horror flicks. I always liked the way on the big screen it was just like an old 70's TV screen. I would like to rate the movie higher but the movie for me was too short.
- martincolquhoun
- Mar 25, 2024
- Permalink
Late Night with the Devil is one of the most unique and original horror films in recent memory
My wife and I attended an advanced screening of Late Night with the Devil (2023) at Alamo Drafthouse last night. The plot revolves around a late-night talk show host struggling to surpass Johnny Carson's ratings despite various attempts, even involving his terminally ill wife joining the show. The host, known for his involvement in a cult, mysteriously disappears for a month after his wife's death, only to return with even lower ratings. With one last chance to save his show, he decides to take drastic measures.
Co-directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes (Scary Campaign), the film features a stellar cast including David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad), Laura Gordon (Undertow), Ian Bliss (The Matrix Reloaded), Fayssal Bazzi (Shantaram), Ingrid Torelli (Bloom), and Rhys Auteri (A Good Deed).
Late Night with the Devil is a phenomenal movie, with a magnificent concept and flawless execution. Every aspect, from sets to costumes to performances, contributes to an authentic atmosphere. While some elements may be over-the-top, they serve to captivate the audience. The film maintains a dark, mysterious tone through smart subplots and unpredictable twists, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that ties everything together to perfection.
The acting is outstanding across the board, with special mention to child actor Ingrid Torelli, who delivers a standout performance. Every character's facial expressions and reactions are compelling, drawing the audience into every scene. The kills are gruesome and perfectly executed. There's a tremendous use of worms that brought a smile to my face. And as for the ending-it's impactful and unforgettable.
In summary, Late Night with the Devil is one of the most unique and original horror films in recent memory. My wife and I both enjoyed it immensely, with her rating it a 10/10 and me an 8/10, averaging out to a solid 9/10. It's a must-see for horror enthusiasts.
Co-directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes (Scary Campaign), the film features a stellar cast including David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad), Laura Gordon (Undertow), Ian Bliss (The Matrix Reloaded), Fayssal Bazzi (Shantaram), Ingrid Torelli (Bloom), and Rhys Auteri (A Good Deed).
Late Night with the Devil is a phenomenal movie, with a magnificent concept and flawless execution. Every aspect, from sets to costumes to performances, contributes to an authentic atmosphere. While some elements may be over-the-top, they serve to captivate the audience. The film maintains a dark, mysterious tone through smart subplots and unpredictable twists, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that ties everything together to perfection.
The acting is outstanding across the board, with special mention to child actor Ingrid Torelli, who delivers a standout performance. Every character's facial expressions and reactions are compelling, drawing the audience into every scene. The kills are gruesome and perfectly executed. There's a tremendous use of worms that brought a smile to my face. And as for the ending-it's impactful and unforgettable.
In summary, Late Night with the Devil is one of the most unique and original horror films in recent memory. My wife and I both enjoyed it immensely, with her rating it a 10/10 and me an 8/10, averaging out to a solid 9/10. It's a must-see for horror enthusiasts.
- kevin_robbins
- Mar 15, 2024
- Permalink
A Fun Time, But Certainly Not the Jaw Dropper the Internet is Saying
There's a lot to like about Late Night with the Devil; the first being the absolutely fantastic performance of David Dasmalchian as Jack. He really nails the 1970s late night talk show host vibe perfectly and has a lot of wit and charisma, yet an underlying darkness that you know (or I guess hope) will come into play later on.
I also really loved the aesthetic for most of the film, with the grainy, multi camera look, excellent period costuming and hairstyling, and amazing aesthetic touches that drew me in immediately. The film makes great use of practical effects and while it may look a bit silly, I thought it had a charm that was appropriate for the era.
(Side note: The filmmakers opted to use AI for some of the transition cards in the film and it's caused a bit of a stir. To be honest, I don't think this is an application of the technology worth getting angry over. It's a low budget film, AI use is inevitable, and this was probably the least intrusive way to use it)
I also felt really compelled by the story and the structure of the film, which felt longer and meatier (at least for most of it) than it would seem. It moved at a quick pace and I was never bored.
