It’s official, I’ve found the perfect film to watch every Halloween. I know Spring has barely begun and we’ve got the most part of the year to get through before I start planning such a thing, but this movie ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to my love for the horror genre.
It’s Halloween 1977, and talkshow host Jack Delroy has one last trick up his sleeve to boost the ratings of his failing talkshow. He has quite a diverse list of guests of the supernatural world to shake the nation: a psychic, a skeptic, and a girl who claims she’s possessed by the devil. A perfect line up for a live-show on the spookiest night of the year.
The film begins in the style of a documentary with a narrator setting up the world, introducing us to the charismatic Jack Delroy and his background as an American superstar.
I adore Found-Footage horrors, and this film feels unique. It mixes both on-air footage and as soon as it goes to commercials, the film shifts to black and white with shaky handheld cameras. You get to see the behaviours of all the characters on and off the air which brings more life to this film.
It’s a comical horror film, it’s not too heavy on the laughs but enough to keep you smirking. Whether it’s through David Dastmalchian’s typical silly talkshow one liners, or through the feuds behind the scenes amongst the crew. The grotesque Cronenberg-style gore will have you covering your eyes.
It was perfectly written, every character held a purpose and had a balanced screen time which is rare to come by.
We need more films with David Dastmalchian as the lead. My admiration for him as an actor has skyrocketed out of the stratosphere.
Oh, and I have to mention, Ingrid Torelli, who plays the possessed girl was superb. She was unsettling from the moment she first stared into the lens. You heard it here first (maybe not) but that girl will be a huge star.
Late Night with the Devil is an unforgettably thrilling experience. It’s funny, it’s grotesque, and entertaining as Hell. A perfect Halloween movie. It doesn’t miss a trick and is all treat.