|
|
|
Late Night with the Devil
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - Australia - Umbrella Entertainment Review written by and copyright: James-Masaki Ryan (29th September 2024). |
|
The Film
 "Late Night with the Devil" (2023) It was October 31st, 1977 in which the late night talk show program "Night Owls" produced their infamous and tragic final episode. Hosted by Jack Delroy (played by David Dastmalchian), his team were set to take the broadcast numbers to its highest share with his spooky live special which included the psychic Christou (played by Fayssal Bazzi), magician and debunker Carmichael Haig (played by Ian Bliss), and para-psychologist and author of "Conversations with the Devil" June Ross-Mitchell (played by Laura Gordon) along with the subject of her book, the teenager Lilly (played by Ingrid Torelli) who claims to be possessed by a devil and is able to communicate to it. The broadcast has been a legendary story as it was never rerun, with some speculating what was staged and what was real. More than three decades later, a video recording of the show surfaced, and "Late Night with the Devil" shows the events of the night as they unfolded through a complete showing of the broadcast, along with behind the scenes film footage shot by a French film crew to document the episode in between, as well as background information on the show's host and its place in television history. "Late Night with the Devil" may fall into the faux documentary and found footage category of horror films which is a bit overcrowded with both classics and forgettable works, but it stands apart by giving it a few unique qualities in its presentation and attention to detail. Rather than the usual setting of amateur video footage being recovered, this comes directly from a supposed live television broadcast from 1977, and the production team did a stellar job in recreating the atmosphere through its brilliant set designs, wardrobe, hair and makeup, the vintage look of NTSC colorspace, and having it shown in the broadcast 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Late night talk shows have been a staple of television culture since its inception, with the 1950s giving rise to stars such as Ed Sullivan, later with emphasis on humor through Johnny Carson, and to this day every major channel has late night hosts that continue the tradition with monologues, comedy sketches, guest interviews, and musical guests. There have been talk show hosts that went in the more extravagant direction with controversy or pandering to shocks like Morton Downey Jr. eventually giving wave to syndicated daytime talk show hosts like Jerry Springer or Maury Povich who made notoriously entertaining shows with taboo subjects as their guests where fist fighting and chair throwing became staples of the shows. "Late Night with the Devil" looks at Jack Delroy, who rose to stardom with his talk show "Night Owls", which had its usual slate of famous stars and comedy routines, though it was never taken as seriously as Carson's "The Tonight Show", which dominated the ratings for years. The film shows how Delroy and producer Leo Fiske (played by Josh Quong Tart) tried to stir up higher ratings but ultimately never came close to Carson. It was only with the appearance of Delroy's Tony award winning actress wife Madeleine Piper (played by Georgina Haig) and her diagnosis with terminal lung cancer giving a very personal interview at the end of her life that the show's ratings excelled, though it was still under the number that Carson had for the week. The film speculates the connection that his wife's death might have been connected to the mysterious cult of "The Grove" that he was part of, which was said to have satanic rituals and she may have been cursed. The film's entertainment comes from the standard setting of live television entertainment that is very familiar to audiences. The fun banter between Delroy and his sidekick and announcer Gus (played by Rhys Auteri), the comedic touches with audience interaction, and the guests as well. Dastmalchian is fantastic as the calm yet nervous host, who is reminded of the demeanor of Dick Cavett while also the humor of Conan O'Brien, while also showcasing his vulnerable side when his past emotions start catching up to him. Bliss as debunker Haig is also a standout, trying to put rhyme and reason into the supposed fakeness of the other guests, showing the audience how they are easily manipulated through suggestion, magic, and hypnotism through his deduction skills. A lot of the arguments seen on stage during the broadcast segments are very well played and feel quite real through the performances. A highlight also comes with Torelli's performance as Lilly, the girl who was rescued from the suicide cult as a young child and is now kept in the custody of Ross-Mitchell who is taking care of her as well as studying her for research. There is also the hinted romance between Delroy and Ross-Mitchell, and both Dastmalchian and Gordon to an excellent job as secret lovers while never admitting to the fact. The horror aspects come to the film in some unexpected ways, such as psychic Christou's disturbing channeling of the spirit and his gory illness, as well as the hypnotism of Gus, but the real reason everyone wants to see the feature is the devil itself through the body of the young Lilly, taking a page from "The Exorcist" (1973) and the "Satanic Panic" of the 1970s in which the religious right was losing ground as interest in the occult took stage through fiction in television and film as well as horrifying real life murder cases. For the special effects and gore, a lot of practical effects were used for the production, though some digital effects such as the lightning bolts, green screen image removal were used for specific instances. The gory scenes are certainly gory and yet feel in place for the most part, though there are some instances such as the projectile gore shots looking very