I really loved the period horror film “Late Night With the Devil,” a near-total success of a genre thriller from co-writers and co-directors (and real-life brothers) Cameron and Colin Cairnes. Taking a crackerjack premise and combining it with a clear creative vision, this may very well prove to be one of the most well done indies of the decade.
Set on Halloween night in 1977 during Sweeps Week, late night talk show host Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian) is struggling in the ratings. His syndicated “Night Owl” program has long been a favorite of insomniacs, but his popularity plummeted after the tragic death of his wife last year. Desperate to turn things around and regain his legion of loyal viewers, Jack plans a Halloween special that’s guaranteed to make them talk. He invites a menagerie of guests who are experts in the paranormal, including a girl who is believed to be possessed by a demon.
The story is absolutely terrific, as the brothers Cairnes craft their narrative around the concept of a found footage film. What viewers are shown is said to be the recently rediscovered recording of what went on in the studio as well as what was broadcast into the living rooms of viewers that fateful night. It gives an eerie sense of realism to the entire project, and it’s extremely well done.
The film is flawless in its retro setting (major kudos to the production design team) too, right down to the costumes to the look and feel of the cinematography. The casting choices are perfect as well, particularly Dastmalchian in the lead role. He nails the voice and body language of a television host in an exceptional performance, and the rest of the cast (Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Ian Bliss, Laura Gordon, Fayssal Bazzi) embody their characters in ways that make them all feel very realistic.
It’s best to go into the film knowing little more than the basic premise, which will allow for the most organic surprises. The Cairnes brothers have a great sense of creating suspense the old fashioned way (read: no irritating, lazy jump scares), which lends an overall aura of dread and foreboding.
As should be the expected norm with small genre films, the ending isn’t as satisfying as it could’ve been. The story goes too far into the abstract when there was a clearer path just screaming to be taken, but thematically, the Cairnes brothers stick the landing (for the most part). Theirs is a tale of ambition, drive, desperation, and bad decisions, exploring the willingness of a man to risk it all to achieve the fame and fortune he desires.
The film is violent and genuinely scary, especially when Jack encourages his guests to attempt to conjure Satan on live t.v. This is not a gore-fest, though, but one of those occult-minded bone-chillers that bleeds with a Seventies cinematic flavor.
“Late Night With the Devil” is dark, smart, funny, and spine-chilling, an elevated possession horror film that’s refreshing in its originality. It deserves every single bit of praise it’s going to get.
