Late Night with the Devil

In selected cinemas now

There is a deliberate kitschiness to Late Night with the Devil that has the paradoxical effect of distinguishing Cameron and Colin Cairnes’ horror as a film of substance. Written and directed by said Australian siblings, the picture combines a found footage approach with impressively diligent production design to depict a live broadcast of a fictional 1970s late-night talk show that goes horribly wrong.

David Dastmalchian, long established as one of Hollywood’s most dependable supporting actors, thrives in the lead role of Jack Delroy, who goes to extreme lengths to boost ratings of his show ‘Night Owls’. He nails the self-satisfied, unapologetically cheesy allure that typically characterised the talk-show hosts of the 70s, before elevating the dramatic impact of his performance to coincide with Late Night with the Devil’s disorienting crescendo.

While the film doesn’t offer much in the way of genuine shocks, it remains a suspenseful watch throughout and certainly distinguishes the Cairnes as a distinctive voice within the genre.