Late Night with the Devil (2023) Film Review: Fresh found footage premise revels in groovy retro vibe

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On the night of Halloween 1977, a late-night talk show host attempts to boost ratings by inviting an alleged possessed girl onto the show, only for the live broadcast to go horribly wrong and unleash evil into the nation's living room.

Late Night with the Devil (2023) is directed and written by Cameron and Colin Cairnes. It stars David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy, the host of Night Owls, and incorporates a blend of analog horror, found footage, and documentary filmmaking.

Despite a tendency to lean into typical demon possession movie tropes and some stretches of uneven pacing, this largely fresh and innovative take on the genre offers something new and different for horror fans.

The movie opens with an extended montage featuring the leading man, Delroy, and effectively establishes the familiar, historic 1970s setting with inventive archival footage and news reels.

David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, a popular late-night talk show host who attempts to raise his profile and show ratings through controversial means, which will eventually result in catastrophic disaster for everyone

Great meticulous thinking and full commitment are given by the Cairnes to recreating this period, which is captured through a well-realised visual aesthetic, with recurring colours most synonymous with the time, such as reds, browns, and oranges, contributing to a textured layer to the picture. Both the set design and costumes also greatly enhance this retro style with their authentic feel and sound attention to detail.

The apparent limitations of a one-location shoot are combated with various filmmaking techniques and creative execution to maintain audience engagement, such as black and white photography for behind-the-scenes footage when the studio cameras stop rolling.

During the show, things take a terrifying turn for the audience (both in the studio and in reality), as Lily (Ingrid Torelli) becomes possessed by an unseen, supernatural force with malicious intentions

The slow-burning aspect of the narrative is a double-edged sword, as the film manages to quickly create a chilling atmosphere, which capitalises on suspense and tension when plenty of unnerving events start to occur as the host begins to dabble with the supernatural. However, each fake-out scenario can test viewers' patience, and one must be able to get on board with the classic talk show setup to be able to fully appreciate and enjoy the movie.

The film's unique premise allows for clever, tongue-in-cheek satire, which comically pokes fun at the presentation of these 1970s late-night talk shows. It includes a dark commentary on the often unseen and disturbing sides of commercial television, highlighting unethical treatment of guests and the often cheesy, exaggerated charm of the hosts.

David Dastmalchain does a brilliant job with his role, believably portraying the charismatic side of his character, as well as humanising him with a recent tragedy that becomes relevant during the show. All of the cast do an excellent job in each of their respective roles, authentically coming across as real people from the time, whether it be former magician turned skeptic played by Ian Bliss, Rhys Auteri as Jack's comic relief sidekick, or a possessed young girl, played by Ingrid Torelli.

The film utilises surreal, fever-dream-like sequences as evil forces threaten to destroy everything good in the world

One of the other slight drawbacks of the film, which is worth noting, is the mixed quality of the special effects, which are employed towards the nightmarish climax as all hell breaks loose - literally! There is an effectively creepy body horror sequence with gross-out visuals that do look convincing; however, some dodgy CGI is exhibited when the demon eventually takes control of its host. These are quite distracting visual elements that can break immersion and draw attention to the weaker aspects of the film.

The positives do outweigh the negatives in this case, as Late Night with the Devil thrives on its original concept, inspired setting, and very solid performances all around. Although some plot beats and story tropes may appear overly familiar to avid horror fans, the sheer creativity and clear passion on display behind and in front of the camera here are enough to maintain interest throughout.

Check out the trailer for Late Night with the Devil (2023) below, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!