For the first time, witness what went down during the Halloween 1977 live broadcast of Night Owls with Jack Delroy, a late night talk show that went horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the living rooms of Americans. Late Night with the Devil recounts the events that shook a nation, but be warned, what you are about to see may be disturbing to some viewers.
As this film made its way through its initial documentary-esque setup, my first thought was “I hope this entire film is an episode of a talk show in full”… and to my delight, that’s exactly what it is. Aussie writers/directors Cameron and Colin Cairnes exhibit exceptional dedication and terrific execution when it comes to presenting this experience as a real talk show. Everything from the way it’s shot to the 4:3 aspect ratio is designed to mimic a 70s late night talk show and it’s damn-near flawless. The aesthetic and tone is on point, only breaking its format in moments where it helps from an audience enjoyment perspective, which is understandable. One of the best compliments I can give it is that it’s a very immersive journey – I occasionally had to remind myself that what we’re watching isn’t actually real because it’s presented so well. The pacing is on the slower side, but there’s never a dull moment. The horror content weaves its way in from quite early on, so anyone who isn’t a fan of a slow burn should have enough to latch on to.
Speaking on the horror, this is one of those films that’s more creepy and unsettling than it is scary. The tone is dark and unnerving, and the demonic antics that go down are intense and creepy, but it’s also wonderfully entertaining. A good way to describe the movie is it feels like a horror-themed theme park ride – the vibe and tone are designed to creep you out, but at the end of the day it’s more of a fun, unique experience than one that terrifies you to your core. There’s some great practical horror effects in here that benefit from the grainy filter that’s applied to give the 70s feel. In fact, because of the old-school aesthetic, it’s the practical effects that are the most impactful. The few instances of CGI are more noticeable because of how the effects interact with the grainy quality. All in all, the production design and practical effects are one of the film’s strong-suits.
The story itself is a thrill to follow, both as a horror film but also as a talk show. The “real vs fake” debate concerning demonic possessions is a huge part of the film, and I loved seeing that back and forth play out. Regardless of whether there would be scares or creepy moments, that conflict was thoroughly engaging… if also a little heightened for the sake of ‘Hollywood’. The climax is an interesting one – it definitely doesn’t go in the expected direction and it’s a little full on in comparison to the ‘volume’ of the rest of the movie. I think something a little more subtle would’ve worked better, but it embraces the chaos and sticks to its guns so I applaud the creativity and willingness to do something different.
Let’s talk about David Dastmalchian, Jack Delroy himself. Dastmalchian has had a myriad of recognisable roles, but is never really the front man in his biggest movies. He’s not just great here, he’s the perfect man for this role. He flawlessly encapsulates the weird and macabre vibe of the story and the earnest yet shady demeanour the character gives off. He fully leans into the role and nails it to the point where I will instantly think of Jack Delroy whenever I see Dastmalchian. Part of me wants and wishes to see a talk show hosted by Dastmalchian as Delroy – let’s make it happen. As for the rest of the performances, Ian Bliss’ Carmichael Haig to Rhys Auteri’s Gus are the two highlights. Both play very exaggerated caricatures of their real-world counterparts – skeptics and talk show sidekicks, respectively, and they both do a brilliant job.
In the end, Late Night with the Devil is a refreshingly fun, macabre and unsettling horror film that shines through its dedication to its 70s talk show format. The execution is spot on, right down to the pacing, behind the scenes antics and classic late night TV tropes. The creepy practical effects and well-done demonic possession moments should please all sorts of horror fans. It’s well polished, gripping and entertaining all the way through, perfect for anyone looking to add a little extra creep factor to your night.
8/10
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