More mystery than horror, Devil plays like classic Agatha Christie novels if Christie put expert detail into religion and morals and had a brilliant director. One of the best films this year!
The story invented and produced by M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable) and written by Brian Nelson (30 Days of Night) is inspired by a particular Agatha Christie mystery—though I won’t give the plot away by telling you which one. Of course, this being Shyamalan, the film is woven into a plotline of deep religious pondering. Furthermore, Director John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine) uses creative camera angles to create claustrophobia and a suspenseful tone. Shyamalan has taken a lot of heat for announcing that his Night Chronicles, of which Devil is the first, are to be made by up-and-coming filmmakers, but this proves that it was a genius choice.
Depressed police Detective Bowden (Chris Messina, Julie & Julia) and deeply religious security Guard Ramirez (Jacob Vargas, Next Friday) team-up to help five people trapped in an elevator. Of course things don’t go as planned. Everyone in the elevator has a dark past—especially a certain one who is very likely Satan, Prince of Evil, and kills somebody each time the lights go out. Which one is this violent killer? Tough to tell. It could be the tough-guy security guard (Bokeem Woodbine), anxious senior citizen (Jenny O’Hara), secretive young lady (Bojana Novakovic), ex-soldier (Logan Marshall-Green), or abrasive salesman (Geoffrey Arend).
The movie’s biggest fault is undoubtedly the Hispanic stereotypes personified by Ramirez. Not particularly negative ones per say (deeply superstitious is the only unusual way Ramirez acts), but not exactly perfect either. Another problem is that the people being (possibly) punished by the Devil all have dark pasts that your average movie-goer can’t relate to—even so, the film finds away around this
Dowdle’s camera angles are exceptionally creative—slanted yet steady views, slightly upward shots—and generally add to the mood. Keep in mind that said mood is only partially horror—Devil has much more in kind with The Twilight Zone than Drag Me to Hell. Still, this isn’t a problem, and it offers a great chance to have an actual moral. This being mystery/horror, discussing that moral is an absolute no-no, but I think it is commendable that a film from genres infamous for uninspired plots manages to come up with a good, impactful theme. Devil has been made with great effort from all concerned and the result is exceptional.
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