However, I do think this movie wears its numerous flaws on its sleeve. The entire conceit - that this is an unaired episode - should've been stuck with. The movie confusingly switches between the gorgeous 70s talk show style to a baffling black-and-white handheld camera look, which I found necessary for the story, but ultimately confusing by the end of the film when it switches it up completely. Either this is supposed to be "found footage" or it isn't.
I also felt a lot of the performances were pretty subpar, especially the girl playing Lily (Ingrid Torelli) and the woman playing June (Laura Gordon). Torelli just...didn't have the screen presence necessary for the role and her line delivery was baffling. I couldn't make heads or tails of her character and maybe there was stuff left on the cutting room floor, because her character's "journey" through this film was utterly confusing and disappointing. Gordon just did not deliver her lines well. I just didn't buy her at all.
Then there's the ending...which...I can forgive to an extent for being "interpretable," but I can also totally understand feels incoherent. It's almost like when someone writes and essay and it's already 11 pages long so they rush the conclusion. There's no real satisfactory explanation for a lot of the questions you hope the film would answer, which made me wonder why they introduced some plot elements to begin with (i.e. Jack's backstory with the thinly veiled cult). It's not rocket science as to what happened; it's just not given the emotional weight it needs nor the explosive payoff you'd want.
I think this is a fine and fun movie that I'm happy I saw and I'd probably show other people. One question I have is...why on Earth was this released in March and not Halloween, when the film is set? It's bizarre.
I also really loved the aesthetic for most of the film, with the grainy, multi camera look, excellent period costuming and hairstyling, and amazing aesthetic touches that drew me in immediately. The film makes great use of practical effects and while it may look a bit silly, I thought it had a charm that was appropriate for the era.
(Side note: The filmmakers opted to use AI for some of the transition cards in the film and it's caused a bit of a stir. To be honest, I don't think this is an application of the technology worth getting angry over. It's a low budget film, AI use is inevitable, and this was probably the least intrusive way to use it)
I also felt really compelled by the story and the structure of the film, which felt longer and meatier (at least for most of it) than it would seem. It moved at a quick pace and I was never bored.
However, I do think this movie wears its numerous flaws on its sleeve. The entire conceit - that this is an unaired episode - should've been stuck with. The movie confusingly switches between the gorgeous 70s talk show style to a baffling black-and-white handheld camera look, which I found necessary for the story, but ultimately confusing by the end of the film when it switches it up completely. Either this is supposed to be "found footage" or it isn't.
I also felt a lot of the performances were pretty subpar, especially the girl playing Lily (Ingrid Torelli) and the woman playing June (Laura Gordon). Torelli just...didn't have the screen presence necessary for the role and her line delivery was baffling. I couldn't make heads or tails of her character and maybe there was stuff left on the cutting room floor, because her character's "journey" through this film was utterly confusing and disappointing. Gordon just did not deliver her lines well. I just didn't buy her at all.
Then there's the ending...which...I can forgive to an extent for being "interpretable," but I can also totally understand feels incoherent. It's almost like when someone writes and essay and it's already 11 pages long so they rush the conclusion. There's no real satisfactory explanation for a lot of the questions you hope the film would answer, which made me wonder why they introduced some plot elements to begin with (i.e. Jack's backstory with the thinly veiled cult). It's not rocket science as to what happened; it's just not given the emotional weight it needs nor the explosive payoff you'd want.
I think this is a fine and fun movie that I'm happy I saw and I'd probably show other people. One question I have is...why on Earth was this released in March and not Halloween, when the film is set? It's bizarre.
- ryanpersaud-59415
- Apr 29, 2024
- Permalink
A true homage to the 70's docu-horror feel
"Late Night with the Devil" captures an authentic vibe that beautifully echoes the essence of the 70s and 80s horror genre. The film transports viewers back to an era when horror was raw, gritty, and unpolished, creating an atmosphere rich with nostalgia. Growing up in a rural area, my access to art house and schlock films was quite limited. However, the advent of VHS players in the 80s revolutionized my experience with cinema. Suddenly, a whole new world of horror opened up to me, with the ability to rent and watch movies that were previously inaccessible. "Late Night with the Devil" invokes that same feeling of discovery and excitement that I felt when first diving into the cultishness of 70s horror through VHS tapes.
