When Late Night with the Devil arrived on the scene, it did so with the kind of buzz reserved for films that dare to blur the lines between genres. This horror flick, set in the 1970s, takes the late-night talk show format and twists it into something dark, unsettling, and altogether unique. Directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes, the film isn’t just a throwback to a bygone era of television—it’s a chilling descent into the macabre that manages to be both a clever homage and a genuinely creepy experience.
The story centers on Jack Delroy, a charismatic yet troubled talk show host, played with unsettling charm by David Dastmalchian. Set over the course of one fateful Halloween broadcast, the film sees Jack’s show spiraling into chaos as a live exorcism goes horribly wrong. What begins as a desperate ratings stunt quickly turns into a nightmarish descent into madness, as the lines between reality and the supernatural blur, and the studio audience becomes an unwitting witness to something far more sinister than they bargained for.
The Cairnes brothers expertly capture the look and feel of a 1970s late-night show, from the garish set design to the grainy film quality. The attention to detail is impeccable, drawing viewers into the era with a sense of nostalgia that’s quickly undercut by the creeping dread that permeates every frame. The film’s structure—a single, continuous broadcast—adds to the tension, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere where there’s no escape from the horrors unfolding on screen.
Dastmalchian’s performance as Jack Delroy is the film’s linchpin. He plays the host with a mix of smarmy charm and deep-seated desperation, a man clearly haunted by his past and willing to risk everything for one last shot at relevance. As the night progresses and the supernatural elements begin to take hold, Dastmalchian’s transformation from confident showman to terrified survivor is both compelling and horrifying. The supporting cast, including familiar faces like Rhys Muldoon and Laura Gordon, deliver solid performances, but it’s Dastmalchian who commands attention, anchoring the film’s more outlandish moments with a grounded, human fear.
Late Night with the Devil is a slow burn, with the first half of the film building tension through its eerie atmosphere and unsettling character interactions. It’s clear that something is off from the start, but the film smartly withholds its big scares, opting instead to let the horror creep in gradually. When the film finally unleashes its full terror, it does so with a series of sequences that are as shocking as they are visually striking. The climax is a blend of psychological horror and supernatural chaos that’s as thrilling as it is disturbing.
But what really sets Late Night with the Devil apart is its commentary on the nature of entertainment and the lengths to which people will go for fame. The film’s setting—a live TV show—serves as a perfect metaphor for the performative nature of fear and the way horror can be commodified. The Cairnes brothers seem to be asking: What happens when the spectacle becomes too real? It’s a question that lingers long after the credits roll.
Conclusion
Late Night with the Devil may not be for everyone. Its slow pace and methodical build-up might test the patience of viewers looking for a more traditional horror experience. But for those willing to settle in and let the film’s unique atmosphere wash over them, it offers a deeply unsettling and ultimately rewarding journey into the unknown. It’s a film that takes risks and, for the most part, pulls them off with a style that’s both retro and refreshingly original.
