Late Night with the Devil

2023 film by Colin and Cameron Cairnes

Late Night with the Devil

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Colin Cairnes
Cameron Cairnes
Written by|

* Colin Cairnes
* Cameron Cairnes

Produced by|

* Mat Govoni
* Adam White
* John Molloy
* Roy Lee
* Steven Schneider
* Derek Dauchy

Starring|

* David Dastmalchian
* Laura Gordon
* Ian Bliss
* Fayssal Bazzi
* Ingrid Torelli
* Rhys Auteri
* Georgina Haig
* Josh Quong Tart

Cinematography| Matthew Temple
Edited by|

* Colin Cairnes
* Cameron Cairnes

Music by|

* Glenn Richards
* Roscoe James Irwin

Production
companies

* Image Nation Abu Dhabi
* VicScreen
* AGC Studios
* Cinetic Media
* Good Fiend Films
* Future Pictures
* Spooky Pictures

Distributed by|

* IFC Films
* Shudder (United States)
* Umbrella Entertainment
* Maslow Entertainment
* Ahi Films (Australia)[1]

Release dates

* 10 March 2023 (2023-03-10) (SXSW)
* 22 March 2024 (2024-03-22) (United States)
* 11 April 2024 (2024-04-11) (Australia)

Running time

| 95 minutes[2]
Countries|

* Australia
* United States
* United Arab Emirates

Language| English
Box office| $16.8 million[3][4]

Late Night with the Devil is a 2023 independent[5] supernatural horror film written, directed, and edited by Colin and Cameron Cairnes. It stars David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Georgina Haig, and Josh Quong Tart. Incorporating elements of analog horror, "found footage" and documentary filmmaking, the film follows the events of a late-night talk show episode aired on the night of Halloween 1977, during which the host attempts to boost ratings by inviting an allegedly possessed girl onto the show.[6]

An international co-production of Australia, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates,[7] Late Night with the Devil had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) on 10 March 2023. It was released theatrically in the United States on 22 March 2024 by IFC Films and in Australia on 11 April. The film grossed $16 million and received positive reviews.[8][9]

## Plot

[edit]

The film's prologue is framed as a documentary investigating an unexplained event that occurred on the night of Halloween 1977, during the live broadcast of a sixth-season episode of the successful variety late-night talk show Night Owls with Jack Delroy, which competes for ratings with The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Through his celebrity connections, Night Owls host Jack Delroy, who is based in New York City, makes regular visits to "The Grove," an elite California camp for wealthy and powerful men. After his wife Madeleine dies of cancer, Night Owls halts its production. Jack ultimately returns and, in order to boost the show's low ratings, does a special occult-themed episode on Halloween. Special guests for the episode include self-proclaimed psychic and medium Christou, skeptic and former magician Carmichael Haig, parapsychologist author Dr June Ross-Mitchell, and June's latest subject, 13-year-old Lilly D'Abo who is purportedly possessed by a demonic spirit. Carmicheal promises to give anyone a huge cheque if they can prove that supernatural events do exist.

During the broadcast, Christou experiences a premonition about someone named "Minnie", which Jack reveals was his private nickname for Madeleine. Christou becomes sick, projectile vomits a black liquid, and is rushed to the hospital. In the next segment, June introduces Lilly, the sole survivor of a mass suicide by a Satanic church and its leader Szandor D'Abo that worshipped Abraxas. Jack persuades Lilly to communicate with the entity she claims possesses her, which she refers to as 'Mr. Wriggles'. During a commercial break, the crew informs Jack that Christou has died from hemorrhaging in the ambulance.

During June's conjuring, Lilly becomes possessed and levitates in her chair. The demon notes having previously met Jack "under the tall trees", revealing that Jack and June are romantically involved. Lilly's possession then subsides and the show continues.

