Late Night with the Devil Review: Horror enthusiasts have had a rough time this year, with mainstream titles like Night Swim and Imaginary failing to hit the mark. However, the genre is now experiencing a resurgence with three standout films making waves. Among these, Late Night with the Devil shines as the crowning achievement of this new wave of horror.
The film opens with a mockumentary-style introduction centered on Jack Delroy (played by David Dastmalchian), a once-prominent late-night talk show host whose career has hit rock bottom following his wife’s death. By 1977, his show, Night Owls with Jack Delroy, is teetering on the brink of cancellation. Desperate to revive his flagging career, Jack orchestrates a Halloween special featuring a psychic and a former magician-turned-skeptic, but his most controversial guest is a parapsychologist who brings with her Lilly, a teenager who survived a Satanic church’s mass suicide.
What Jack and his producer secretly plan is a live TV séance to summon a demon, hoping it will save the show and his career. The film presents the complete, unedited master tape of this ill-fated episode, revealing the terrifying events that unfolded.
Late Night with the Devil excels at blurring the lines between reality and fiction, making viewers question whether they’re watching an actual historical event. Its retro production design is impeccable, though it’s worth noting some controversy over the use of AI in the show’s artwork. The show’s tone effectively captures the essence of late-night television from the era, adding to the authenticity.
David Dastmalchian delivers a standout performance as Jack Delroy, balancing charisma with an undercurrent of desperation. The film’s clever use of black-and-white segments during ad breaks allows Dastmalchian to showcase Jack’s darker side and the desperation beneath his polished exterior.
Ingrid Torelli, a talented newcomer, makes a significant impact as Lilly. Her unsettling performance, particularly when she stares directly into the camera, adds a chilling layer to the film’s unsettling atmosphere.
The Unique Appeal of Late Night with the Devil: A Modern Found-Footage Masterpiece
Directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes, the film opts for minimal gore, focusing instead on building a pervasive sense of dread. A standout sequence involving worms adds a brilliant touch of gross-out horror, while the film’s finale introduces a starkly different tone, shifting into a bizarre and bloody climax that might divide audiences.
In summary, Late Night with the Devil stands out as one of the most inventive takes on the found footage genre in years. While Jack Delroy may be a fictional creation, the scares are very much real.