David Dastmalchian is one of us. A for-real horror geek, a scary movie fan, a comic nerd who has penned his own spooky series, Count Crowley, and an actor who has inhabited such memorable roles as Polka-Dot Man in Suicide Squad, Piter de Vries in Dune, Wojcheck in The Last Voyage of Demeter, and Veb in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
He’s unforgettable as those characters, but Late Night With the Devil brings David Dastmalchian where he truly belongs: into the spotlight. He plays late-night television show host Jack Delroy in the 70s-set film, and the vibes are sublime.
But I’m getting ahead of myself…
What’s Late Night with the Devil About?
Jack Delroy is the host of Night Owls, a prominent talk show that has staged a years-long competition with other nighttime talk shows, including Johnny Carson, the show’s most noteworthy rival, for which show would come out on top.
However, the typically successful show is currently flailing and needs a massive ratings boost during Sweeps Week, so Delroy comes up with a can’t-miss plan: Implore the devil himself to appear during an on-air exorcism as a gimmicky part of the show’s Halloween lineup. It’s a scheme which will surely secure the ratings necessary for the show to continue, at least in Delroy’s mind. And make no mistake – Jack Delroy is a desperate man.
The cast of characters Delroy has commissioned to appear on this very special spooky episode include a sharp-tongued skeptic named Carmichael (a commanding performance by Ian Bliss); a sensitive psychic named Christou (Fayssal Bazzi); a paranormal author, June-Ross Mitchell (Laura Gordon); June-Ross’ possessed protege, a young girl named Lilly (Ingrid Torelli); and a singer named Cleo who -minor spoilers- never gets her screen time.
The format of the film sets it up as a documentary, and we as viewers are watching the footage from the live broadcast as well as behind-the-scenes segments that bring together a cohesive story. We discover a couple of noteworthy things going into this evening’s show: Delroy has recently lost his beloved young wife to cancer, and he’s a member of a sketchy-looking men’s group that has all the elements of a cult involving rich Hollywood types.
Though the audience, Delroy, and the affable co-host and bandleader Gus McConnell (Rhys Auteri) assume the Satanic shenanigans of the evening to be completely pretend… Well, let’s just say things get a little out of control as the show progresses to its terrifying and gory climax.
David Dastmalchian Is Incredible and So Is the Attention to 1970’s Details
First off, I have to say that the setting, costumes, music, and fun additions like the station break title cards and of-the-time Dad jokes really immerse you in the ‘70s — a time of polyester pants, a weird fascination with the occult, and an unwitting innocence about the world. These factors bring about a perfect storm, especially when combined with the fact that this is a live broadcast airing in real-time, in front of an in-person audience.
Dastmalchian absolutely enchants as Delroy. His desperation to stay relevant as a talk show host, his heartbreak over his lost wife, and his sheer terror when it comes to the idea of losing his career are all powerful and tangible, his emotions so deep you can practically feel them pulsing through the screen. He’s incredible, and this performance cements him as a horror icon in a film that fans will likely re-watch with ardor, especially during October.
Since Delroy is such a layered character, that makes him uniquely interesting. He’s not just about what’s on the surface; he’s thoughtful, sad, and a bit subversive – willing to go that extra mile to get results, even if it’s a questionable choice. And let’s face it, inviting a supposedly demon-possessed person to demonstrate what said spirit can do on live television – well, it’s a gamble, and Delroy hopes it will pay off.
Delroy makes it known what he’s sacrificed for his success, and we see an inkling of that ourselves, and because of that, he isn’t willing to let it go, even when the evening begins to go terribly, tragically awry.
Should You Rush to Watch Late Night with the Devil in Theaters…?
There is a lot to love about Late Night with the Devil. However, I’d like to bring up just a couple of things I wish were different. There is a storyline in the movie that doesn’t quite get filled out, and I was left with a lot of questions about it. Other people who have seen the movie mentioned the same thing to me! I wish there was an extra half-hour or so dedicated to explaining some of the really interesting elements of the film that seemed to just be left hanging.
I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the film’s ending. With all the buildup and tension — the excitement and scares ratcheting up minute by minute — I expected a bit more with the final few scenes. That being said, this is a great film, only wholly not entirely original due to its predecessor, the WNUF Halloween Special, which was released in 2013.
If you’ve seen that film, it’s a bit of the same premise, or at least, a similar format, with a paranormal investigation happening on-air to horrific results. So while Late Night With the Devil takes a different turn, it’s still a cool found-footage idea that isn’t used too frequently, keeping it fresh and engaging, and the acting alone is a reason to tune in to this broadcast!
Though Late Night with the Devil is set to stream on Shudder on April 19, I highly recommend seeing this movie on the big screen for maximum scares!
Images used in this review were purchased via MovieStillsDB and CineMaterial.
