Devil (2010)
2010
PG-13
80 Minutes
A group of people trapped in a elevator realizes that the devil is among them.
User Review
-
Devil paints a mildly thrilling picture to the phrase "Devil in Disguise". Ding! Floor 666 please. Essentially a mystery thriller with a religious overtone that hones in on forgiveness and sin confession. Except it lacks the depth required to convey the predictably derivative message, consequently producing a somewhat entertaining shell of claustrophobia. After all, elevators are a common fear amongst the public (including myself). Five individuals ride an elevator that unexpectedly malfunctions, where slowly but surely each one dies. Who is the culprit? Are there links between these seemingly random civilians? Or is it actually the Devil himself? As stupid as the premise is, you have to admire the suspense that is crafted from a mediocre screenplay. The inventive use of lighting mixed in with creative camera techniques really complemented each other. Allowing the characters to communicate directly to the camera, either verbally or through suspicious stares, allowed us as viewers to be in the elevator with them. It makes the mystery have a more direct perspective, especially given the claustrophobic environment. The dark mood is set, the characters gradually develop each unveiling motives and the acting was fine from all cast members. Yet, the whole thriller felt generic. The script was cumbersome, clunking along resembling a classic "who dunnit?" formula. Except the forced backstories, coincidental plot devices (such as the security company name) and overall helplessness of the situation regressed what could've been an intelligent film. There's only so long the detective can keep saying "just stay calm, we will get you out in a minute!" for a ninety minute runtime. 'Coincidence: The Hellavator' would've been a more apt title, but still, it's an entertaining watch that does not require too much focus. The best production Shyamalan has been involved with during his atrocity phase. I assume the challenge is to guess the culprit before the grand unveil. Did you guess correctly? Because I sure did! Maybe I should be the detective instead...0 member like this review.