Carmichael challenges June by subjecting Jack's sidekick Gus McConnell to a hypnotism demonstration, which causes nearly everyone in the studio to see worms pouring out of him. When the production team rewinds the footage, it proves that the demonstration was merely a joint hallucination experienced by nearly everyone in the studio; however, the supernatural phenomena that occurred during June's conjuring is unaltered in the recorded playback. Jack is horrified when he notices Madeleine's ghost standing behind him in the footage, but Carmichael accuses him of orchestrating the events. Lilly becomes possessed again; her head splits open and begins to glow like lava. She then brutally kills Gus and June. Carmichael is finally convinced that what he sees is a true supernatural event and begs for life as well as giving Lilly's a check as he has promised in the beginning only for him to be killed as well. Jack is suddenly transported to a nightmarish version of the show.

He relives moments from the show's past before it is revealed that he had a prior connection to the demon possessing Lilly. During a ceremony at The Grove, he made a pact with the Devil, sacrificing his wife's soul in exchange for fame and the success of Night Owls. Thus, he was indirectly responsible for Madeleine's cancer. Madeleine's ghost begs Jack to put her out of her misery, as the cancer is causing pain. Using the ritual Athame dagger from Lilly's former Satanic cult, he then stabs her to death; and the scene suddenly shifts to the now-empty studio. A horrified Jack realizes he has stabbed and killed Lilly on live television. He stands over the bodies of his dead guests as police sirens approach in the distance.

## Cast

[edit]

* David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy, the host of Night Owls with Jack Delroy[8]
* Laura Gordon as June Ross-Mitchell, a parapsychologist and author[8]
* Ian Bliss as Carmichael Haig, a former magician turned skeptic. The character resembles the magician-turned-skeptic James Randi; Randi was involved in a similar altercation with Australian late night host Don Lane on The Don Lane Show.[10][11]
* Fayssal Bazzi as Christou, a psychic[8]
* Ingrid Torelli as Lilly D'Abo, the survivor of a mass suicide[8]
* Rhys Auteri as Gus McConnell, Jack's sidekick[8]
* Georgina Haig as Madeleine Piper, Jack's deceased wife[8]
* Josh Quong Tart as Leo Fiske, the producer of Night Owls[8]
* Steve Mouzakis as Szandor D'Abo
* Paula Arundell as Diane
* Christopher Kirby as Phil
* John O'May as Walker Bedford
* Michael Ironside as the narrator

## Production

[edit]

Production on Late Night with the Devil was announced on 13 February 2022, with the Emirati studio Image Nation and the American genre label Spooky Pictures attached. Describing their decision to base Late Night with the Devil on a late-night talk show, writer-director duo Cameron and Colin Cairnes stated: "In the '70s and '80s, there was something slightly dangerous about late-night TV. Talk shows in particular were a window into some strange adult world. We thought combining that charged, live-to-air atmosphere with the supernatural could make for a uniquely frightening film experience."[12]

The Cairnes brothers offered the role of Jack Delroy to David Dastmalchian after reading an article Dastmalchian wrote for the magazine Fangoria about regional TV horror hosts. Dastmalchian accepted the part after being sent a lookbook designed to resemble a 1970s TV Guide, along with the film's script.[13] Dastmalchian's casting was announced on 24 June 2022.[14]

Ian Bliss who played Carmichael Haig in the movie was originally set to play another character, but days prior to filming starting he was told to read for Haig as the actor who was originally set to play Haig withdrew from filming.[15]

Late Night with the Devil was shot in Melbourne, Australia.[16] The film utilizes practical special effects, including puppetry, along with digital visual effects.[13]

## Release

[edit]

Late Night with the Devil had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) on 10 March 2023 in Austin, Texas, where it played as part of the festival's "Midnighters" section.[8][16][17] That same month, horror author Stephen King was provided with an advance screener of the film and tweeted, "It's absolutely brilliant. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Your results may vary, as they say, but I urge you to watch it when you can."[18][19] The film screened at the Sydney Film Festival from June 9–15 of 2023.[19]

