Shedding Light on Darkness: An Advanced Review of ‘Late Night with the Devil’
I have a confession to make. I was hooked into this review by the trailer, and once I found out it was available to review, I admit I geeked out and was chomping at the bit to make this one mine. I haven’t been so ashamed of my geeking out from a trailer since the infamous Cloverfield mystery. But soon thereafter several strange things started to happen to me. First the screener was having technical delays which upset me. My appetite was whetted and was not being satiated and it heightened my desire while hollowing me out with not getting what I wanted simultaneously. Then a certain set of documents I had on my computer from A-H were mysteriously deleted, ending at Hellraiser, and another specific file which I cannot go into detail on, but it was very suspicious it attempted to delete some personal files of mine. Odd. Very odd! Then just before my viewing, once the technicalities had been overcome, I punctured my foot with a nail under my favorite viewing couch that I review all my movies from. I had never noticed this nail before, but it caused me to bleed profusely, and I hope I don’t need a tetanus shot as a result. Then during the screening itself, just at a pivotal moment, when the reveal of whether the Devil will appear or not occurs, another technical glitch occurred causing the movie to shutdown. Were these signs of the Devil close at hand, titillating my viewing of Late Night with the Devil? God only knows!
We start with a parody of a 1970’s late night talk show called “Night Owls with Jack Delroy.” Jack Delroy is played with eerie intrigue by David Dastmalchian who brings a dark dimension to everything he is in. And might I say it is great to see him in a lead role. He knocks it out of the park as a performance as a middling Late Night Talk Show Host who will do anything for the chance to be number one.
We hear the narrated story in an exposé format by none other than Michael Ironside about Jack Delroy and his loving relationship with his wife who died of cancer. There was controversy surrounding Jack in that he attended meetings at “The Grove” (i.e. Bohemian Grove) where the tall trees grow and men dress up in gowns, and worship Molech. Moving on from that ‘eccentricity’ it is noted that he just can’t beat Johnny Carson (for those too young, he was the #1 Late Night Talk Show host in the world in the 1970’s; Youtube it!). Further narrated is that his wife died 2 weeks after her diagnosis despite not being a smoker. Returning 1 month later, Jack is ready to continue his career in late night…on Halloween Night 10/31/1977.
On tonight’s program we have the psychic “Christou”. And author of “Conversations with the Devil” Dr. June Ross Mitchell (a suitably 70’s name) and a former illusionist turned professional skeptic “Carmichael” played as a suitable foil to the night’s events by Ian Bliss.
It starts with corny 70’s humor for this spooky Halloween themed episode. There is a joke about how dumb President Carter’s Brother being too dumb to spell FBI or CIA. That is funny.
Jack says that interest in the Occult is increasing. Exorcisms even. “Ohhh” says the audience. “Here we like to keep an open mind”.
This leads us to the mysterious “Christou” who tells the audience tonight spirits will finish all unfinished business. Christou kind of fails to prove his psychic abilities but eventually tunes into an “Edmond who committed suicide”. “He’s sorry for the pain he caused. He’s in a good place now.” (According to whom, I wonder?)
Christou is soon completely overwhelmed with an attack by a powerful spirit named “Milly” (or Mini?) This spirit is looking for an unmarried man with a wedding ring.
Off Air for Commercial Break:
Jack’s Producer tells him some Big Wigs are in the audience and he needs to be amazing tonight or he might get cancelled. Christou meanwhile can’t handle any make-up. He’s not feeling well.
On Air Again:
Carmichael, illusionist turned skeptic, does some close up magic with a cigar. He was known as the best group hypnotist in the world. He now tests claims of ghosts and ghost hunters. Carmichael offers a cheque for $100,000 to anyone who can prove the supernatural exists. He then calls out Christou for being a fraud to his face. Noting all the failures of guessing before getting to the suicide Edmond with some old woman and her daughter. Christou throws water in Carmichael’s face.
Jack stops Christou and confesses Milly was for him. His late Wife, Madelaine, had a nickname “Milly.” He is now indeed an unmarried man wearing a wedding ring. He shows the ring on his hand to the audience. Jack’s blank, haunted face is penetrating but subtle; real.
Christou vomits projectile black ooze from his mouth onto Carmichael’s turned back.
Off Air:
Carmichael rationalizes that everyone knows his wife died. Christou was lucky guessing the nickname. And vomiting is an illusionist trick called ‘spouting.’ Okay!
On Air:
The next guest is “Conversations with the Devil” author Dr. June Ross Mitchell. Jack says he can’t stop thinking about this book since reading it. The book seems like an allusion of the original book that set off the satanic panic called “Michelle Remembers,” (a Canadian author as it would turn out) a book that was discredited (or so ‘they’ would have you believe), about a girl who was abused by Devil worshippers and recalled her experiences using recovered-memory therapy.
