Late Night With the Devil Summary & Review - Talk Show Terror

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Late Night With the Devil did not turn out to be the tour de force I had hoped for. However, on many levels it won't disappoint especially if you are an aficionado of television in the 1970s. Set in 1977, the film centres around Jack Delroy, a popular but troubled talk show host. Delroy's beloved wife has passed away, leaving him shattered, and his career is on the slide. In a bid to revive the show, he decides to air a special live episode on Halloween night, featuring a series of guests connected to the occult: Christou, a medium; Carmichael, a bullish paranormal sceptic and Lily (accompanied by parapsychologist, Madeline Piper), a young girl who allegedly is the sole survivor of a Satanic cult and believed to be possessed. As the night progresses, what begins as a ratings-raising stunt descends into turmoil and terror as supernatural events unfold live on air. 

Entertainment Turned Deadly

As the episode continues, strange phenomena begin to occur as each guest demonstrates their abilities or areas of interest. Christou comes across as a charlatan until a moment of genuine insight, Carmichael (a former magician), conducts an experiment in mass hypnosis, and Lily exhibits increasingly disturbing behaviour. What begins as entertainment turns deadly, with Delroy confronting horrifying truths about the past and the realisation that they've invited something sinister into their midst.

Meticulous Design

Set against a backdrop of social and civil unrest in 1970s America (yes, it was happening then too), the film's strength lies in its ability to create an authentic atmosphere of the era. From the set to the costumes, and even the film grain, the production design is meticulous. For anyone who remembers this time, you will be impressed with the attention to detail. I felt so immersed in the realism to the extent that I experienced mild surprise when there were no adverts in the breaks. 

The contrast of the on-set colour scenes and the black and white back-stage interludes helped to break up the action and also add layers to the story as feelings and motivations of the characters are revealed off-camera and allowed us to get a glimpse into the relationships between them which, naturally, aren't as they appear on screen.

The Price of Success

Late Night with the Devil explores exploitation, the price of success and the lengths to which we might go to achieve our heart's desires. Jack Delroy's moral ambiguity and willingness to exploit those around him for ratings suggests that the real horror lies not just in the supernatural. 

The film deliberately blurs the line between trickery and truth, presenting hoaxes and sceptics alongside seemingly genuine supernatural events. It flirts with the idea that you can't always believe what you see - but also hints that maybe you should, yet it never quite takes a firm stance. On the other hand, it's designed purely for entertainment and not for posing philosophical questions, isn't it? Or is it?

A Man on The Brink

For lovers of  nostalgia, it's all there: the overly sincere host; the comedy sidekick; the ooh-ing, ah-ing from the audience and the endless ad breaks for "messages from our sponsors". Well, there was in America. Here in the UK, we had Michael Parkinson on the BBC, a whole different kettle of fish but more about him later.

However, for all its good retro looks the narrative feels a little dragged out with too slow a build up to an intense finale. This does allow for convincing character development and David Dastmalchian's performance is a highlight, delivering a nuanced portrayal of a man on the brink of professional and personal collapse. The supporting cast deliver strong performances that complement Dastmalchian's intensity. Ingrid Torelli is outstanding, for a small part, and generates just enough creepy innocence as Lily, who may have a demon living inside of her. 

Overall, this is a compelling watch, even if it doesn't live up to its initial promise and I would suggest that for similar live-broadcast horror and with more visceral scares try the The Cleansing or Ghost Watch, the latter featuring the aforementioned Michael Parkinson. However, the premise and outstanding production design of Late Night with the Devil, combined with strong performances and direction, make it something of a standout. While it may not tick all the boxes for the avid horror fan, its journey into the darkness of late-night television is one that will stay with you after the closing credits. 

3/5

Jack Delroy: David Dastmalchian
Lily D'Abo: Ingrid Torelli
June Ross-Mitchell: Laura Gordon
Christou: Fayssal Bazzi
Carmichael Hunt: Ian Bliss
Madeline Piper: Georgina Haig
Directors: Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes
Writer: Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes
Release: 2024

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