In October 2023, IFC Films and Shudder acquired the distribution rights for North America, United Kingdom and Ireland.[20]

### Home media

[edit]

The film was released on limited glow-in-the-dark VHS on October 28, 2024.[21]

## Reception

[edit]

### Box office

[edit]

Late Night with the Devil grossed $10 million in the United States and Canada, and $6.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $16.8 million.[3][4]

The film opened on 22 March 2024 in 1,034 theaters in the United States and Canada, and earned $2.8 million in its opening weekend, the best debut for an IFC Films release; additionally, media outlets noted that the total included an estimated $666,666 gross on its third day.[22][23] Expanding to 1,442 theaters the following weekend, the film made $2.2 million, finishing in seventh.[24]

### Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 224 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Delightfully dark, Late Night with the Devil proves possession horror isn't played out – and serves as an outstanding showcase for David Dastmalchian."[25] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 72 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[26]

Variety's Dennis Harvey commended the film's production design and technical aspects, as well as that of the cast, and wrote that the film's "mix of vintage Me Decade showbiz cheese and Exorcist-y demonic doings is distinctive, not to mention deftly handled by the [Cairnes] brothers as both writers and directors."[8] Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com praised the film as inventive and its use of the found footage format as clever, and highlighted Dastmalchian's "phenomenally committed performance [...] really holding the film together as he finds the right tone between smarmy and likable that dominated so much '70s culture."[27]

Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting gave the film a score of three-and-a-half out of five, criticizing the film's pacing as rapid but writing that "the ingenuity, the painstaking period recreation, a riveting performance by Dastmalchian, and a showstopper of a finale make for one Halloween event you won't want to miss."[28] Trace Sauveur of The Austin Chronicle also praised Dastmalchian's performance and called the film "totally gimmicky, but the sincere commitment to the conceit is what really makes this work." Sauveur adds that, despite finding the film's conclusion lacking, "Late Night with the Devil is able to mine plenty of effective and fun ideas out of its premise, and it works as a potent examination of the price of success."[29]

Mark Kermode of Kermode and Mayo's Take called it "really enjoyable", adding that he thought it was influenced by the 1992 British mockumentary supernatural horror TV film Ghostwatch.[30]

Wendy Ide of The Observer gave the film a score of four out of five stars, praising its satire and comedic elements, calling it "[s]mart, cynical and at times devilishly funny, the film delivers a crackle of disruptive static to the demonic possession genre."[31]

John Lui of The Straits Times gave the film 4 stars in which he describes the film as "Comedy, horror and homage come together in style in this hugely enjoyable work".[32] For Entertainment Weekly, Allaire Nuss wrote that Late Night with the Devil, which she described as being presented in a mockumentary and analog horror format, was "the first great scary movie of 2024" and that she "adored every second of it".[33]

### Accolades

[edit]