fake through digital creation. Writer/director brothers Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes worked on television productions in the past as well as directing the horror features "100 Bloody Acres" (2012) and "Scare Campaign" (2016). "Late Night with the Devil" is quite an original idea and production, and even with the low budget nature and shooting mostly on a single sound stage for the majority of the runtime, they are able to keep everything incredibly entertaining, playing events out in real time and giving horror fans a real treat as well as for non-horror fans with its easy approach in presentation. The cinematography by Matthew Temple is varied with the controlled environment of the studio, the handheld documentary footage and others, each having different framing, color space, and feel. Roscoe James Irwin and Glenn Richards composed the music for the show which is based on 70s funk and soul, and it's almost a crime that a soundtrack album hasn't been released yet. The production design by Otello Stolfo with the detailed 1970s studio set, the choices for the vintage looking costumes by Steph Hooke are also integral to making the film look and feel perfectly within the timeframe. "Late Night with the Devil" is easily one of the most entertaining and surprising horror films of recent years with its originality in touching on retro and crossing into the found footage genre evenly, while having great performances and attention to detail in its production. It's also surprising to note that it was shot in Australia with a mostly Australian cast and crew with only a few such as Dastmalchian being American, as they perfectly captured American vintage television as well as the accents on all the Australian actors being perfectly convincing when using American accents. The film premiered at the South by Southwest Festival in March 2023 to rave reviews. The film played at various festivals worldwide throughout 2023 and given theatrical releases in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand in March 2024, then Australia the following month. The film was nominated for 4 Fangoria awards, 4 Golden Trailer Awards nominations - winning one for Best Horror Trailer, 2 nominations at Sitges - winning Best Screenplay, winning an Australian Writer's Guild Award and winning an Australian Cinematographers Society Award. Just before Halloween season kicks in, Australia's Umbrella Entertainment has released the film on Blu-ray with a fine selection of extras. Note this is a region ALL Blu-ray
Video
Umbrella Entertainment presents the film in alternating multiple aspect ratios in 1080p AVC MPEG-4. The vintage show's broadcast portions are in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The behind the scenes footage is in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio. The opening documentary portions are in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The finale dream sequence is in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio. While most of the production is in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio and simulating a television broadcast from 1977 with slightly washed out colors and a bit of a blur to the detail, the entire production was actually shot digitally on Sony Venice cameras in 24fps and digitally degraded to have the vintage NTSC video look with the depth and the color space. It certainly looks the part with the attention to detail with the sets, the wardrobe, and the lighting of the studio fittingly capturing the time period, the only drawback may have been that it was not shot in 30fps as an NTSC broadcast would have been in. The directors stated that there was thought of actually shooting the television show segments in standard definition with vintage cameras and the NTSC framerate, but it would have been difficult to render the digital effects to the tape footage, so instead it was shot and edited entirely in the digital realm. As stated the show's segments are intentionally weak in comparison to a normal digitally shot production, and there are some instances of magnetic distortion and tape errors that are fully intentional. The 1.66:1 sequences are supposedly shot by a French film crew shooting handheld and documenting the production on film, so it has a grainy filmic look in black and white with better sharpness and detail. The opening sequences include vintage stock footage plus faux vintage footage and is told through narration is sharp, as it is supposed to be a modern made introduction. The dream sequences are the sharpest with the out of body experience scenes with rich vivid colors, dark blacks and bright tones with excellent sharpness. The production has a mixture of various styles and has intentional errors within the picture, so it is hard to grade it, but considering the intentions it seems to capture everything quite well. The film's runtime is 92:19
Audio
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo Lossless original 5.1 and downmixed 2.0 stereo tracks are available for the feature. While it might seem unusual that a film made up mostly of a supposed vintage 1977 television episode would benefit from 5.1, but this is one of the anachronistic features of the film, as a television broadcast from the period would have been in mono. For the most part, dialogue comes from the center as it should, though the left and right panning is used well for the live music of the house band which is very lively and funky. The surrounds are used as well especially in the more supernatural elements that appear, and there is good 5.1 separation in the opening segment focusing on the backstory. The 2.0 track is also good, though it lacks the separation found in the 5.1 track. An excellent job with the mix and the transfer here. There are optional English HoH subtitles available for the main feature, in a white font. There are some moments that the subtitle disappear a little too quickly, though it happens sparingly.
