David Dastmalchian getting a star vehicle was a long time coming. Each one of you knows his face from somewhere, be it The Suicide Squad, Dune, The Dark Knight, or even his appearance in a few episodes of Twin Peaks: The Return. He’s got a charm and style that should have placed him in the limelight long before Late Night with the Devil. Luckily, this thing rules and it’s a perfect turn for the actor to move into a leading man role.
And why not this film? It’s perfect for Dastmalchian, utilizing the idea of a late-night talk show recording mixed with behind-the-scenes segments presented as found footage. The “Me Decade” era ridiculousness pairs perfectly with the actor’s classically handsome looks and talk show host charm. While “Night Owls” isn’t the number one late-night show, Dastmalchian’s Jack Delroy is a funny, eerie, and “always-on” presence that would mix with the likes of both Johnny Carson and Stephen Colbert. Those familiar with the actor’s prior credits will also note that he plays “stressed out but really trying to pretend otherwise” quite well, a skill that seems to be a specific talent that feels unique in this setting.
Jack Delroy is about as fascinating a character as I’ve seen recently. Widower, joker, and beloved interviewer, his work on late-night television has built quite an audience but he has not been able to break into the top spots. On Halloween night Jack decides to host a spook special, one featuring a mentalist (Fyssal Bazzi), an illusionist-turned-skeptic (Ian Bliss), and a young cult survivor (Ingrid Torelli) and her guardian/doctor (Laura Gordon). His plans and pains are slowly revealed as the night proceeds, unsettling his audience and driving his guests and crew to utter terror.
Late Night with the Devil is as much about grief as anything else. Whether the mentalist is trying to aid an audience member in dealing with her son’s suicide or the loss of Jack’s dear wife, Madeline, everything focuses on that sensation of grief and the regrets that surround it. Relatively new directors Colin and Cameron Cairnes have poured significant pain into their characters, keeping them all at just enough distance to have fun torturing them. Don’t worry about that torture by the way, because it comes in so many forms that horror geeks are going to lose their minds for it. There’s not a ton of gore, instead using suspense and the knowledge that some possession-y moments are on the way to keep viewers glued to the screen, but that gross-nasty really pops when it happens.
The energy of a late-night talk show is specific, tailored around various entertainments, and the ability to conduct an interview with humor and education. It needs to be light, fun, but ready to latch on to a heavy moment at the drop of a hat and be ready to pull out of it at a moment’s notice. Everything from the design of the sets to the costuming and structure of the interviews feels like the kind of entertainment you’d stay up for, particularly if you hear there’s a rather wild segment in progress. The Evergreen references to “sweeps week” are particularly funny in an era where we see streamers just…inventing numbers.
Late Night with the Devil is an absolute blast. I can’t think of a better treat for horror fans, one that has been long discussed that finally released wide. Give it your time because movies like this deserve it.
Late Night with the Devil is streaming on Shudder.
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