The horror comedy starring David Dastmalchian depicts a late-night show gone awry
Photo via comingoffthereels.com.
If you’re a fan of horror movies like I am, then there is a surprising number of options to choose from when heading out to the movie theatre this month. From the traditional thrills of The First Omen, to Sydney Sweeney’s Immaculate filled with nuns and nudity, and the Dracula-inspired Abigail, anyone looking for a big screen thrill is spoiled with choice.
Of all these options, I decided to spend my hard-earned money on the horror comedy Late Night with the Devil. Was it worth the nearly $16 ticket? Not particularly, but everything being too expensive isn’t the fault of this movie.
David Dastmalchian quite literally steals the show as Jack Delroy, a late-night host trying to fight back against falling ratings by interviewing a girl supposedly possessed by the devil on Halloween night.
Late Night with the Devil was written and directed by Australian brothers Cameron and Colin Cairnes. The entire movie is presented as a lost episode of a fictional late-night show from the ‘70s gone awry.
After he played small parts in so many movies I love, like Prisoners and The Dark Knight, it’s great seeing Dastmalchian — again, literally — in the spotlight. He does a great job portraying the charismatic Jack who is hiding a few dark secrets.
Late Night with the Devil sticks to its aesthetic to a tee, capturing the vibes of a seedy variety show. Almost all of the 93-minute runtime is a real time version of this fictional late-night show, complete with a live audience and studio band. During the “commercial breaks,” the movie switches into black and white, allowing us to see what the characters are up to while the show is off the air.
While horror comedies can be very hit or miss for me, I overall enjoyed how this movie approached the genre. It’s not a horror movie trying to be funny, it’s a fictional comedic show that devolves into a horror movie. The switch in perspective to see everything going wrong behind the scenes helps build tension, and is a great change in pace from the TV format.
If you’re looking for the flashiest effects and jump-out-of-your-seat scares, then this might not be for you. This is campy all around and owns up to it, wholeheartedly embracing the occasional cheesy moment. With that said, I was still impressed by the level of visuals for being such a low-budget film ($2 million). There is some body horror imagery that really got under my skin in the best way possible.
The ‘70s aesthetic is done very well, with some great video filters that start to glitch in the presence of the devil. Costumes all throughout this film standout, making this a treat for anyone who loves fashion of this era.
The satanic panic (which actually started in Victoria) coursing through society at this time in history is at the forefront of Late Night with the Devil, with a mockumentary-style debrief kicking off the film. This theme feels very timely, as commentary on public distrust and conspiracy theories is more relevant than ever.
This movie has been quite the topic of controversy since its release. The directors confirmed that three pieces of AI art had been used in the production. This has led to many people review-bombing it on sites like Letterboxd, with some viewers claiming the inclusion of this technology made them cry.
I kept a close eye out for this AI art while watching, and guess what — I couldn’t tell at all. Quite frankly, in a situation like this, I truly don’t care. Should they have just used ‘real’ art? Probably. Does it diminish the artistic merit of this movie? Not in my eyes. This is an original script with a unique vision, so I don’t personally see the issue of a shoestring production using new tools to realize their goal. I’d rather watch an indie film like this with a few AI drawings in it than some soulless high-budget studio slop.
Late Night with the Devil isn’t anything ground-breaking, but it has a strong idea of the story it wants to tell and sticks to it. It will be available on the horror streaming service Shudder pretty soon, and I think this is exactly the type of movie to watch on a Saturday night at home. You’ll probably get a few laughs out of it, maybe get spooked a little, and chances are, you’ll be entertained for an hour and a half. For me, that’s all I can really ask for from a cheap horror movie.