The film's meticulous attention to detail, from its grainy cinematography to its eerie soundscapes, mirrors the aesthetic of classic horror films. This authenticity not only pays homage to the genre but also draws in viewers who have a deep appreciation for that period. The narrative structure, character archetypes, and even the special effects are reminiscent of a time when horror relied more on atmosphere and psychological tension than on high-budget CGI.
Moreover, "Late Night with the Devil" taps into the cultural zeitgeist of the 70s and 80s, a time when horror was exploring new boundaries and pushing the envelope. The film's storyline and character development reflect the societal fears and anxieties of that era, making it a rich, immersive experience. It evokes the spirit of late-night horror shows and midnight movie marathons, where the unexpected and the terrifying were always just around the corner.
In essence, "Late Night with the Devil" doesn't just mimic the horror films of the past; it embodies their spirit. It serves as a bridge between the nostalgic past and the present, offering both a tribute to and a revitalization of the classic horror genre. For those of us who grew up discovering the hidden gems of horror through the flickering screen of a VHS player, this film is a hauntingly delightful reminder of why we fell in love with the genre in the first place.
The film's meticulous attention to detail, from its grainy cinematography to its eerie soundscapes, mirrors the aesthetic of classic horror films. This authenticity not only pays homage to the genre but also draws in viewers who have a deep appreciation for that period. The narrative structure, character archetypes, and even the special effects are reminiscent of a time when horror relied more on atmosphere and psychological tension than on high-budget CGI.
Moreover, "Late Night with the Devil" taps into the cultural zeitgeist of the 70s and 80s, a time when horror was exploring new boundaries and pushing the envelope. The film's storyline and character development reflect the societal fears and anxieties of that era, making it a rich, immersive experience. It evokes the spirit of late-night horror shows and midnight movie marathons, where the unexpected and the terrifying were always just around the corner.
In essence, "Late Night with the Devil" doesn't just mimic the horror films of the past; it embodies their spirit. It serves as a bridge between the nostalgic past and the present, offering both a tribute to and a revitalization of the classic horror genre. For those of us who grew up discovering the hidden gems of horror through the flickering screen of a VHS player, this film is a hauntingly delightful reminder of why we fell in love with the genre in the first place.
- guyssocialweb
- Jun 14, 2024
- Permalink
A bit disappointed
I did enjoy the cinematography blended with color and some black and white which if I recall correctly was whenever the "late show" would go into commercial breaks while focusing on the off-air dialogues. What I didn't like about the movie was that there were moments when the character development took longer than I would've expected.
The ending to me was odd and maybe more in tune with what a 70's horror movie would represent. In either case I found the ending confusing and with a lack of surprise, shock or awe which is what I expect in horror films.
Personally, I felt that the climax of the movie was done poorly and left me disappointed.
The ending to me was odd and maybe more in tune with what a 70's horror movie would represent. In either case I found the ending confusing and with a lack of surprise, shock or awe which is what I expect in horror films.
Personally, I felt that the climax of the movie was done poorly and left me disappointed.
Disappointing - wanted to like it.
Let's be honest as horror enthusiasts... there are so few offerings that actually hit the spot. What made me so excited for this film was that Flanagan had recommended it on his stories, and as he has delivered Fall of Usher recently, and the unbelievable Haunting of Hill House, I trusted his review. Unfortunately this missed the mark when it mattered most.
The story builds well and the 1970's aesthetics work brilliantly. The lead actor is excellent as you would expect and the scenes with the girl on the chair are chilling. (If a little copied from exorcist).
But then.... Like so many horrors, the film verges on stupid. It starts to resemble the Mortal Kombat computer game. In the cinema at this point, I suddenly felt deflated. A real shame.