Award  | Date of ceremony  | Category  | Recipient(s)  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Kansas City Film Critics Circle | 5 January 2025  | Best Actor  | David Dastmalchian  | Won  | [34]
St. Louis Film Critics Association | 15 December 2024 | Best Horror Film  | Late Night with the Devil | Nominated  | [35]
Saturn Awards | 2 February 2025 | Best Independent Film | Won  | [36]
Best Actor in a Film | David Dastmalchian | Nominated
AACTA Awards | 7 February 2025 | Best Film | Mathew Govoni, Adam White | Nominated  | [37]
Best Direction | Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes | Nominated
Best Screenplay in Film | Nominated
Best Lead Actor | David Dastmalchian | Nominated
Best Lead Actress | Laura Gordon | Nominated
Best Supporting Actor | Fayssal Bazzi | Nominated
Best Supporting Actress | Ingrid Torelli  | Nominated
Best Cinematography | Matthew Temple  | Nominated
Best Editing | Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes  | Nominated
Best Original Music Score | Roscoe James Irwin, Glenn Richards | Nominated
Best Sound | Emma Bortignon, Manel Lopez, Pete Smith, Cameron Grant  | Nominated
Best Production Design | Otello Stolfo  | Nominated
Best Costume Design | Steph Hooke  | Nominated
Best Casting  | Leigh Pickford  | Nominated
Australian Film Critics Association Awards | March 22, 2025  | Best Australian Film  | Nominated  | [38]
Best Australian Director  | Colin and Cameron Cairnes  | Nominated
Best Actor  | David Dastmalchian | Nominated
Best Actress  | Laura Gordon | Nominated
Best Supporting Actor  | Ian Bliss | Nominated
Best Supporting Actress  | Ingrid Torelli  | Nominated
Best Screenplay  | Colin and Cameron Cairnes  | Nominated
Best Cinematography  | Matthew Temple  | Nominated
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | 4 November 2024  | Best Wide Release  | Colin and Cameron Cairnes  | Nominated  | [39]
Best Lead Performance  | David Dastmalchian | Won
Best Screenplay  | Colin and Cameron Cairnes  | Won
Best Costume Design  | Steph Hooke  | Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards | 7 August 2025 | Best Actor in a Horror Movie  | David Dastmalchian | Pending  | [40]

### Use of artificial intelligence

[edit]

