Rarely will you find a film of this genre in such a performance. It's usually something like a paranormal phenomenon, where the plot is 0, and there's a bunch of boom effects. Things are different here. In the film The Devil, a huge emphasis was made on the plot, this is immediately noticeable because the film is intriguing from the first minutes.
In my opinion, the script is written very well in terms of characters and events, the rest, the circumstances, dialogues, etc. are not at the best level. For the first 20 minutes, the creators will acquaint you with the characters, with their characteristics, characters, give your idea of each, not only the participants of the sinister elevator, but also those who are beyond it. I was also shocked that I could not predict further events, the intrigue persists until the last take, exactly until the last!
Actors did a brilliant job, honestly, I did not expect that in horror, I can play well, but this film changed my idea of this genre in terms of play. The actors tried not so much to scare and be frightened as to reveal their characters, despite the fact that they had to be content with three square meters, they managed to show everything that was required of them.
So Fujimoto, misled me, I still do not understand how he managed to shoot in such a small room. Although it was possible it was only a scenery with three walls, but despite this, the volume was transferred to him. That's great! What can not be said about music!
Fernando Velasquez messed up, sometimes not in the topic issuing musical accompaniment, he did not always manage to convey the desired manner. So there's still a lot to learn.
In conclusion: The Devil, one of the best horror films in terms of the script, although it may seem that this is not a horror movie at all. It’s good not because it can scare you, but because it can convey a story that is very important in this film. And he is very good at it, and I think the main credit in this belongs to the director, who brilliantly did his job: John Eric Doudle!
But still this is a horror movie, and it does not scare much, so:
8 out of 10
I watched this movie, and frankly, it made me happy. When I heard about it, and it was a long time ago, I thought that I would not see anything good, and now I finally decided to see it. I was not disappointed!
Everything in the film is interconnected, which is not found in every work. The whole picture we are in tension, we are tormented by two questions. Who is next? and Who could have done that? Who would you think? Rookie guard? An unknown guy? Fragile girl? Grandma? Or an employee who has been here for a long time? In the beginning, I was just torn in my guesses, but as they became less and less alive, my guesses went to — obviously, the clue. And that seems to be it! The last time the lights go out, what do we see? Personally, I was extremely surprised by this turn of events and, accordingly, impressed!
When the film starts, we see that there are only five characters who will be trapped, naturally it seems that this is somehow not enough to turn around and make the film interesting, but that was not the case. Initially, we know that they will all fall into the hands of the devil, and our suspicions fall on one or the other.
The film is not banal, as it seems at first sight. Yes, there is something template, but this pattern fades behind the huge meaning of the film and the fact that we are constantly tormented by questions, waiting for something. It doesn't last a bit, you always want to know what's going on in the cockpit? What happens to those who see them? What will happen next?
The creators did not have to spend much on the scenery, but this does not spoil the picture at all. It does not feel crowded, although it occurs increasingly in the elevator.
Personally, I was pleased with the viewing. A good ending, a good ending, a good ending.
I really like the words "nothing happens by accident." The Devil even makes you think about it.
If you’re thinking about whether or not to watch this movie, I’ll say, “See it!” I’m a horror and thriller fanatic and I watch these movies most often, but I’ve never seen anything like this.
After watching the trailer for the film, I had the impression that the plot unfolds only in the elevator, and it will not be interesting to watch all this, but I was wrong! In addition, the storylines are developing in several places. The elevator is the epicenter of everything.
What struck me was the tension throughout the film. Who will be the devil? Sometimes it seems that everything is obvious. I’m pretty sure that no one who watched the film guessed which of the people actually is not human at all.
The most important thing is that the film carries a semantic load. Yeah, yeah, guys, this movie makes sense. You rarely see a horror movie like that. Usually films of this genre are suitable only for a single viewing. But not this one. I watched it 2 times, and both times I could not take off the screen. Here are two key phrases that contain the semantic load of everything that happens: “The ability to forgive depends on your entire future life. Otherwise nothing will change" and "The lies we tell ourselves bring us closer to the Devil. I believe that after watching the film, you begin to think involuntarily: maybe sometimes you should blame not people, but yourself?
In general, the film is very impressive and exciting, everyone can extract something worthwhile from it. (And there are very few such films now).
“If there is a devil, there is a God too.”
For an interesting plot and philosophical meaning, I will put
10 out of 10
It’s been a long time since I’ve watched such an intriguing and at the same time exciting thriller that makes you sit in suspense, closely watching every action unfolding.
A few words about the plot: several people are stuck in the same elevator, for a long time not knowing that they were there by chance. All of them are sinners who have committed terrible, not plausible deeds in their lives, for which they will have to answer before the devil himself, who is also present in the elevator in the form of a man.
So who is he? This is the question that will haunt the audience throughout the film. But the “trick” of this creation is that no matter how hard you try, you will not be able to guess under whose guise it hides? Director John Eric Dowdle is running a dizzying scam over the minds of the audience, and the moment you think you’ve finally put everything on the shelves, the action takes an unexpected turn that makes you puzzled to scratch the back of your head, saying, “Nothing is clear.” And it will be until the end. But the finale, you will also be surprised, because, again, you will not see quite what you expected.
The film combines a combination of three genres: it has a bit of horror horror, psychological thriller and detection. But the leading component is still a psychological thriller. Pay attention to the slogan “Evil does not come by chance”, it is the main leimotif of the film. Against the background of fears, suspicions and open enmity that arose between the main characters, in a desperate attempt to understand who is evil, Dydle tries to reflect that it is not so terrible evil that comes from the outside, as what is sitting inside us, and only waiting for the right moment to break out.