Horror needs a good story and it has to be real enough that you can almost put yourself there... this film lost its way.
The story builds well and the 1970's aesthetics work brilliantly. The lead actor is excellent as you would expect and the scenes with the girl on the chair are chilling. (If a little copied from exorcist).
But then.... Like so many horrors, the film verges on stupid. It starts to resemble the Mortal Kombat computer game. In the cinema at this point, I suddenly felt deflated. A real shame.
Horror needs a good story and it has to be real enough that you can almost put yourself there... this film lost its way.
- richard_kitchen
- Apr 18, 2024
- Permalink
Great theme, tone, atmosphere; and then that ending
"Late Night with the Devil" takes us back to 1977, where it envisions a fictional fourth commercial broadcast network competing against the reigning king of late-night talk shows, Johnny Carson. The rival host, Jack Delroy (played by David Dastmalchian), is a local Chicago talk show host who gets bumped up to the national level. The film opens with a five-minute prologue that sets up Jack's backstory, including a key biographical fact that hints at the movie's eventual outcome.
During sweeps week-a quarterly event when networks try to boost ratings by airing their most outrageous content-Jack and his producer, Leo (Josh Quong Tart), decide to take their Halloween broadcast up a notch. They invite a psychic named Christou (Fayssal Bazzi) and Carmichael the Conjurer (Ian Bliss) to the show. Things take a dark turn when bestselling parapsychologist Dr. June Ross-Mitchell (Laura Gordon) interviews Lilly (Ingrid Torelli), the sole survivor of a satanic cult's mass suicide.
The film expertly balances absurd dark humor with eerie horror elements, with a perfect mix of 70's tone and atmosphere. Dastmalchian's performance as Jack Delroy is fantastic, and the practical effects add to the overall creepiness.
However, the movie stumbles in its execution. The insistence on being a "found footage" film built around a buried broadcast creates unrealistic expectations for everything that follows. While the gooey practical effects are impressive, the movie doesn't always feel beholden to the visual conventions of circa-1977 American late-night talk shows. Perhaps this departure from realism is intentional, but it can be jarring for viewers expecting a more consistent tone.
And then there's the ending. Unfortunately, it's a complete shift that destroys the atmosphere the rest of the movie worked hard to establish. The terrible CGI undermines the tension, leaving viewers disappointed. It's a shame because "Late Night with the Devil" had the potential to be a really good movie, but that awful ending prevents me from wholeheartedly recommending it.
This might have been a 8-9 but that ending drops it to 6-7.
During sweeps week-a quarterly event when networks try to boost ratings by airing their most outrageous content-Jack and his producer, Leo (Josh Quong Tart), decide to take their Halloween broadcast up a notch. They invite a psychic named Christou (Fayssal Bazzi) and Carmichael the Conjurer (Ian Bliss) to the show. Things take a dark turn when bestselling parapsychologist Dr. June Ross-Mitchell (Laura Gordon) interviews Lilly (Ingrid Torelli), the sole survivor of a satanic cult's mass suicide.
The film expertly balances absurd dark humor with eerie horror elements, with a perfect mix of 70's tone and atmosphere. Dastmalchian's performance as Jack Delroy is fantastic, and the practical effects add to the overall creepiness.
However, the movie stumbles in its execution. The insistence on being a "found footage" film built around a buried broadcast creates unrealistic expectations for everything that follows. While the gooey practical effects are impressive, the movie doesn't always feel beholden to the visual conventions of circa-1977 American late-night talk shows. Perhaps this departure from realism is intentional, but it can be jarring for viewers expecting a more consistent tone.
And then there's the ending. Unfortunately, it's a complete shift that destroys the atmosphere the rest of the movie worked hard to establish. The terrible CGI undermines the tension, leaving viewers disappointed. It's a shame because "Late Night with the Devil" had the potential to be a really good movie, but that awful ending prevents me from wholeheartedly recommending it.
This might have been a 8-9 but that ending drops it to 6-7.
Ghostwatch, but American
- Mukatsuku74
- Apr 23, 2024
- Permalink
Very entertaining but a bit disjointed
I really admire how much work went into this film.
