Every horror hound knows the struggle: hunting for a Halloween-themed gem that's more treat than trick, especially when the pickings are slim. That's where Late Night with The Devil (2023) gives us something to sink our teeth into. A movie that shifts from vibrant color to black-and-white mystery noir, it transports viewers to a 1970s late-night talk show setting, offering a slow-burn descent into the supernatural as the Devil himself hijacks the airwaves, unleashing chaos.
A Retro Horror Experience Unlike Any Other
Forget the nausea-inducing, shaky-cam chaos of The Blair Witch Project. Late Night with the Devil isn’t your typical found-footage experience. Instead, it’s a slick mockumentary that feels like you’ve stumbled onto a long-lost, cursed VHS tape from 1977. Every detail screams authenticity, from the talk-show set to the swagger of the costumes and the 1.33 aspect ratio that traps you in a retro time capsule. Visually, it all comes together.
Meet Jack Delroy: A Man Fighting for His Last Shot
Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian), a former Chicago radio star turned TV host, is the 'new kid' on the block, clawing his way into the spotlight with his late-night show Night Owls and chasing the dream of dethroning the untouchable Johnny Carson.
However, as the years roll by, Jack’s ratings begin to slip, and his once-promising career starts to teeter on the edge. By 1977, he’s a man on the brink, his future hanging by a thread. In a last-ditch effort to save himself before the network pulls the plug, he stakes everything on a Halloween night broadcast, a high-wire act of spectacle and spookery that could either resurrect his fading fame or bury him for good.
A Cast of Oddballs That Steals the Show
Don’t expect a blood-soaked, intense horror ride. Late Night with the Devil is a slow-burn descent that unsettles with its unnerving buildup. The movie's hypnotic rhythm weaves a web of mystery that tightens as the evening unfolds. Its secret weapon? The psychic Christou (Fayssal Bazzi), who radiates mystery; the skeptical investigator Carmichael (Ian Bliss), determined to expose fraud; the possessed girl Lily (Ingrid Torelli), whose reminds us of Linda Blair in The Exorcist; and lastly, Jack’s loyal sidekick, Gus (Rhys Auteri).
No single guest hogs the spotlight, but their clashing energies spark a slow-burn tension that either hooks you or leaves you wishing things would hurry along. We’d probably place ourselves somewhere in the middle, leaning more toward the former, as the overall atmosphere isn’t just different. It’s strangely captivating, helping to keep everything balanced and still engaging throughout.
Caught in the eye of the storm, Jack spends the evening trying to navigate the increasingly bizarre events unfolding throughout the night, constantly questioning whether the otherworldly occurrences on his stage are the real deal or just a twisted ploy by the network to claw back his fading ratings.
Halloween Ends Too Soon as Finale Spoils the Experience
The movie casts a spell that’s hard to resist, keeping you perpetually on edge, yet never quite unleashing its full demonic fury. You’re trapped in a state of anticipation waiting for those moments that promise to crown the night, only to feel them slip just out of reach.
All too soon, Late Night with the Devil slams the coffin lid shut, just as we’re fully drawn in and finally getting comfortable. Without giving too much away, the finale feels like a rushed exorcism, as if the priest performing it were drunk and fumbling through the rites, robbing us of a deserving ending.