LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL (2023)

4 stars

Second Sight. 4K UHD/Blu Ray Limited Edition and Standard Edition. 28th November

I first reviewed this when it came out at the cinema. Here’s what I had to say:

Set in America in the 70s, LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL, opens with a series of news clips and stock footage to establish the back story. “We are entering a satanic age” we are informed as various appropriate images flash across the screen. ”Television beams the horrors into our living rooms”, the voiceover intones.

We are introduced to Jack Dorsey (David Dastmalchian), a popular Chicago radio announcer, who is now a late night TV host with his own show ‘Night Owls’. It’s your typical mix of opening monologue, slightly pat interviews with the stars of the day, comedy sketches, interactions with the audience. You know the drill.

The first part plays like a documentary – Dorsey has his sights on the top spot in the ratings, which is dominated by The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. But he never quite reaches those heights. Following a tragedy he takes a break but when he returns he is determined to bring success – especially during the all important sweeps week.

Halloween Night 1977: he has a plan to shoot up the ratings – a live TV event that will shock the nation…

The rest of the film is presented as rediscovered tapes of the complete broadcast plus previously unseen footage. The interviews start with a medium, progress to a skeptic who exposes charlatans and then the coup de grace, a conversation with a researcher into satanic cults and the the like, alongside young Lilly (an impressive Ingrid Torelli), a survivor from one such group – she claims to have a demonic force inside her and is suitably creepy.

A compelling variant on devilish possession, this is a found footage film done right, with a great, slow build and believable narrative plus an actual reason for the cameras to keep rolling.

It’s a brilliant pastiche of the typical talk show, beautifully capturing the vibe of the 70s, with spot on title sequence, suitably cheesy sets, music from a house band, not forgetting Dorsey in his fetching tan suit!

Dastmalchian is excellent as the host with initially all fake smiles, which begin to slip as he realises things are getting way out of his control!

The clever script and tight direction are by brothers Colin and Cameron Caines.

After a successful run at the flicks earlier in the year Second Sight now bring you it in 4K (or Blu ray if you haven’t yet upgraded). The image looks great, if it sometimes looks a bit like it was shot on video, which considering where it was supposed to be sourced from, is I suspect on purpose. the dual format special edition has both the UHD and Blu (with the same content) or you can buy them separately on your preferred format.

Steve Kirkham

EXTRAS

New audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson

Bringing Their ‘A’ Game: an interview with Directors’ Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes (39 mins): talk about their previous film 100 Bloody Acres. Working with a low budget so deciding to shoot a one location film – a TV studio being ideal. Their second film Scare Campaign as took so verbal years to get this project together. About Dastmalchian being a horror nerd! Finding Rhys Auteri at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Casting Ingrid Torelli. Showing the cast and crew clips from old talk shows etc

Mind if I Smoke?: an interview with Actor Ian Bliss (11 mins). Originally hired to work with the auditioning actors, then the actor who was going to play Carmichael Hays dropping out. Fun making a horror movie.

We’re Gonna Make a Horror Movie: an interview with Actor Ingrid Torelli (11 mins): Starting out as a 9 year old doing shorts and TV work. Liking the strangeness of the script. Never done horror before and playing the role etc.

Extremely Lucky: an interview with Actor Rhys Auteri (14 mins): Starting in theatre and improv. Auditioning and loving the character in his first film. Watching old talk shows and being scared by horror movies!

Cult Hits: Zoë Rose Smith on Late Night with the Devil (24 mins): One of those video essays.

Behind the Scenes with the Devil (21 mins): Includes rehearsal footage, shooting the film, make-up fx tests

The Making of the Night Owls Music (8 mins): Footage in the recording studio.

South by Southwest 2023 Q&A with David Dastmalchian, Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes (8 mins)

If you plump for the Limited Edition you also get Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Haley Turnbull; 120-page book with behind the scenes images, storyboards and new essays by Kat Hughes, James Rose, Rebecca Sayce, Graham Skipper, Julieann Stipidis and Emma Westwood; 6 collectors’ art cards