The 70's ethic was recreated believably and the set and wardrobe folks are to be commended. As are the sound people.
The movie is comprised of found footage or previously unreleased footage of a TV talk show which featured some special Halloween guests to boost ratings.
The host has his own tragic, sensational backstory to add to the plot of what takes place in the hour-long talk show episode.
The story is compelling and tragic and has some references to the occult participation of the protagonist talk show celebrity.
The issue I note with the movie is the individual segments of the guests who each have a few moments of terror in the film. These subsections of the film come off as separate chapters and take away from the focus of the film, the title, the Late Night with the devil interview.
Other than this disjointed assembly of characters, the film is entertaining for its throwback qualities and the interesting characters assembled.
The 70's ethic was recreated believably and the set and wardrobe folks are to be commended. As are the sound people.
The movie is comprised of found footage or previously unreleased footage of a TV talk show which featured some special Halloween guests to boost ratings.
The host has his own tragic, sensational backstory to add to the plot of what takes place in the hour-long talk show episode.
The story is compelling and tragic and has some references to the occult participation of the protagonist talk show celebrity.
The issue I note with the movie is the individual segments of the guests who each have a few moments of terror in the film. These subsections of the film come off as separate chapters and take away from the focus of the film, the title, the Late Night with the devil interview.
Other than this disjointed assembly of characters, the film is entertaining for its throwback qualities and the interesting characters assembled.
This is brilliant
I managed to see this during The Sydney Film Festival when it was on and it was one of the most underrated films of the night.
David Dastmalchian is brilliant in this role and the other actors in this gel and make this one of the films of the year.
As an Australian it is good to know when can at least make some good horror films, and you'd never know that this was made on a minimal budget it never shows and I hope it gets to make a big return..
I have nothing but good things to say about this because of just how good it was. I always see things at film festivals and seeing this was a highlight of the SFF and it has MIFF to go. Can't wait for everyone else to see it.
David Dastmalchian is brilliant in this role and the other actors in this gel and make this one of the films of the year.
As an Australian it is good to know when can at least make some good horror films, and you'd never know that this was made on a minimal budget it never shows and I hope it gets to make a big return..
I have nothing but good things to say about this because of just how good it was. I always see things at film festivals and seeing this was a highlight of the SFF and it has MIFF to go. Can't wait for everyone else to see it.
- phaserphil80
- Jul 31, 2023
- Permalink
a nod towards Exorcist and Amityville
I have to say that this is a rather original and really good effort of making a thrilling horror, with a nod towards Exorcist and Amityville. We're surprised we are straight in with a 70s late-night talk show very much like Johnny Carson and this is rather long before we get into this brilliant part of the horror. I realise that we are being drawn into this and it is rather clever and we have almost forgotten about the horror. Of course we enjoy the way the program is made and with all the advert breaks, the short music introductions and the unfunny jokes. David Dastmalchian is brilliant, he doesn't put a foot wrong also Ingrid Torelli is almost even better. She is a young Australian girl with her first film and amazing although I understand that she was had a wonderful run in 2016 with Matilda the Musical in Melbourne but she certainly had a different role in this one with a lovely look in her eye, she is a bit of a devil.
- christopher-underwood
- Mar 30, 2024
- Permalink
Low budget filmmaking done right
- DanLawson146
- Mar 23, 2024
- Permalink
Too slow and didn't go anywhere
For a movie that is simply horror and not horror, drama or horror, thriller it really didn't do much that you would call horror like. Like others here have said the character development went on too long, I clearly remember looking at the clock at around the 52min mark wondering if it was going to go somewhere with all this build up and it seemed like a decent movie until the CGI arrived.
Secondly there could have been some vulgarities or at least some attempt to create a sense of unease but alas there really was little to no courage put into this aspect of the movie which ultimately leaves it open for just the most timid of horror movie viewers to really enjoy. I like the idea just not the execution. Not bad but a bit weak for my liking.
