TV Hell

Late Night with the Devil (Cameron Cairnes & Colin Cairnes, 2023/2024)

Turns out the Cairnes Brothers' Late Night with the Devil (2023/2024) was worth the wait after my post regarding it.

Set on Halloween night in 1977, Late Night with the Devil kicks off with an introduction (narrated by the awesome Michael Ironside) to the seventies cultural zeitgeist, along with the background of its protagonist, chat show host Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian). 'Night Owls' is an ailing late night chat show struggling with its ratings. Thus, a spooky Halloween gimmick is utilised to attract more viewers. This scenario results in a gradual descent into supernatural horror. If the set-up sounds a lot like the fantastic Ghostwatch (1992), that's because it takes obvious insipration from it; including a spin on Mr. Pipes.

Late Night with the Devil is a fun and wild ride throughout its lean ninety or so minutes run time (take note, editors!). Watching how events spiral from oddly uncomfortable to abject horror from start to finish, is what makes this such an entertaining work. It's fun watching Dastmalchian's performace switch infront of the camera and during the black and white behind footage; a novel format that I wasn't sure about at first, but quickly won me over. 

It's entertaining watching Dastmalchian's protagonist react to the oddball guests on the show; ranging from the hammy psychic, the paranormal debunker, and the parapsychologist with her patient - a demonically possessed teenage girl! Also really dug the host's sidekick, Gus McConnell (Rhys Auteri). Watching him grow increasingly disturbed to out right sticken with fear during various scenes was hilarious.

The technical use of various screen formats to seperate the live broadcast, behind the scenes footage, and the cinematic scenes, was an intelligent way for the viewer to consume these details. Along with the retro style set and vintage wardrode, the various television idents that appear, were also a nice aesthetic touch reflecting its period setting. These elements lend some real authenticity to its setting and makes it stand out from various other horror films set in the past which have failed to capture a nostalgic era from the past. Those films, like the V/H/S franchise for instance, come across as very amateurish and film schooly in comparison to Late Night with the Devil's meticulous attention to detail and execution.

Another attractive component to the film is Jack Delroy's intriguing backstory: His rise to celebrity fame is offset with the tragic death of his beloved wife. These two factors are interlinked with his involvment with a shadowy cabal consisting of powerful figures, worshipping a carving of an owl out in a secluded forest; reminscent of Bohemian Grove. Not a tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy theorist, but I absolutely love Faustian pact tales and secret societies in my movies, therefore, I feel me and Alex Jones might have the same love for Late Night with the Devil.

The charm of the film is it how it initiates this awkward atmosphere of a live television show going wrong and escalating into a sense of dread and eventual insane horror. It's amusing hearing the house band performing while being obviously rattled events going. The awkward laughs and applauses from the audience is another example. It's the kind of stuff I want to witness from a live television show going completely off the rails and Late Night with the Devil achieves that with a chef's kiss.

Overall, this is completely my kind of zone when it comes to horror. The lack of actual recognisable television presenters, like in Ghostwatch, might hinder it in terms of verisimilitude, but it's a notable effort in terms of striving for a sense of authenticity, nonetheless. Such a shame the film is a spring release instead of around the time of October, as its conceptual theme is perfect for the autumnal Halloween festivities. In this regard Late Night with the Devil is the best Halloween themed film since Deadstream (2022), and would make for a superb double-bill with it.