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MOVIE REVIEW
'Late Night With The Devil' Is A Smart And Unique Horror Movie That Features A Great Lead Performance By David Dastmalchian
By Sal LoCicero | March 25, 2024
From the studio that brought you, one of the most polarizing films of last year, ‘Skinamarink’ (2023), comes another brand new original independent horror film that may shock you. ‘Late Night with the Devil’ is an audacious feature that is eager to give horror fans a satisfying treat.
In 1977, late night talk show host, Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian) was back on tv, after a significant fall in his career. On the night of his return, he brings out a young girl who claims that the devil is in her body. This creates a bunch of unknown paranormal/demonic events to occur within the show.
‘Late Night with the Devil’ strongly delivers as an original and horrifying feature, and David Dastmalchian gives a fantastic lead performance - and proves that he deserves more leading roles in the future. This movie is presented as a documentary about a (fictional) late night TV host who had a rough time on air, with his ratings at a low, and devastating personal issues, Jack Delroy is a celebrity who wants his fame back, as well as making his show better than ever before. We get a clear, but brief history around the 1970s. How the picture looks gives it a retro grain that feels as if you are watching this from a box television. Writer-directors Cameron and Colin Cairnes put a lot of thought and effort into the backstory of our main character.
With the story being so strong and compelling, it further helps the horror aspect to be as effective as possible. The Cairnes brothers do an excellent job showcasing some of the scariest moments in the film. They are really smart with it, teasing you (in a way) to think differently about what you saw on screen. It is very unsettling and disturbing, which is horror done right. At times, it can even feel like we are seeing something that wasn’t meant to be seen.
The directors are also able to juggle around different side characters and their characteristics, and it makes for more interesting subplots. The production design is incredible, the look and design of the talk show set is vivid and visually accurate.
The only thing standing in the way of this film’s greatness is the ending. There is no doubt that the last five minutes are terrifying to watch, however it does end abruptly and some of the messages and themes aren’t fully delivered.
In the end, ‘Late Night with the Devil’ is one of the most unique, horrifying, and wise horror movies of recent memory, and it is sure to please most horror fans searching for something special.
Grade: A-
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