Subgenre: Found Footage | Supernatural
Underlying Element: possession | demons
Director: Cameron Cairnes & Colin Cairnes
Synopsis:
This movie is about the behind-the-scenes footage of a live broadcast showing a famous TV host pulling off a Halloween stunt by interviewing a possessed girl.
Analysis:
Late Night With The Devil (2023) is probably the movie that cemented David Dastmalchian as a horror icon. He played the part of a fame-hungry talk show host from the 1970s really well. The acting, the production design, and the premise itself made this movie interesting.
What's nice about watching this is the fact that it doesn't feel like a movie at all. They showed it in such a way as if you're just watching an old-school TV show, complete with interstitials and commentaries. They had an issue with using AI-generated art, but it didn't affect the movie.
Another good thing is how they increased the tension towards the actual demon interview. The way everything escalated up to the point where it became super weird is mind-blowing. Remember, this is a talk show where things happen so fast. Seeing what happens during commercial breaks makes you understand what is actually going on.
On the other hand, it's a bit disappointing that the practical effects and gory scenes are not scary. In fact, the ending is so abrupt that viewers might be left hanging and wanting more. Then again, it is found footage, so the tape running out or the cameraman getting killed is understandable.
That being said, this movie will leave you questioning your sanity.
Enjoyed the quick review?