Extras
Broadcast Cut of "Night Owls: Halloween Special" (70:06) Presented here is the "full" version of the episode that is seen in the film itself, with color grading and effects completed in the vintage look as seen in the film itself. For the commercial breaks there are color bars on screen and there are some odd magnetic tape distortions during these segments which are not seen in the film version (which are fully intentional). It also opens with a warning that the broadcast copy is from the library of The Grove which is a nice touch. This is a fascinating and fun way to watch the film in an alternate way, though there are some things that do not make sense, such as Jack’s nightmare sequences being shown in full here, even though they would not have been part of the original broadcast. It would have been interesting to see the final sequence play out as the cameras would have caught it rather than how it appeared in the film or in this version. Another quibble is that it is presented in 24fps, even though an American television production at the time would have been shot at the NTSC framerate of 30fps. It would have given the vintage footage an even more authentic look if this had been done, but here we are given the framerate as to how it was shot, 24fps. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.33:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles "Behind the Scenes Reel" featurette (5:59) Presented here is a montage of set construction, rehearsals, B-roll footage, music recording sessions in studio, special effects and make-up tests, foley recording of audience reactions, and more. It's a good but far too brief look at the production. in 1080p AVC MPEG4, in 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles "The Making of Night Owls Music" featurette (4:30) Presented here is a series of behind the scenes shots of the recording sessions for the film's music. in 1080p AVC MPEG4, in 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles SXSW 2023 Screening Q&A with Directors and Cast (8:46) Following the film's premiere screening at the South by Southwest Festival in March 2023, Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes and David Dastmalchian discuss about the production with how Dastmalchian was cast, the unique way of telling the story, and some of the production details. Unfortunately the Q&A gets cut as soon as audience questions are about to start so the full Q&A is not available here. In addition, it is poorly shot, taken from one theatergoer's camera which is unstable as they continue to fiddle with the placing and settings. Plus there are instances of distortion of sound coming from the handling of the camera. Sound is fortunately fair so the questions and answers are easy to hear. in 1080p AVC MPEG4, in 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles BTS Stills Gallery (2:31) Presented here is an automated slideshow gallery of behind the scenes stills of the production as well as one still at the SXSW premiere, set to music from the soundtrack. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, Music Dolby Digital 2.0 Trailer (1:31) The original theatrical trailer is presented here. It has been embedded below, courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in various aspect ratios, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles The film has been issued elsewhere on Blu-ray in the United States by RLJ Entertainment, France by Wild Side Video, and Germany by Capelight Pictures, and other territories forthcoming including the UK by Second Sight in October. Each have some differing exclusive extras. The US has the same behind the scenes featurette but exclusively has a commentary by David Dastmalchian and producer Leah Kilpatrick, the "Monster Shock Theater" faux TV episode, and a differing Q&A with the directors. The French release has a series of interviews with the cast conducted by Jack Delroy. The German release has the full broadcast cut, the behind the scenes, and the music featurette, so nothing exclusive unless you count the German dubbed trailers. The forthcoming UK release will have the behind the scenes, the music featurette, and the SXSW Q&A plus its own exclusives with an audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson, interviews with actors Bliss, Torelli, and Auteri, an interview with horror expert Zoë Rose Smith. Note that Capelight and Second Sight are also releasing the film on the 4K UltraHD Blu-ray format. A clip from the film, from IFC Films An interview with the Cairnes Brothers and Dastmalchian from The Hollywood Reporter Dastmalchian in character as Jack Delroy An interview with Dastmalchian for Collider An interview with Torelli for Popternative Mark Kermode's review of the film The Cairnes Brothers on what films that frightened them the most
Packaging
