Devil review

Here's a film that was pretty much killed before it even hit theaters. I'm sure you've been in a packed theater when the "Devil" trailer played and the words "from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan" appears and boos and laughs cue up. Indeed it is based on a story by Shyamalan however not written or directed by him. So what difference does that make? Quite a bit actually.


While the concept is something feeling like a short story, it's execution is equal to that of a really entertaining episode of "The Twilight Zone", but with more blood and cussing. What you see from the trailer is indeed what the movie is all about. One of the five people pictured above is the devil and have come to kill. That's it. But with the addition of a depressed, faithless and recovering alcoholic detective (Chris Messina), some clever, twisty and fun writing by Brian Nelson it's made a lot more interesting. What the film attempts and accomplishes is to never give you too many classic movie hints to who might be the devil. Everyone has a thing about them that very well could make them the devil or just an innocent person stuck in a terrible situation. Fernando Velazquez's score cues punctuates the situation and the suspense in great manner and helps add to the tense atmosphere.

Our elevator passengers include an old woman, a young woman, a security guard, a salesman and a mechanic. All are in this office building for different purposes and with different destinations, but if Shyamalan's thought process has taught anything over the years it's that everything has a purpose. And when that elevator stops we begin to learn how it all comes together or mostly comes together. "Devil" has got some little holes riddled in it's side, but doesn't take away from the fun they have with it all. Director of photography, the great Tak Fujimoto paints the movie well and helps director John Erik Dowdle make the suspense in a tiny area work with very well set up shots and nice lighting that's never too moody, but great for the moment. It all works out well which actually makes me quite pleased.

Personally I have VERY mixed feelings about Shyamalan. I perfectly understand why he's getting the flack for his past couple of works right now. I don't get why other guys like Paul W.S. Anderson don't get it too, but I can see what people aren't digging from him. At the same time he's still somebody I that feel can do good again and regain at least some of his cred. Going into producing is tricky as hell as I said when I reviewed "The Last Exorcism" there's not many thriller or horror that end up producing even passable genre films (look at Wes Craven, Sam Raimi and John Carpenter for examples). His work here with "Devil" is good. It's damn sure not great, but it's a workable, entertaining and a fun thriller that feels like it embraces the right amount of suspense, character and goofiness much like "The Twilight Zone"; which from what I understand is what his Night Chronicles set of films is supposed to feel like.

The twist that occurs isn't entirely unforeseeable, but it's unveiling is nicely done in it's subtly. Again the tech side plays well with the overall tone of the story and makes it feel like a well put together package of B-thriller goodness. It does heavily involve faith and religion (as often is the case with his stories) and some of it does have a cheese factor, but in the end there is a rather stronger message behind some of it that kind of elevates it a tad just for the general bravery to take it in that direction. I won't say what it is, but most movies would probably go the darker and more cynical route (as is usually the case), but it's refreshing to see it go the other way for a change. This is a step in the right direction for Shyamalan and hopefully one that might spark some change in his own written and directed work. I'm interested to see if they can build off of this with the next in the Night Chronicles series and actually create an interesting and fun set of mid-level thrillers using young talents.