Netflix has a great track record with its originals these days (bar Cuties), so when I saw first saw the trailer for their thriller The Devil All the Time I was excited, however, neither the trailer nor the plot description prepared me for the true darkness of this film.
First, the cast. With stars like Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Robert Pattinson, Haley Bennett, and Jason Clarke, the film could have been one of those obnoxious movies that simply rely on star power, but that’s not the case. These stars come together to create a truly fantastic story whose events and characters are all connected to Tom Holland’s character Arvin Russell’s life story. But don’t get me wrong, we don’t just see glimpses of the other characters, we are put into their lives, dreams, and the hardships they endure.
Every actor puts their heart and soul into their roles and it shows, each was amazing. Bill Skarsgård exudes the trauma, heartbreak, and desperation that Arvin’s father feels. Robert Pattinson nails his roles of a slimy preacher. But, of all the characters in the film, Holland’s is the standout. We’ve seen Holland in movies such as Spider-Man, but we’ve never seen him in such a serious, dark role, and by god, he’s incredible. The way he emoted the pain and anger in Arvin’s life and his heartache as well as capturing Arvin’s innocence was downright fantastic. It was great to see Holland dive into the gritty, dark role and I truly hope we continue to see him in new somber roles.
Actor Jason Collett sat down with us to discuss the movie. Be sure to check out our interview.
The Devil All the Time is so very dark, touching on themes such as murder, sacrifice, suicide, manipulation, and death, as well as love, heartbreak, family, and duty. If you are expecting a single ray of light in this movie, you won’t find it. The film delves into the darkness inside man. It is a commentary about evil and how religion has let down many in their darkest moments.
The story unwinds so well. Director Antonio Campus and co-writer Paulo Campos have created such an amazing film. The story is clever and well-executed. It’s brilliant, that’s what it is. It’s easily one of the best films of 2020.
There is one particular scene in the first half of the movie that I feel I must warn you about. If you are a dog lover be aware that there will come a time (you’ll know when) that you might want to cover your eyes and ears. It is extremely disturbing and provokes a range of horrific reactions.
There are so many things about this movie I would love to discuss, but I refuse to completely spoil it for you. You need to see it for yourself. Before you sit down to watch The Devil all the Time (now out on Netflix), prepare yourself to spend the entire movie with your jaw on the floor. This movie is not for the faint of heart. But if you can handle it, it’s not to be missed. This is a 5 out of 5 film, no question.
