The Devil All The Time - Review

Released: September 16, 2020

Nailed to a Cross

Sometimes all a movie needs is a cast that's impossible to say no to, and when it's on Netflix, saying yes becomes that much easier. Tom Holland headlines the latest slow-burn for the streaming service; his inclusion seemed to be the only advertising needed. Knowing I was going to watch the movie, I skipped the trailer altogether and went in blind. What I experienced was a patient film, one that took its time getting to where it wanted to go; and for all its pensiveness, The Devil All The Time delivered a story full of hurt and loss, but struggled to get its point across.

Depicting the callused life of a rural family required the film to plunge the viewer into its atmosphere. Everything had to be perfect for the endless chain of tragedy to work, and it's accomplished with good performances and strong production design. It seemed like everyone had a moment that made it clear why they were cast in the role. While not perfect throughout, it was those key moments that sold the overarching feeling for the story. One of the reasons the performances worked so well has to do with the cinematography. The camera was placed

closer to the actors in dialogue scenes, which allowed the viewer to have a deeper connection with them. ​These medium shots created an intimate environment necessary for everything to work as well as it did.

​Even with a cast pulling its weight and great visuals, the movie struggles to get across its purpose. I could feel it nipping at me as no story so intertwined with religion could forgo having a point. This lack of a definitive driving force caused me to question different aspects of the film. In a way, my confusion mirrored the struggles the characters were going through, and while this might not have been the intended effect, it's oddly poetic. On the other hand, they didn't find any answers, and neither did I.

If you've lacked in quality content since quarantine started, this is a fine choice. It might not expose you to anything you haven't seen before, but it'll probably keep your interest. It's a finely made movie with a couple of tense moments, but this is no thriller. Even with its shortcomings, The Devil All The Time happens to be one of the best films I've seen this year—kind of a sad statement about the year rather than a reflection on the picture itself

7/10
​The only all knowing being present, is the writer that determined all the characters' fates