In the week leading up to the film's release, some reviewers pointed out the use of AI-generated art in a montage, which was not present in the version screened at SXSW, and called for a boycott of the film. In response to the controversy, directors Cameron and Colin Cairnes said: "In conjunction with our amazing graphics and production design team, all of whom worked tirelessly to give this film the 70s aesthetic we had always imagined, we experimented with AI for three still images which we edited further and ultimately appear as very brief interstitials in the film." Star David Dastmalchian said: "So I think [Cameron and Colin] said it really well, and I stand by what they said and I completely stand by this movie as a thoroughly original piece of work that so many many hours went into this incredible artistic craftsmanship to be set in this world. So it's a good conversation to have. It's an important conversation. We've got to have it."[41][42]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ntim, Zac (24 October 2023). "'Late Night With The Devil:' Meta-Horror From Colin And Cameron Cairnes Lands International Sales Deal Ahead Of AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023.
2. ^ "Late Night with the Devil (15)". BBFC. 5 March 2024. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024.
3. ^ a b "Late Night with the Devil – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
4. ^ a b "Late Night with the Devil (2024)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
5. ^ Late Night With The Devil takes $666,666 at box office, despite boycotts|Dazed
6. ^ 'LOCAL58' And The Birth of Analog Horror - Dread Central
7. ^ "Late Night with the Devil". Chicago International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harvey, Dennis (23 March 2023). "'Late Night With the Devil' Review: A '70s Chat Show Becomes Must-Unsee TV". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024.
9. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (13 March 2023). "'Late Night With The Devil': David Dastmalchian On Relating To Unhinged Talk Show Host In Horror Pic – SXSW Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024.
10. ^ Nicholson, Amy (21 March 2024). "Review: A talk show goes horribly wrong in sly 'Late Night With the Devil'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024.
11. ^ Roxborough, Scott (1 November 2023). "'Late Night With the Devil': Directing Duo on Serving up 1970s-Era Chills From Down Under". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024.
12. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (13 February 2022). "Image Nation, Spooky Pictures Set For 'Late Night With the Devil' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
13. ^ a b Kauzlarich, Jason (15 March 2023). "Stomach-Ripping And Throat-Slitting: Late Night With The Devil At SXSW". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023.
14. ^ Vivarelli, David (24 June 2022). "'Dune' Actor David Dastmalchian to Star in 'Late Night With the Devil' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
15. ^ Piccoli, Liana (1 May 2024). "Behind the Scenes with Ian Bliss: Exploring the Making of Late Night with the Devil". The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). Retrieved 29 November 2024.
16. ^ a b Wise, Damon (10 March 2023). "'Late Night With The Devil' Review: Richly Detailed '70s Meta-Horror From Colin And Cameron Cairnes – SXSW". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
17. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (13 March 2023). "'Late Night With The Devil': David Dastmalchian On Relating To Unhinged Talk Show Host In Horror Pic – SXSW Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023.
18. ^ King, Stephen [@StephenKing] (26 March 2023). "Late Night with the Devil: I got a screener. It's absolutely brilliant. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Your results may vary, as they say, but I urge you to watch it when you can" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 June 2023 – via Twitter.
19. ^ a b Rugendyke, Louise (2 June 2023). "The low-budget Aussie horror Stephen King 'couldn't take his eyes off'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
20. ^ Brew, Caroline (1 November 2023). "IFC and Shudder Acquire Supernatural Thriller Late Night With the Devil, Starring David Dastmalchian (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
21. ^ DiVincenzo, Alex (28 October 2024). "'Late Night with the Devil' Possesses First Ever Commercially Released Glow-in-the-Dark VHS!". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
22. ^ Dick, Jeremy (24 March 2024). "Late Night with the Devil Earns $666K at Sunday Box Office, Setting New Record". CBR. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
23. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (24 March 2024). "'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Leads Box Office With $45 Million Debut". Variety. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
24. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (31 March 2024). "They Have Risen: 'Godzilla x Kong' Conquers Easter Box Office With $80M Opening; Legendary Monsterverse Franchise Crosses $2 Billion – Sunday AM Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
25. ^ "Late Night with the Devil". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
26. ^ "Late Night with the Devil". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
27. ^ Tallerico, Brian (14 March 2023). "SXSW 2023: Brooklyn 45, Late Night with the Devil". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
28. ^ Navarro, Meagan (11 March 2023). "'Late Night with the Devil' SXSW Review – Salute to Late Night Television Transforms Into a Raucous Horror Ride". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
29. ^ Sauveur, Trace (16 March 2023). "SXSW Film Review: Late Night With the Devil". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
30. ^ Mark Kermode (21 March 2024). Mark Kermode reviews Late Night with the Devil (Podcast). Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024 – via YouTube.
31. ^ Ide, Wendy (23 March 2024). "Late Night With the Devil review – diabolically funny found-footage horror". The Observer. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
32. ^ Lui, John (18 April 2024). "At The Movies: Late Night With The Devil is near-perfect blend of horror, comedy and homage". The Straits Times.
33. ^ "'Doctor Who' and 'Interview With the Vampire' lead this week's Must List". Entertainment Weekly. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
34. ^ "Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards 'The Substance'". Kansas City Film Critics Circle. 4 January 2025. Archived from the original on 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
35. ^ "The 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
36. ^ Hipes, Patrick (5 December 2024). "'Dune: Part Two', 'Fallout' Lead Saturn Awards Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
37. ^ "Boy Swallows Universe and Robbie Williams biopic lead 2025 AACTAs". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
38. ^ "Late Night with the Devil leads with nominations for the 2024 Australian Film Critics Association Awards - The Curb | Film and Culture". The Curb. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
39. ^ "What A Bloodbath: Here Are The 2024 FANGORIA CHAINSAW AWARDS Winners". 13 October 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
40. ^ "Nominations Announced for the Critics Choice Association's 5th Annual 'Critics Choice Super Awards'". Critics Choice Association. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
41. ^ Earl, William (21 March 2024). "'Late Night With the Devil' Directors Explain Using AI Art in the Film, Say They 'Experimented' With Three Images Only (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
42. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (22 March 2024). "'Late Night with the Devil' AI Usage Sparks Debate: Fair or Foul?". IndieWire. Retrieved 22 March 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Late Night with the Devil at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Saturn Award for Best Independent Film

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* Late Night with the Devil (2023/24)

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