Review by Ian Delia
It has been a long time since I’ve watched a movie that could compare to The Devil All the Time’s wicked storyline. Full of psychotic serial murderers and religious liars who take advantage of their connection to the lord, the film is as diabolical as they come.
Although the characters in the story do what they believe is right, either in the eyes of the lord or for their own self pleasure. And they don’t see the wrong they’re doing with their spiritual link as they preach to the residents of a small town in Ohio. If you are fan of dark stories about murder, mayhem, and revenge then be ready for another mind blowing trip that takes place over 2 generations and with three storylines.
The story of Arvin (Michael Banks Repeta) starts at a small diner in Knockemstiff, Ohio where his father Willard (Bill Scarsgard) falls in love with a sweet minded waitress Charlotte (Haley Bennet). Willard at the time was just returning from the Vietnam War after a tour in the Army to live with his brother Earskell and mother Emma (Kristin Griffith). Coming from a religious family, Willard had lost the urge to pray due to the horrors he experienced in the war and finds himself traumatized. That was until his encounter with Charlotte.
The two get married and have a young boy named Arvin. With violence in his heart and built up anger Willard teaches his son how to be a man and stand up for what he feels is right. But, sadly by the time Arvin was 9 he loses his parents Charlotte to cancer and Willard to suicide. Without the loss he goes to live with his grandmother, uncle and a young girl who also lost her parents to insanity.
So begins a film filled with wrath that includes an insane pastor (Harry Melling), his pedophile replacement (Robert Patterson) and a psychotic couple Sandy (Riley Keough) and Carl (Jason Clarke) on a killing spree. Nicely filmed with flawless acted the movie is ably directed by Antonio Campos who brought the mystery drama Afterschool to the screen. This psycho thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat from opening scene to the very last.
Hands down The Devil All the Time is the best movie of 2020 thus far. Exclusively on Netflix it’s worth watching time and time again. Easily a 5 out of 5 stars remarkable movie.
Rated R for violence, bloody/disturbing images, sexual content, graphic nudity, and language throughout.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, Sebastian Stan, Haley Bennett, Harry Melling, Eliza Scanlen, Pokey LaFarge with Mia Wasikowska and Robert Pattinson
Directed and written by: Antonio Campos
Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
MPAA Rating: R for violence, bloody/disturbing images, sexual content, graphic nudity, and language throughout
Running Time: 2 hrs. 18 min.
Opening Date: September 16
Distributed by: Netflix
Released in: Streaming Netflix