A video plays of an Anton Levay style satanic ritual named “Xander Diablo.” Hail Braxas! (their demon of choice). There are stories abound about guns, kidnapping, and children bred for human sacrifice. Federal agents burn his evil house. Only “Lily,”, a young girl, now mental patient, survived the burning house, miraculously.
Lily is interviewed along with Doctor June, like doctor and patient. Dr. June seems to like Jack subtly with her eyes. She can’t hide she likes Jack.
Lily promises that Jack will be famous soon. She stares into the camera eerily.
Off Air:
Lily says in an altered voice “Don’t I already look pretty, Jack?”Jack disregards the subtle voice change.
June warns Jack that Lily is becoming more unpredictable and was saying Jack’s name many times in her fugue state. Jack believes she’s just excited to be on his show. We also get word that Christou died apparently at the hospital hemorrhaging for real.
Meanwhile Carmichael talks to the old woman and daughter who fell for Christou’s scam. They confess a lady gave them a questionnaire before TV began filming. Aha.
On Air:
June discusses piecing together Lily’s life using knowledge of Satanic rituals and parapsychology. She says the demons thrive on confusion and that Lily isn’t possessed by Braxis but a demon below Braxis.
Carmichael wryly retorts “they thrive on confusion alright.”
Assorted ritualistic items are displayed on a table in front of the guests. Carmichael mocks them by picking up a knife and claiming Braxis is making him stab himself. Then notes to the audience “it’s good to note how gullible you all are.”
Lily says to Jack the name of her demon is “Mr. Wriggles” because he wriggles inside her head and wriggles out. June helps her control the demon.
Suddenly, the Theremin (that warbling frequency instrument that makes the sound everyone mocks you for trying to tell a scary story to note it doesn’t scare them) blasts over the PA system and electrocutes Jack’s sidekick for the show “Gus.” Glasses break. Shocks occur.
Carmichael pulls a plug to the Theremin instrument and pulls out the plug and says it was connected to the PA system intentionally.
June warns the audience she’ll need everyone’s willful participation to allow a brief demonstration of Lily’s demon powers… “But not until after this short commercial break of course.” Jack says. Ha!
Off Air:
Jack’s sidekick, Gus, warns him maybe he’s meddling in something he doesn’t understand. Jack apologises in advance if the Devil actually shows up. Maybe Madelaine was warning you not to do this from beyond the grave before Christou died?
Jack replies he doesn’t care what happens now as long as he saves the show! June then warns the audience (and us) that they (we) are about to see things. {Note to Self: Bring… it… on!}
The demon inside Lily is unlocked by Dr. June. The demon is confused but recognizes Jack from an underage Bohemian Grove orgy? Whu-oh! She notes Jack’s last girlfriend died an ugly ugly death and that Dr. June is next!
The Demon then turns on Dr. June, telling her she wants to fuck Jack. June slaps Possessed Lily to silence the truth. Lily tries to bite June then ratchets her neck about. The demon laughs. The chair levitates and drops. Carmichael scowls and shakes his head. He wants to point out the unconscionable tricks employed to trick the audience. Jack says after the break.
Off Air:
Jack tells June he doesn’t know what the demon meant by ‘having Lily under the tall trees’ (of the Bohemian Grove sex orgy ritual?)
Gus, Jack’s sidekick, tells Carmichael that Christou died for real. Carmichael seems concerned for a moment.
Jack cuts the bindings for Lily using the ritualistic knife from the table (anything for Sweeps Week!)
Jack’s Producer confirms they’re back with a 40 share (“a 50 share, easy” as Howard Beale might have relayed in Network (1976); a weighty influence in terms of this movie’s themes, to be sure).
On Air:
Jack wants to hear how Carmichael explains all of what they have just seen. Carmichael says Lily is mentally ill and then it’s mass hypnosis. Lily is not possessed. June says she’s been treating Lily like “family.”
Carmichael says he can replicate everything that just happened with the help of Gus, Jack’s sidekick. Funny!
Carmichael attempts mass hypnosis. Stare into his spinning, swirling black and white watch. He snaps and it’s back to a regular watch. He convinces Gus (and the audience) that he (we) have a fear of worms…
Gus is suggested to have a nick on his face from shaving and pulls worms out of his neck. He is disembowelled and copious worms spill out of his stomach now as well. Gus starts to scream in panic. Carmichael tries to snap him out of it but cannot. Gus has a massive worm pop out from behind his eyeball. Lily laughs at the spectacle.
Carmichael pretends he cannot snap him out of it but does eventually and everything is fine again.
Jack can’t believe it and asks to rewind the tape… (I thought they recorded over TV tapes instead of preserving them like the Merv Griffith show… in this era? Maybe not the same night as filming them, logic still intact, never mind). Carmichael agrees and when the tape is played back it’s not what we saw. But just Carmichael suggesting to Gus about the worms. We all being played for straight up suckas, yo!
