The Devil’s Well (2018) Review – A Derivative And Taxing Found Footage Slog
The Devil’s Well: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A deeply derivative and often tedious entry into the paranormal found footage sub-genre. The Devil’s Well begins with a promising, well acted mockumentary setup that quickly devolves into a generic Grave Encounters clone. While the initial interviews provide a sense of gravity, the second half suffers from stilted dialogue, poor lighting, and a lack of genuine innovation. Clocking in at a taxing 88 minutes, it overstays its welcome with a plot that feels stretched and an ending that fails to provide a satisfying payoff. It is a 2 star disappointment that might satisfy undemanding found footage completionists, but will likely leave horror veterans checking their watches.
Details: Director: Kurtis Spieler | Cast: Bryan Manley Davis, Chris Viemeister, David S. Maritn | Runtime: 1h 28m | Release Date: 23 January 2018
Best for: Die-hard found footage fans who don’t mind repetitive tropes and those who enjoyed the formula of Grave Encounters.
Worth noting: Despite the fictionalized plot, the film attempts to ground itself in the local folklore of “The Devil’s Well,” a real-world location associated with urban legends.
Where to Watch: Amazon🛒, YouTube
Rating: 2/5 Stars
(Decent mockumentary start, highly derivative second half, boring climax)
Welcome to Knockout Horror and to a new feature I am planning to do over the next month or so – Found Footage Suggested by Reddit. Today we are reviewing 2018 found footage horror movie The Devil’s Well.
Highlights
Today’s movie – The Devil’s Well
This one was suggested by a user who seemingly enjoyed it, finding it to offer “genuine creepy scares” and appreciating the mockumentary style. I’m a big fan of mockumentaries so this one seemed like a no brainer. Added to that the fact that I haven’t actually watched The Devil’s Well before, I was sold.
The Devil’s Well follows the story of a group of paranormal investigators conducting an investigation into the disappearance of a woman named Karla (Anne-Marie Mueschke). Karla, also a fan of the spooky and mysterious, disappeared while visiting a location with her husband (Bryan Manley Davis <— great name by the way) that was supposedly a portal to hell. Believing that there is more to the case than meets the eye, the group head to the location to take a look.
Very derivative
Mockumentaries always give off something of a familiar vibe. I mean, let’s be honest, there are only so many ways that you can approach this type of movie. The thing that stands out with The Devil’s Well, however, is just how similar it is to the much more well known paranormal found footage movie Grave Encounters.
“The Devil’s Well does absolutely nothing at all new. The format feels almost copy and paste from Grave Encounters.”
The format feels almost copy and paste. We have a mysterious disappearance, a paranormal investigation team, numerous cameras placed to capture spooky goings on, night vision, a graffiti plagued location and a shock end. The Devil’s Well does absolutely nothing at all new.
This is a derivative movie even by found footage standards. Even some of the shots felt like one for one copies of shots from Grave Encounters. I understand paying homage but this is taking the piss. I can’t, honestly, in good conscience say that The Devil’s Well, and writer director Kurtis Spieler, has a single new thing to add to the genre outside of the location’s history. A history the movie never really focuses on.
Yawnsome and extremely dull
The Devil’s Well is a movie of two halves. Well, a third and two thirds, I guess. Things open with a fairly interesting and well acted mockumentary style collection of interviews explaining the disappearance of Karla. Only for the movie to transform into a fully fledged found footage horror replete with all the negative trappings of the style. Poor camera work, dodgy lighting, mixed acting and awkward dialogue.
It is a little bit jarring in as much as the two disparate parts are of a starkly different quality. I quite enjoyed the interviews. I wouldn’t put them on the level of those in Lake Mungo but acting was solid and the subject matter was treated with gravity and seriousness. The second half just felt like formulaic found footage horror fodder with very little to cling on to.
“Things open with a fairly interesting mockumentary style… only for the movie to transform into a fully fledged horror replete with all the negative trappings.”
The plot is extremely dull, very little happens for much of the movie. There is little reason to watch the background and many of the character interactions feel unnatural and stilted. The only time the characters feel like real people is when they are simply reacting to what they see outside of the script. It is boring stuff and does virtually nothing to hold the viewer’s attention.
All leads to disappointment
The biggest problem, however, might be just how disappointing the end of the movie is. The Devil’s Well runs far too long for this type of horror at a taxing 88 minutes. Even when the credits roll you still have characters chatting away. By this point, I imagine, the majority of horror fans will be more than a little checked out by just how underwhelming the ending was.
It’s a lot of build up for very little pay off. It’s difficult not to feel a little short changed at just how uninventive it is. Though the entire movie is derivative and lacking innovation so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.
On the plus side, the first half of the movie is fairly solid. Camera work is okay for the most part. Acting can be decent at times and there are no ridiculously obnoxious characters. Undemanding viewers will probably tolerate the overly familiar, and rather boring, plot a lot more than horror vets.
“This is one to skip unless you are desperate for some found footage paranormal shenanigans and aren’t too fussed on quality.”
I quite enjoyed the moments where the actors were allowed to just improvise. With that being said, however, this is one to skip unless you are desperate for some found footage paranormal shenanigans and aren’t too fussed on quality.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- The Interviews: The first act features solid acting and a believable documentary style that builds a decent level of intrigue.
- Lack of Obnoxious Characters: Unlike many low-budget found footage films, the cast is generally tolerable and avoids the “shouting match” trope.
- Improvisation: The moments where the actors are allowed to react naturally feel more authentic than the scripted segments.
The Bad
- Highly Derivative: The film follows the Grave Encounters blueprint so closely that it borders on being a remake rather than an original work.
- Taxing Runtime: At 88 minutes, the movie feels significantly longer than it needs to be, with far too much “dead air.”
- Stilted Dialogue: Once the investigation starts, the interactions become unnatural and clearly scripted.
The Ugly: The “Portal” pay-off. After an hour of build-up, the climax is incredibly uninventive and feels like a low-budget afterthought.
Should You Watch The Devil’s Well?
Probably not. While the first half shows promise, the rest of the film sinks into a pit of uninspired cliches. Unless you are a found footage enthusiast looking for something free to watch on YouTube while you scroll through your phone, your time is better spent elsewhere. It’s a 2 star film that fails to leave a lasting impression.
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