The disc is packaged in a standard clear keep case with reversible artwork, with the only difference being the Australian MA 15+ logos being removed. The packaging mistakenly states region B only as the disc is region ALL. It is also available in a Collector's Edition exclusively from the Umbrella Web Shop limited to 2500 copies which includes: - "Conversations with the Devil" A 48 page artefact put together with the team behind Late Night with the Devil - Custom designed rigid case - 8 artcards - A3 reversible poster The 48 page booklet starts with a written faux introduction on the discovery of the only surviving videotape of the final broadcast of "Night Owls" by the supposed restoration team. This is followed by production design sketches and notes by Otello Stolfo. Next is "The Devil's Craft: Practical FX by Sharp FX", a written piece on the use of in camera visual effects along with stills. There are also storyboards for a few sequences with handwritten notes, notes on how to visually replicate the style of talk shows and camera operation of specific scenes, detailed notes and stills of costume designs by Stephanie Hooke for each of the main characters, and finally various poster designs for the film. The artcards are thick cards with six of them being English poster designs, one Spanish poster design, and the Mad magazine style "boxing" artwork that was seen within the film. The double sided poster has two choices with one being similar to the slipcase front and the other being similar to the slipcase back. The poster is folded and housed in the keep case, and the keep case and artcards are housed in the rigid slipcase. It is also available in a Night Owls Fan Club Collector's Edition exclusively at the Umbrella Web Shop limited to 2000 copies which includes: - NTSC VHS containing the 1977 Night Owls Original Broadcast cut - Replica TV Guide press kit - "Conversations with the Devil" A 48 page artefact put together with the team behind Late Night with the Devil - Custom designed rigid case - 8 artcards - A3 reversible poster In addition to the contents mentioned above, this also adds a VHS cassette and an additional booklet. The VHS has the entire Halloween episode which is also available on the Blu-ray as an extra, and is identical in content. The VHS has a faux aged looking sticker that uses a U-matic video cassette sticker (though it is obviously just a standard VHS cassette) and is housed in a standard VHS slipcase which also has a faux aged look. labeled as property of The Grove Library where it was supposedly discovered. The picture is in the NTSC format which may prove to be difficult to play back for Australian fans unless they have a multisystem VHS VCR, though it is fitting as it is a supposed dub of the American television broadcast. The image is in the standard 1.33:1 aspect ratio (except for the dream sequences in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio) and it is authentically flagged for 4:3 playback. It is not flagged for 16:9 like some of Umbrella's recent widescreen VHS cassettes. The picture quality is fair and have the same intentional distortions and issues as on the Blu-ray extra, though downscaled to standard definition. This is a neat and clever bonus to be included, but the issue still remains with the mentions above, as some portions don't make logical sense and that it would have added a bit more authenticity if it were shot and edited in the 30fps format instead. As for the faux TV Guide booklet, this is another neat bonus with the 16 page booklet that is a supposed replica of the late October 1977 issue with Jack Delroy on the cover, promoting the then upcoming Halloween episode. The booklet included viewer letters with some directly related to Delroy's work, a written profile on Delroy and his television show, and profiles of the guests appearing on the Halloween episode. There is also a listing of movies airing on television during the week with one faux movie "Hail Abraxas!" which is based on the cult commune that is mentioned in the film, plus a number of real features that inspired "Late Night with the Devil", with "The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver" (1977), "The Legend of Boggy Creek" (1972), "Vertigo" (1958), "A Face in the Crowd" (1957), and "Network" (1976). There is a fun little jab at "Star Wars" which is fun to read in hindsight of where the franchise has come since the first (fourth) film's debut. There is also a gossip column with the hinted connection with Delroy and Ross-Mitchell, plus stills, vintage ads, and a faux cigarette ad to tie it in with Gus' promoted brand of Cavendish cigarettes. It is a clever and well made booklet, though there is the anachronism of them using a 1960s "TV Guide" logo on the cover rather than what was used in 1977, as well as some of the written works having British/Australian spellings such as "rumour" and "organise" rather than American spellings. Very minor quibbles aside, it's a wonderful piece of memorabilia. The booklet is also housed in the rigid slipcase. The VHS and its slipcase are separate from the Blu-ray's slipcase. 
Overall
"Late Night with the Devil" is easily one of the most unique and entertaining horror features of the recent era, and is a fantastic retro-horror piece that gives a new spin to the found footage genre, with great performances and excellent production work. Umbrella Entertainment's release has an excellent transfer with a good selection of extras. It may not be definitive as there are other releases with their own unique extras included, though Umbrella did an incredible job with the packaging of the Collector's Edition and the Night Owls Fan Club Collector's Edition that fans will love. Absolutely recommended. Collector's Edition exclusively from the Umbrella Web Shop limited to 2500 copies b>Night Owls Fan Club Collector's Edition exclusively at the Umbrella Web Shop limited to 2000 copies
|
|||||
|