As a seasoned film enthusiast with a penchant for the macabre and a soft spot for found footage films, I must say that ‘Late Night with the Devil‘ has left me thoroughly captivated. Having survived countless horror flicks from the 80s Blair Witch Project era to the current day, this film has managed to hold its own amidst the sea of imitators and pretenders.
Under the guise of anonymity, ‘Late Night with the Devil’ – not the proposed title for Amanda Holden’s chat show but rather a movie or documentary – is said to be a recovered tape from a US talk show that faced a disastrous turn of events. Starring David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad) as the enigmatic Jack Delroy, the host, and featuring Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, and Ingrid Torelli in a chilling role as a potentially possessed adolescent.
1977 serves as the backdrop for “Late Night with the Devil,” a series where the ratings for host Jack Delroy’s late-night talk show are plummeting. In an attempt to breathe new life into his program, Jack arranges a Halloween special that breaks all conventions. He invites a psychic, a sceptic, and as the main event, parapsychologist author June (Gordon) and her subject Lily (Torelli) – a 13-year-old girl who escaped from a satanic cult and claims to be possessed. Ignorant of the horrors he’s about to provoke, Jack engages in intimate conversations with his unconventional and risky guests during the live broadcast. Dare to watch the authentic footage of this notorious late-night recording session if you can stomach it.
Previously, directors Colin and Cameron Cairnes had produced a few low-budget independent horror films. To minimize expenses, they decided to set their new project within a TV studio, where the pivotal event unfolds. They then shared their script with Joel Anderson, whose 2008 documentary-style horror film Lake Mungo was underrated but excellent. Impressed by the script, Anderson agreed to serve as an executive producer and help secure financing and distribution for the project.
The movie begins with a brief, documentary-like segment detailing Delroy’s journey from obscurity to fame, culminating in a successful syndicated talk show aimed at surpassing Johnny Carson. However, following his wife’s unfortunate demise and several questionable incidents regarding his personal history, he returns to his show with a Halloween special that is packed with suspenseful elements. This leads to an unexpected and startling conclusion.
25 years after “The Blair Witch Project” shook the world, I can’t help but reflect on the influx of fake found-footage documentaries that followed, many of which were lackluster at best. However, one that stands out for me is “Late Night with the Devil,” a film marketed as a taping of a TV show, albeit with a few genre rulebreakers. The most notable deviation occurs when the show goes to commercial breaks, and instead of cutting away to ads, we follow the characters in a handheld style beyond the confines of the television studio cameras at the time. Despite this breach, it doesn’t detract from the gripping drama that unfolds as the live show amps up the tension.
Unlike numerous contemporary film releases, this one stands out with an abundance of excellent bonus content, which is characteristic of Second Sight Films, a company renowned for producing Home Entertainment discs to perfection. The extra features include:
- UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
New audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
- Bringing Their ‘A’ Game: an interview with directors Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes
- Mind if I Smoke?: An interview with actor Ian Bliss
- We’re Gonna Make a Horror Movie: an interview with actor Ingrid Torelli
- Extremely Lucky: An interview with actor Rhys Auteri
- Cult Hits: Zoë Rose Smith on Late Night with The Devil
- Behind the Scenes
- The Making of The Night Owl music
- South by Southwest 2023 Q&A with David Dastmalchian, Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes Limited Edition Contents
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Haley Turnbull
- 120-page book with behind-the-scenes images and new essays by Kat Hughes, James Rose, Rebecca Sayce, Graham Skipper, Julieann Stipidis and Emma Westwood
- Six collectors’ art cards
Among all, ‘Both directors giving their best performance’ is an alternative expression that conveys the same idea. They shared insights into the movie’s origin, and it’s unfortunate they didn’t provide commentary because they make a compelling duo. The interviews with Ian Bliis, Rhys Auteri, and Ingrid Torelli are impressive, with Torelli’s real-life character having a dreamlike quality that made her perfect for the role. The ‘behind the scenes’ footage is worth checking out, but it’s best to watch the film first, as this featurette includes extended recordings of the entire movie shot during a brief production with many scenes filmed in long takes lasting up to 12 minutes instead of the typical few minutes per day that most films aim for.
As Halloween approaches, Late Night with the Devil is perfectly timed for late-night home viewing. It’s an excellent new entry in the found footage genre.
Here’s the Late Night with the Devil trailer…..
This special edition of “Late Night with the Devil” in stunning 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray will be available as a dual box set starting from October 28, 2024.
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2024-10-19 02:24