Late Night with the Devil has been one of the most anticipated horror films since its festival run in 2023. There is much to get excited about with its 1970s setting, an unsettling trailer, and approval from the “King of Horror” himself, Stephen King. The film will hit theaters this month, and horror fans will want to tune in.
David Dastmalchian plays Jack Delroy, a smarmy late-night television host who wants to top the charts during sweeps week, which falls on Halloween night in 1977. For the holiday, he explores the paranormal on his show, Night Owls with Jack Delroy. His guests include the flamboyant psychic Christou (Fayssal Bazzi), the egocentric magician-turned-skeptic Carmichael (Ian Bliss), parapsychologist Dr. June Ross-Mitchell (Laura Gordon), and Lily (Ingrid Torelli), a teenage girl who was the only survivor of a satanic mass suicide.
An opening voice-over and news clips portraying a period of civil “unrest and distrust” and warnings about entering a “satanic age” set the stage for the show’s antics. It also discusses Jack Delroy’s personal sorrow and setbacks and why he placed so much hope in this Halloween night episode. Viewers are informed that the footage they are about to view is a “recently discovered master tape of what went on air that night.”
From the get-go, the two things that made the film stand out were David Dastmalchian and the set design. Both are committed to making the viewing experience as authentic as possible. In fact, Dastmalchian appears to be fascinated with this period of television. In 2019, he wrote Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter for Dark Horse Comics, about a TV reporter who hosts a horror segment for a local channel.
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Despite being cast in blockbuster hits, Dastmalchian is an underrated performer. He perfectly portrays Jack Delroy and is truly dedicated to the role. Jack handles tricky circumstances with snappy one-liners, gives the audience a comforting smile when necessary, and understands when to bring out his used car salesman charm. The film’s pacing is sometimes inconsistent, but his performance keeps you glued to the screen, anticipating what’s next.
Ingrid Torelli as Lily is another noteworthy performance. Her character is like that of a Manson girl, with youthful innocence while harboring an underlying darkness. As she gazes into the camera, you can’t help but shift uncomfortably in your seat, hoping for Jack to redirect her focus. Torelli has a pivotal story moment, but she is most effective when simply peering into our souls.
Late Night with the Devil filmmakers Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes made excellent use of 1970s set design, incorporating popular colors, fashion, and societal norms from the era. Aside from the paranormal events, it’s easy to become absorbed in the production and forget it’s not a live television program. Surprisingly, it is not the demonic possession that pulls you out of the moment but rather the black-and-white cuts during commercial breaks that follow private conversations between crew and guests. The show must go on with found footage, and the camera cannot stop rolling, but it certainly brings you back to reality, which is unfortunate.
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A few things may surprise viewers, such as a pretty gory scene, more comedy than expected, and a spectacle of a finale, and it all works quite well. There’s also a side plot about Jack and the occult that I sorely wanted to see more of, but that’s just the conspiracy theorist in me talking.
Overall, Late Night with the Devil is a devilishly entertaining Halloween film with memorable performances that many horror fans will want on their annual holiday watch list. For the perfect Halloween night marathon, combine it with Ghostwatch and WNUF Halloween Special.
Late Night with the Devil will be released in theaters on March 22nd and stream on Shudder starting April 19th.
