Quick Movie Review: "Devil"

Seen on: September 20, 2010

The players: Director: John Erick Dowdle, Writer: Brian Nelson, Cast: Chris Messina, Logan Marshall-Green, Jenny O'Hara, Bojana Novakovic

Facts of interest: M. Night Shyamalan developed the film's story.

The plot: Five strangers get on an elevator that breaks down and causes panic among them. Is the devil lurking anywhere close by?

Our thoughts: John Erick Dowdle’s “Devil” is the first movie in M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Night Chronicles” series, and while this little horror thriller lacks the kind of originality that would set it apart from others in the genre, the film still boasts a solid pace that provides 80 minutes of decent entertainment.

The story, of course, is as ridiculous as it can get. On a dark day in the big city, five strangers randomly board an elevator without a clue about what they’re in for next. Just seconds later, the elevator abruptly stops, and the terror inside begins. Lights start to flicker, tension mounts, and before you know it, violence breaks out.

Watching what’s going on inside the elevator from the security control room is a cop named Bowden (Chris Messina), who sooner or later must consider the possibility that the Devil himself has sneaked into the building to teach those five folks a bloody lesson. In an unpredictable game of life and death, who will survive?

Trust me, “Devil” is indeed as silly as it sounds, but even though I have a lot of trouble taking a movie about the Devil wreaking havoc in an elevator seriously, I have to say the film kept me entertained from start to finish. What goes on outside the elevator isn’t nearly as intense as what happens inside, but the plot sure has some fun in store for audiences.

“Devil” comes loaded with some twists I failed to appreciate, but the panic the breaks out between the characters trapped in the tiny space provokes a compelling intensity that’s hard to ignore. The flick leaves you guessing for a while, and it’s only in the very end that we get to see who’s responsible for the bloody chaos.

I expected a bigger payoff, but surprises are still scarce as the story comes to a close. The acting is decent and the edgy cinematography definitely adds to the suspense. Director Dowdle also helmed “Quarantine,” which certainly makes him a dab hand at generating an intense atmosphere in creepy places.

Freaky quote: "Stay away from me!" - Bojana Novakovic

The final word: “Devil” is what it is, but it entertains, and that certainly helps. This is not something I would revisit, but it leaves me with some solid expectations for the next flick in the “Night Chronicles” series. Decent effort for sure, despite its ridiculous story line.

Article by Franck Tabouring