Late Night with the Devil (2024) Review – A Fresh And Fiendishly Fun Mockumentary

Welcome to Knockout Horror. We are carrying on in my pursuit of recent horror movies today. I am reviewing supernatural mockumentary horror Late Night with the Devil from 2024 (well, technically 2023 but, whatever).

A fresh supernatural horror

This is a pretty difficult movie to classify. In some ways, it is fairly unique. The only horror I can think to rival it in terms of themes is the fantastic WNUF Halloween Special and its follow-up Out There Halloween Mega Tape. Well, I suppose the BBC’s Ghostwatch could count, as well. If you are looking for answers on this movie, check out our Late Night with the Devil Ending Explained article.

Late Night with the Devil is presented as a sort of mockumentary come found footage horror. It covers the career of a 70s late-night talk show host called Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian). Delroy’s show, Night Owls, is constantly pounded in the ratings by the legendary Johnny Carson. In an attempt to gain viewers, Delroy has been turning to increasingly wild stunts. The documentary relates the tale of one such stunt that went terribly wrong. A live Halloween special featuring an interview with a young girl who is, supposedly, possessed by a demon.

Jack’s history is expounded on via a small opening period regaling us with Delroy’s tale of failure and downfall. This includes the story of the death of his late wife from lung cancer. This is made all the more unusual by the fact that she was never a smoker. We also see Jack’s suspicious dealings with a mysterious cult-like group known as The Grove.

The majority of Late Night with the Devil takes place over one single episode of the show. Delroy has a number of guests on stage, each of them with some form of supernatural talent. Another guest, Carmichael Haig (Ian Bliss), a former illusionist turned paranormal debunker who is clearly based on James Randi, is there specifically to discredit their claims.

A genuinely interesting formula

The brief introduction into our main character, here, is a risky one but it pays off. The mockumentary format allows us to get straight into the action. The talk show format starts within minutes of the opening scenes. That is where we will spend the majority of our time. It is very clear that directors Cameron and Colin Cairnes did their research. Late Night with the Devil is incredibly true to its era.

“If it wasn’t for the overly crisp camera work, you could be convinced that you are watching an actual talk show from the era.”

Set design is of particular note. The washed-out oranges, browns, and beiges of the colour palette are completely accurate to the time period. Hair styles, fashion sense and presentation are all spot on. And references to 70s themes such as occultism, satanic panic, horror of the era and the burgeoning obsession with the paranormal are all equally welcome. 

If it wasn’t for the overly crisp, clearly digitally recorded, camera work, you could be convinced that you are watching an actual talk show from the era. Everything feels authentic, much like it does in WNUF Halloween Special. This is a true love letter to the era and makes for a legitimately interesting approach to horror. 

Gimmicky but fun

It could be argued that the formula here is little more than a gimmick. The late-night talk show style presentation is, basically, a vehicle used to tell a very basic, and worn out, possession story. Hell, even many of the individual elements of the movie are borrowed from elsewhere, be it the very obvious James Randi impression or the references to The Exorcist, Bohemian Grove and the Church of Satan cult active at the time. But it works so well that it is easy to forgive.

Possession stories can only go so far. There are only a few ways you can work with the formula. So the fact that Late Night with the Devil presents us with such an original take is commendable in itself. The presentation is just so damn fun, as well.

“Late Night with the Devil just feels so damn fresh, reinvigorating a very worn out topic.”

There are way more laughs than you would expect from a horror movie focused on demonic possession. And the constant switching between segments, punctuated by commercial breaks and backstage footage, keeps you engaged and wondering what will happen next. It’s fantastically well executed and consistently captivating. Hell, it’s even quite scary in parts. Putting it simply, Late Night with the Devil just feels so damn fresh, reinvigorating a very worn out topic.

Well acted throughout

David Dastmalchian, as host Jack Delroy, is an extremely experienced actor. He always seems to be slotted into bit roles or side characters, though. Late Night with the Devil is a perfect vehicle for his acting talents, showing the world that he is more than capable of taking on leading roles. He is fantastic here, displaying that perfect mix of smarm and wit that was oh so common with presenters of the era.

His reaction to events escalating, and clear realisation of what is taking place, and how he factors into it is perfectly done. You are never left questioning what he is thinking. And the obvious conflict he feels between fear of the worst-case scenario and excitement at what it will be doing for the ratings is a very neat touch. 

“This is one of the most fresh-feeling horror movies in years and an absolute riot.”

I really enjoyed Ian Bliss as Carmichael. He puts on a fantastic, showman-like performance that is a highlight of the movie. It’s especially impressive when you consider the fact that he took this role on very short notice. Laura Gordon is fairly vanilla as parapsychologist June, but I did really enjoy Ingrid Torelli as possessed teen Lilly. Her facial expressions towards the camera and uncanny manner of speaking cracked me up repeatedly. She was a lot of fun.

On the downside

There are a few negatives to Late Night with the Devil. The first being some of the CGI on display. This type of horror movie would be far better with practical effects throughout. Some of the CGI is incredibly naff and looks enormously cheap. It stands out for how hokey it feels and, while it could be argued that it has its place due to the camp nature of the movie, it robs the movie of some of its later gravity.

The ending is going to disappoint a few people, as well. The movie abandons some of its talk show trappings to present a trippy journey into Jack’s mind that doesn’t quite work. It feels fairly at odds with the bulk of the movie’s presentation and isn’t all that interesting. It also represents a massive tonal shift marked by the switch to a 16:9 aspect ratio and never quite feels like it captures what made the movie so interesting early on. The ending can feel a little rushed, as well.

You might also like:

• End of the World – 10 Essential Post Apocalyptic Horror Movies
• Brightburn (2019) Review – A Visceral and Mean-Spirited Superhero Slasher
• The Lost Footage of Leah Sullivan (2018) Review – A Surprisingly Solid Student Mystery
• Immaculate (2024) Review – A Gory And Shocking Twist On Religious Horror
• A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) Review – A Poignant And Heartfelt Alien Prequel

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

Support the Site Knockout Horror is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Basically, if you click a link to rent or buy a movie, we may earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps keep the lights on and the nightmares coming. Don't worry, we will never recommend a movie purely to generate clicks. If it's bad, we will tell you.

Disclaimer: Images, posters, and video stills used in this review are the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included here for the purposes of commentary, criticism, and review under fair use. Knockout Horror makes no claim of ownership and encourages readers to support the official release of all films discussed.