Lily then suggests they play back the footage of even earlier when Mr. Wriggles showed up, to see if it was mass hypnosis then too. (What clever writing and story architecture, well done!)
Suddenly my computer screening shut off making me wonder whether I’m watching the movie or reality. Damn! Freaky timing. Restart screener and I’m back! Jump scare!
Replaying the tape and… Jack’s dead wife appears behind him in slow freeze frame. Effectively creepy. Then the Devil appears killing everyone on set. I won’t give away the details.
Later, Jack enters a nightmare where everyone loves him and he’s bigger than Johnny Carson at last! He sees the large worm from a nature expert. Reliving his best moments on his show and life only as a nightmare now, like he’s about to enter Hell.
His wife is no longer dying innocently but violently, upsettingly, menacingly.
Anton Levay, I mean Xander Diablo brings Jack to Molech. Everyone caws like birds (um, owls hoot, but I’ll let that go, cawing sounds scarier). Jack drinks from a ritualistic cup (the blood from my nailed foot comes to find).
Jack is brought to the visage of his wife, bald, dying of cancer. She says he’s on his own now. He says it wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. She tells him to kill her. He nods. I think it’s the ritualistic knife… suffice it to say the Devil has one last trick I shan’t reveal.
Show’s over. End Transmission ghosts into “so it is done.”
Late Night with the Devil Uppers:
The tone, the feel of a 1970’s late night talk show was at once innocent, familiar, and authentic feeling. The character of Jack was compelling and likeable despite the innuendo of his pedophilic relation with Lily in an altered state in the Grove. I like that they left that hanging as an unconscious evil in the story, tethering Jack himself to some unspeakable demonic rituals himself without bogging us down with a victim narrative.
As mentioned earlier the architecture of plot is ingenious and satisfying and laser focused on skepticism and reality constantly vetting the demonic possibilities which gives this movie a very The Exorcism of Emily Rose dynamic of skepticism versus demon reality, which I loved. It also contained a very pseudo-realism akin to a made for TV movie event like Ghost Watch (1992) (recommended as a compendium piece for a future double feature). It heightens it by making the time and place and giving it a cinematic realm that heightens the tension.
The details of the plot felt at times more like a beautiful outline the type that comes to one perfectly formed from ‘the other side.’ Late Night with the Devil is concise, like a lucid dream. The kind of minimalism and realism that just is irrefutable to critics like me. “Critic proof” as it were, from a plot standpoint, so well done.
Late Night with the Devil Downers:
The actual demon effects were passible but not exceptionally inspired. More ghostly than demonic. But they blended ghosts and demons together without becoming “double mumbo jumbo” as Blake Synder once warned about. It blended the two finely enough into a nice blend, but not as exceptional as my expectations had it. But the Devil always loves to disappoint us in some way, does he not? And as such I give that a pass as in passable. And the gore was not severe, and it is NOT an underground film. It’s a contemporary film about the Devil which may dismay some of our harder edged viewers here at Severed Cinema. Be aware. This is the Devil you can show to your grandma (what they do in Hell together isn’t my business, but you get the innuendo).
The opening narration while informative and beautifully narrated by Michael Ironside, was expositional to the point of being on the edge of “Show, Don’t Tell” please. But it’s Michael Ironside so what the hell do I know! Carry on Mr. Ironside! Awesome job!
Late Night with the Devil Summary:
Did Late Night with the Devil meet my initial hype? Does the Devil EVER meet the hype we have for him in our mind? That’s the question the movie itself asks well. And would you align yourself with the Devil for success? The answer is always “Yes, of course I would, you idiot. Why would you ask such a stupid question?” But here we see that answer may not always be so intelligent. Would you ruin all the good in your life only for it all to turn out bad for that one chance at the ring of power? I would. But I’m sure I’m alone in that. Alone like Jack at the end of this film. Well done to the production teams involved and the writers, actors, and everyone else. Late Night with the Devil is well beyond just sympathy but enthusiasm for the Devil from me on this one. This is an excellent and highly recommended film from Severed Cinema.
Directed by: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes
Written by: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes
Produced by: David Dastmalchian, Derek Dauchy, Mat Govoni, Roy Lee, John Molloy, Steven Schneider, Adam White
Cinematography by: Matthew Temple
Music by: Roscoe James Irwin, Glenn Richards
Special Effects by: Sharp FX
Cast: David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Michael Ironside
Year: 2023
Country: Australia, United Arab Emirates
Language: English
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 1h 33min
Studio: Future Pictures, Good Fiend Films, Image Nation, Spooky Pictures
Distributor: IFC Films, Shudder