Secondly there could have been some vulgarities or at least some attempt to create a sense of unease but alas there really was little to no courage put into this aspect of the movie which ultimately leaves it open for just the most timid of horror movie viewers to really enjoy. I like the idea just not the execution. Not bad but a bit weak for my liking.
Well done
- BandSAboutMovies
- May 2, 2024
- Permalink
Found footage done perfectly till the final act when it flopped spectacularly
This is an overrated flick.
I'm sorry to sound like a hater, but I found this movie to be really boring and kind of dumb. It's a great premise and I enjoyed the 70's vibe, but there was nothing in it that I found to be scary/horrifying. I realize it's a low-budget film, yet the acting, effects, and plot really lacked. In short, this movie really comes across as an amateurish, film-school short. There's a whole lot of overrating of this movie - I think that is mostly due to the fact that it is different. However, different does not mean good. I'm tired of overhyped movies like this getting buzz just so people sign up to stream it.
Alright.
In this movie, a late night show host, desperate for ratings, does some paranormal experiments live on air on the Halloween night of 1977.
This movie right now has a rating of 7.4 with 13k votes, which by the scale of the horror movies is like 9 for regular movies, so as a horror fan I've watched it as soon as I could.
I really wanted to like this, I really did. It is a unique story as mentioned by other reviewers, the setting is great, acting is great (specially Mr. Dastmalchian), the movie is really engaging and not a bad at all, totally watchable. So what's the catch? In my humble opinion, it is not scary. It has some scary moments, but in overall, I didn't find it scary.
Most horror movies have some main elements that are scary or at least creepy for everyone, like new house, peculiar entities, etc., but late night shows are not creepy in nature, so maybe they needed some more preparations or backstories for the viewers.
In conclusion, this is not a bad movie, it is unique, has its moments and acting is great. In general, it could be better (or worse), but it is watchable, specially for horror fans, but do not expect anything groundbreaking or extraordinary.
This movie right now has a rating of 7.4 with 13k votes, which by the scale of the horror movies is like 9 for regular movies, so as a horror fan I've watched it as soon as I could.
I really wanted to like this, I really did. It is a unique story as mentioned by other reviewers, the setting is great, acting is great (specially Mr. Dastmalchian), the movie is really engaging and not a bad at all, totally watchable. So what's the catch? In my humble opinion, it is not scary. It has some scary moments, but in overall, I didn't find it scary.
Most horror movies have some main elements that are scary or at least creepy for everyone, like new house, peculiar entities, etc., but late night shows are not creepy in nature, so maybe they needed some more preparations or backstories for the viewers.
In conclusion, this is not a bad movie, it is unique, has its moments and acting is great. In general, it could be better (or worse), but it is watchable, specially for horror fans, but do not expect anything groundbreaking or extraordinary.
- taghiramzi
- Apr 19, 2024
- Permalink
Don't trust the high ratings
These high ratings have to be hyped reviews. Whenever someone sees something at a film festival or a pre screening people feel like what they are watching is special.
This is an okay movie. As someone who actually grew up in the 70s they did a great job with the 70s feel without being too campy.
I watch A LOT of movies, so it all was so predictable, but not completely disappointing. No one in the theater looked surprised when the "twist" was revealed. It's not even a twist.
The actor who played Lilly - wow. At first I thought she was a bit old to play 13, but as I watched her acting she drew me right in. Her intense looks really gave the movie an agitated feeling.
It moves slow as a horror movie, but it is an entertaining 70s throwback until the "horror" unfolds.
This is an okay movie. As someone who actually grew up in the 70s they did a great job with the 70s feel without being too campy.
I watch A LOT of movies, so it all was so predictable, but not completely disappointing. No one in the theater looked surprised when the "twist" was revealed. It's not even a twist.
The actor who played Lilly - wow. At first I thought she was a bit old to play 13, but as I watched her acting she drew me right in. Her intense looks really gave the movie an agitated feeling.
It moves slow as a horror movie, but it is an entertaining 70s throwback until the "horror" unfolds.
- darrylmsmith
- Apr 3, 2024
- Permalink