Oct 23, 2013

Day 23: Devil (2010)

Can a once-prolific blogger who hasn't written 31 posts all year find it in his soul to review 31 previously unseen horror films in 31 days of October? Let's find out...
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Streaming on Netflix Instant.

I actually wrote about the trailer for this movie over three years ago. I promised that I would one day watch it, and here I am. Something something about being late to the game or something. You know the drill. I remember thinking that the trailer (which I haven't seen in 3+ years) was atmospheric and creepy. And thinking that doesn't mean jack squat most times. I mean, they're not going to work hard to make the trailer look crappier than the finished product, right? We've all been burned before. See that scar? That's from all the Star Wars prequels. Sigh...

Back to Devil. A group of seemingly random folks wind up on the same elevator in some tall office building in Philadelphia. It's Philadelphia ya see because the story was written by M. Night Shyamalan, and Mr. Shyamalan is very loyal to his hometown. Honestly, it doesn't really matter what city the building and elevator are in. All that's important is that the group of people aren't just in the elevator together. They're STUCK in the elevator together.


A recovering alcoholic detective is investigating a probable suicide. A jumper from the 35th floor of the building with our group of stranded elevator riders. There's an older woman, a douche-bag salesman, a security guard, a well-dressed younger woman and a mysterious stranger. And  in a classic horror flick twist, one of them isn't what they appear to be.

It looks as if one of our random group of strangers is, in fact, the Devil. Not "a devil" or "devilish" or a "lucky devil", but the real deal. The ultimate boogeyman. The Prince of Lies and/or Darkness. He's a baaaad mutha-fuc...shut yo mouth! That was my attempt at elevator Shaft humor. Get it? At this point there is only one person involved who suspects anything satanic going down. Another security guard who believes he saw something, er, satanic on the elevator video feed. He also did the voice-over during the film. Something he heard from his very religious grandmother. That the Devil will appear after someone commits suicide, fuck around with some folks and all Hell will break loose. Literally.

It's seems the Devil is playing a little morality game with our group of sinners. Everyone is hiding something, everyone is guilty and everyone is lying to themselves about...themselves. The almost-one location film works better as a mystery than I thought it would. All of the pieces fit together in the end, and it was worth the wait. Overall...pretty darn good. I mean EVIL!!!!

"Don't worry. If the Devil is real, then God must be real too."

***SPOILERS in the comments...you have been warned.***


Verdant Dude rating: 3 out of 5 pumpkins

6 comments:

Sausage said...

I agree with this one, it wasn't half bad. The setting was unusual and somewhat refreshing as much as a horror flick can be refreshing.
**SPOILERS**
who woulda' thunk it that a wee auld grannie....nevermind.
Cheers, Sausage.

Verdant Earl said...

Sausage - Heya! Twas a decent twisteroo. Cheers!

Slyde said...

i watched this one a few years ago. i liked it. i thought the spanish security guard who kept freaking out was a hoot.

Verdant Earl said...

Slyde - All I could think of every time I saw him was the he was Yayo from Get Shorty. A film you LOVE!

Unknown said...

I have to take my hat off to you for your dedication to filums sir.

Verdant Earl said...

Chef - If only I were this persistent with important matters.