Late Night with the Devil is the latest horror film to grip the imagination of the masses. Starring David Dastmalchian as the protagonist, the film breathes life into a genre that has become a bit stagnant of late.
The premise is one of the more intriguing aspects of the film, and the cast does a fabulous job too. Most importantly, the story keeps one guessing, right until the credits roll. Even then, one question remains: what really happened to Jack’s wife?
What does Late Night with the Devil revolve around?
The film is helmed by the Australian brother duo, Colin and Cameron Cairnes. Since its premiere, the film has earned rave reviews and was one of the biggest hits at SXSW last year. Accolades have also poured in for David Dastmalchian, proving once again what a powerhouse of a performer he is.
Dubbed the best horror indie film, it is set in the 1970s, and the plot revolves around Jack Delroy, a TV show host. In order to boost his failing ratings, he attempts something rather bizarre on Halloween night, which sets off a chain of events he cannot undo.
Dastmalchian plays the host, Jack Delroy, who is the mind behind the nightmarish stunt for television. Delroy decides to spice up the episode with a dash of demonic possession. He invites June Ross-Mitchell, a parapsychologist, and Lilly D’Abo, a survivor of a satanic cult, along with a psychic and a skeptic.
The show goes ahead despite things seemingly going awry, and things quickly deteriorate on the stage as the camera keeps rolling. Christou, the psychic, senses a malevolent spirit among them, and he starts throwing up a black substance. Delroy finds out that Christou died on the way to the hospital, but he wants to keep filming.
Despite her misgivings, June goes ahead with summoning the spirit that possessed Lilly and then brings the girl back to herself. As the skeptic, Carmichael, tries to debunk it, Lilly gets angrier and ends up killing him. Possessed by the demon, Lilly also kills June and Jack’s assistant, Gus.
The film then delves into Delroy’s mind as he is transported to a forest. He makes his way to a bedroom where his wife, Madeleine, who had died of cancer, is still alive. She begs Jack to put an end to her suffering, handing him the knife that was recovered when Lilly was saved from the cult. The last scene shows Jack repeatedly stabbing Lilly before he realizes that he has committed a murder.
What happened to Jack Delroy’s wife?
Delroy’s story unfolds incrementally throughout the film. He is still reeling from the loss of his wife to lung cancer, even though she never smoked. In an unexpected twist, when the footage of the demonic possession is slowed down, Jack sees his dead wife in the frame.
Late Night with the Devil is not your average horror flick in black and white, and there is more to what meets the eye. While the plot might seem that way at face value, the real horror lurks just underneath the surface.
Jack’s ‘visions’ offer an insight into what really could have happened, that began the cascading events. The host was part of a men’s club called The Grove before he made it big in his career. When Lilly is possessed for the first time, the demon seems to recognize Jack, indicating they have met before.
This makes sense when the climax takes Delroy to Madeleine’s deathbed. He made a deal with the devil, and the demon that fulfilled his wish possessed Lilly. Unfortunately, Jack had to pay a high price for the success he wanted in his wife’s life.
Late Night with the Devil is an incredibly well-directed and well-acted film, even if it has run into some controversy. It also drives the point of wishing for success at any cost, which comes with a price too high.
