Like many of the genres, horror films have been put through the wringer—especially when discussing exorcism-related films. Ever since the debut of The Exorcist in the 1970s, every studio has attempted to capture the devilish magic again. While the film is subjective, it’s probably an agreeable statement that Exorcist films have over the decades simply become weaker and weaker.
Of course, there are exceptions with box office successes from the likes of The Conjuring film franchise, amongst others. However, these tropes of a genre needed a fresh take. IFC and Shudder delivered. This is our review of Late Night with the Devil.
Night Owls with Jack Delroy is Late Night with the Devil
Late Night with the Devil begins as a mockumentary-style character story of lead, Jack Delroy, a famous 1970s late-night TV show host, who is constantly being overlooked and beaten in ratings by the likes of Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show. Jack Delroy is played by David Dastmalchian, who transforms into a charismatic television host. However, at what cost is he willing to go to be the best on the air? This is the essential moral question the audience is asked to answer throughout the film.
Late Night With The Devil Begins
Coming in at just 1 hour and 33 minutes, Late Night with the Devil wastes no time building horrific good tension. Essentially, a recording and retelling of an infamous broadcast in the 70s, the show “Night Owls with Jack Delroy” finds itself on Halloween night, while producers and advertisers demand a good show to boost ratings. This tension forces Jack to schedule questionable guests, starting with the after-life medium Christou, played by Fayssal Bazzi. Of course, what is a medium without a skeptical Magician, right? Enter the second guest of the night in Carmichael the Conjurer, played by Ian Bliss.
These two, the skeptic and medium, have quite a lot of beef, which leads to an unerring broadcast. After a freak accident that leaves the show in shambles and disarray, Mr. Delroy pushes forward. The final guest of the night, parapsychologist and author Dr. June Mitchell, played by Laura Gordon, makes her entrance. Alongside her, her patient, Lilly D’Abo, is a young girl whom Dr. Mitchell claims is possessed by evil spirits.
Late Night with the Devil: The Resurrection of a Genre
If the above description of the film sounds different, yet entertaining, then you’re in luck. Mainly because that’s exactly what the film brings to the table. A completely fresh breath of air to a genre on life support. Too often do we get exorcist-centric films that are predictable and barely frightening. However, from the first to last frame, Late Night with the Devil keeps you guessing. It leaves you wondering in glorious horror fandom and hopefully paves the path to better horror movies in general.
Make sure to catch Late Night the Devil at your local theater, the film is expected to hit the streaming service, Shudder, soon. Check out the official trailer by clicking right here. Late Night with the Devil was rated 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
For More Great Content
Total Apex is an all-encompassing content producer. We provide heavily detailed articles every day on entertainment, gaming, sports, and so much more! Check out all our great sports content Total Apex Sports. Check us out on X @TotalApexEandG and our other sites: Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Gaming, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Fantasy Sports. Make sure to follow TotalApexGaming right here, alongside me, on X @Seth_235. Check back often for more film reviews, discussions, predictions, and a lot more.
You can check out more of Seth’s work here: Love Lies Bleeding. For more Movies and Television, head over here.