Hello, and welcome to my first "official" movie review. I do not know what inspired me to create this blog; I do not know if anyone cares to read this blog; I do not know if I will write more reviews after this one--all I know is that, as of now, I feel like talking about a new Netflix film aptly titled The Devil All the Time.
The Devil All the Time is a dramatic thriller/mystery that was directed by the talented and unsung director, Antonio Campos. Mr. Campos leads an all-star cast, too, that consists of Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgard, and Jason Clarke to name only a few.
The film is also based off of Donald Ray Pollack's novel of the same name, and revolves around "sinister characters [who] converge around a young man devoted to protecting those he loves in a postwar backwoods town teeming with corruption and brutality" (IMDb). I had to go with the IMDb synopsis here, as they explain the plot in a simple, concise manner without giving anything away. So with that, let's get into it.
I really enjoyed this film. I did not read the novel, or even see a trailer for it beforehand, so I did not know what I was getting myself into, but I emerged from the experience pleasantly surprised. Immediately, I was taken aback by Saunder Jurriaans beautifully haunting score, Lol Crawley's picture-perfect cinematography, captivating performances around the board (especially from Pattinson's vile Reverend Preston), and Antonio Campos' confident direction. Before a word was spoken, it became clear that I was in the presence of a true filmmaker, and that is the biggest compliment I can give any film. And when the dialogue did come into play, it remained naturally engaging, so I remained glued to the screen in return. I genuinely wanted to know what would happen to the characters, whether I loved or hated them, and I even became emotionally attached to a select few, as well. Yes, the circumstances were, at times, a bit too coincidental, but I really did not mind in the end, as the narrative had compelling characters with phenomenal actors.
It has been said, though, that these characters are the epitome of "misery" and that there is really "no hope" for them, which, in return, makes for a painful, unnecessary watch. I wholeheartedly disagree. While The Devil All the Time is heavy and violent at times (okay, very violent), I could not help but feel uplifted by the end. To me, the constructive themes triumph the torment, and give the conflicts, misery, and bloodshed throughout valid (and necessary) meaning. The novel, film-making, and thematic elements all align with one another, and could not have been done much better than it was here; this should be acknowledged, felt, and realized, as this was presumably no easy task.
Overall, though it may be a bit too heavy and outlandish for some, The Devil All the Time is still a ferociously fascinating film that explores deep, dark themes, all while remaining a relevantly enthralling dramatic mystery.
I give it a...
4/5
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