If I’m being honest, the recent rise of experimental horror has been largely a miss for me. Things like “Skinamarink” and “Mad God” are films I appreciate for their wild swings but don’t really care for their final product. Horror has been genre long unchanged and open to a freeform approach within the confines of its framework, and we often gravitate and praise films that execute the horror cliches well rather than champion ones that purposefully break free from them, existing on the fringes of a sprawling world.
“Late Night With The Devil” somehow manages to exist on both planes; a 70s late night experiment that never really pushes the boundaries of its conventional foundation. What unfolds is a sort of vibes horror film, one that asks some patience from its viewers and requires audiences to fully invest in the world it is creating for the actual horror to take hold. This film excels in its niche vibes creation, and manages to elevate a rather simple narrative into a tried and true horror cult classic.
Before we get into breaking down the film itself, we need to address the discourse surrounding the use of AI here. It is a big black mark on an otherwise blemish free film, and “Late Night With the Devil” would’ve been better served not addressing it or drawing attention to it at all. Unfortunately, we live in a world where AI is not eradicated from the creatives arts, merely temporarily stayed until people who make a living cutting corners can weave it into every facet of artistic endeavors without upsetting artists. These small wins for the machines are absolutely things we should draw attention to and call out. I want to be clear, I am wholly on the side of the users and not the machines. As a writer, nothing is worse than AI seeping its way into the very fabric of storytelling and creation. So I want to give some validity to those with reservations about this film and their minimal use of AI generated images.
You are not in the wrong for boycotting this film, nor are you wrong for asking others to do the same.
AI is a problem, and regardless of the strides we made during the strikes to keep it from taking over most jobs, it is unfortunately not going away and is not out of filmmaking. We are going to continually be plagued by these kinds of scandals in most films going forward. Some will come to the forefront of online discussion like “Late Night with Devil” and others will be wholly unnoticed until it is too late. It is important to continually shed light on these issues and not simply throw our hands up and accept it as the norm even though I believe it will eventually become just that. As we move forward with discussing this film, note that I am aware of its problematic albeit blink and you miss it inclusion of the enemy and that this review will be of everything else moving forward. It is impossible though, to not address it at least somewhat and recognize the voices that are continually fighting for artistic integrity. AI should be used to clean up the oceans and make the world better, not to deny creatives from telling stories and making art.
Written and directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes, “Late Night With The Devil” follows fictional late night host Jack Delroy who hosts the popular show Night Owls in the 70s. His rise to fame was meteoric, and he was poised to steal the top spot from Johnny Carson. However, the ratings began to drop and his beloved wife suddenly and unexpectedly died of lung cancer despite not being a smoker. Desperate to get back to the top, Jack begins inviting extreme controversy and guests onto his show in hopes that the fringe will help him gain the prestige of old. In his final live show that ended in tragedy and is now a part of the found footage archives, Jack invites a psychic, a skeptic, and a young girl who is said to be possessed by a demon onto his Halloween show in hopes to finally recapture the days of old. What we see is what transpired on that show, along with never before seen behind the scenes footage that paint a gruesome picture of that fateful night, and begs to ask the question: did we see the devil on live TV? The film also stars Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, and Georgina Haig.
“Late Night With the Devil” works best in its patience. It is not an all out bloodbath set on soaking a live audience in sacrificial blood and gore. Instead, it seeks to engross us in the culture of the times, embracing the 70s mindset of satanic panic, late night television, and the cost of fame itself. It is a film that knows that its best weapon is its setting, and “Late Night” is willing to take all the time it needs to recreate the world with which it is taking place. Sure, it betrays its own premise by eventually trailing off into omnipresent camera work, but this allows the film to feel fresh and inventive despite being a rather conventional story. The idea of “a deal with the devil gone awry” isn’t new by any stretch, and if you were to strip this down to its bare bones, you’ll find the real meat on it is rather scarce. It’s the seasoning that makes the film taste so good. The razzle dazzle of a desperate late night television show in the 70s that reeks of pandering and charlatan exploits in an even more desperate grab for ratings. It is the pursuit of power and emphasis we used to put on television and ratings that make it so unique, and the Cairnes smartly recognize what works best here.
For the first time in what seems like a long overdue time, David Dastmalchian (“Dune Part One“) gets a leading role as Jack Delroy. The proverbial “that guy” in pretty much everything, Dastmalchian has long been a highly accomplished character actor, the kind of guy who brings the weirdness so hard to every role you can’t forget him even if you can forget the film he’s in. Here, Dastmalchian is allowed a bit more humanity, and given the freedom to channel his rather off putting onscreen persona into a fully realized late night host. Jack Delroy is a weird guy, but you believe his lust for fame and fortune, and understand the depths with which he stoops to stay relevant. More than that though, Dastmalchian brilliantly demonstrates undertones of a man wrought with guilt as the events unfold. A man trapped by his own grief and dirty deeds he’s hoped would never come to light to get to into the spotlight he so desperately craves to stay in. This is what happens when you take a risk on a supporting performer and give him the opportunity to shoulder an entire feature. Dastmalchian proves he is up to the task, and “Late Night” doesn’t work nearly as well without his impeccable and layered performance.
Everyone else is great here; completely dialed into the late night world that is being created. A second, personal shoutout goes to Rhys Auteri as Gus McConnell, the late night sidekick who increasingly becomes aware of the dangers of their meddling in things that shouldn’t be meddled with but is always brushed aside because he’s, ya know, a sidekick. “Late Night” relies on atmosphere rather than jump scares and gore, and really takes its time in welcoming viewers into the world it is trying to create. There are bound to some who simply aren’t buying what the film is selling, and no amount of world building can overshadow the rather run of the mill devil story at the film’s core. But for who this film is for- you’re in for a treat. It rewards those willing to stick it out and go along for the ride, and brilliantly concludes by exposing its themes of power, grief, and sacrifice with a little blood and guts to satisfy bloodthirsty horror fans.
Elevated horror doesn’t ring the same to everyone, and “Late Night with the Devil” is very much in that sort of pantheon. But it is a badge of honor here instead of an indictment, and demonstrates just what elevated horror can be when it is done right. The devil is in the details, and the painstaking recreation of era late night television is enough to make “Late Night With the Devil” stand out among its peers.
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Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
“Late Night With the Devil” is now playing in theaters. You can watch the trailer below.