In terms of acting, I would like to highlight Logan Marshall-Green, whose character caused simple human sympathy and compassion, in a scene where he very convincingly played remorse for his act. No less convincing in his role were Jacob Vargas in the role of a frightened security officer and Chris Messin in the role of a detective who lost his entire family. In general, the entire cast was pleased.
No matter what anyone said, I liked the movie. I didn’t expect to see such a concept film. Therefore, a separate respect for the director and screenwriters, who were not lazy to strain the convolutions and create something more than a trivial horror film with a painfully beaten plot, and no less predictable ending, accompanied by senseless massacres and fountains of blood. If you really want to get vivid emotions, and at the same time reflect on eternal themes: good and evil, then this is the place for you.
After watching The Devil for the first time, I honestly sent it to the folder “you can review from nothing to do.” And a week later I found myself looking at it, a couple of days later — again the same situation. It seems to be an ordinary film - no newfangled actors were noticed in it (and where would they come from with a total ten million budget?), the plot is generally not new and the space for filming is also very, very limited - a high-rise and the territory near it. You don't seem to walk. But he and Shyamalan, to create something worthy of attention out of the usual dull situation. I confess that I was not particularly astute in determining which of the people stuck in the elevator was someone who could not be named (to quote Harry Potter). For me, the first viewing was like throwing a mental patient – “just this one, with a nasty face!”, “No, stop, this one”, “No, well, now definitely that!”. At the same time, I am not at all upset by my lack of talent for Sherlock Holmes and I am skeptical of those who cheerfully shouted in the cinema - "Wow, I know exactly who!" Because in fact, the circle of suspects for involvement in evil spirits is very, very small. Judge for yourself - an elderly woman, a young girl, a security guard with sadistic habits, a pretty young man, an unsympathetic young man (my opinion is too much, do not judge strictly). As the saying goes, place your bets, gentlemen, no matter how twisted, one to four that your choice will be right. So don't worry about it. Another thing is that the plot, for all its simplicity and the absence of any action scenes, attracts attention - I think Shyamalan, for all his Eastern wisdom, would betray himself if he decided to directly show us the devil in all his horror. Well, what is new, in fact, can be shown on this worn-out devilish theme? Three pairs of horns, ten hooves, Asian dragon wings? The director’s idea was to bring out human vices and weaknesses and their relationship with the future fate of a person at the moment when he has already become accustomed to his past. To make it clear that any evil does not pass without a trace, that by every act a person deserves the right to be punished... or, conversely, pardoned. I will not dissect the acting, the atmosphere that is inherent in Knight’s films, any individual moments. Essentially, any bright moment in a movie is a clue, and handing them over now at my suggestion would be very foolish. Look and see. Someone will be delighted, someone will turn their nose. But I always remember the phrase of the famous restaurateur Andrei Dellos: Opening a restaurant, you never guess whether it will be popular, whether people will go to it. It is not known the moment when the very bacteria will settle in the walls of the child you are building, which will create the necessary atmosphere, thanks to which people in your restaurant will be comfortable.” And I know that in Shyamalan’s The Devil, this notorious bacterium that causes an unaccountable sense of interest in the film is definitely there. I just don't know where she is.
I learned about The Devil by accident, from a teenage brother who advised me to watch this cool horror movie. The source and description of the film were not credible, but I decided to give the Devil a chance. After watching the trailer and seeing the name of M. Night Shyamalan in the list of creators, I immediately understood what I signed up for - a tension with his favorite paranormal phenomena and rehearsals of the plot. What I expected from the film, I got.
The plot of the film is simple: five strangers “lucky” to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and they are stuck in an elevator in the middle of a skyscraper. The routine, albeit unpleasant, situation changes radically when they begin to die one by one, unaware that the Devil himself is hiding among them in human form.
The idea is at least fascinating, the film was shot qualitatively, but no more. Of the interesting director's finds, it is remembered that the panorama of Philadelphia turned upside down at the very beginning (the film is about the incarnation of hell, do you catch?).
The development of events is quite dynamic, there is no sense of delay inherent in many thrillers; and with a duration of 80 minutes, the creators simply could not afford otherwise.
As such, there are few frightening moments in the film, but he is not about that - the director focused on suspense and the atmosphere of growing hopelessness, which he quite succeeded in. In the course went characteristic of the genre of music and a rather high-quality game of little-known actors, diligently and quite reliably conveying the growing tension with the development of the film.
At this, good moments give way to claims to the film, and quite significant. First, for a film that focuses on creating intrigue, intrigue as such is surprisingly small. Here it is in the peculiarities of the idea: it is difficult to create a really exciting and unpredictable plot, when the scene is a closed elevator cabin, there are only five applicants for the identity of the carrier of evil spirits, and each death of one of the prisoners of the situation is preceded by an unequivocal blackout of light and a cacophony of screams and loud music (This “cunning” move also allowed the creators to save on special effects: it is easier to add sounds and blink with light than to show the devil in all its ugliness). You can't run on a $10 million budget. But the whole picture is built on intrigue! The title of the film, the trailer, the voiceover of the Mexican security guard in the exposition - everything prepared the viewer for a meeting with the title antihero of the picture. And in the end, personally, as, I am sure, many other moviegoers, surprisingly quickly got to know the film, down to the personality of the devil, the order of death of the characters, and even the classic twist of the plot in Shyamalan, long before all the cards were revealed. It's too clichéd. But here many years of experience of watching such films and acquaintance with the previous work of Shyamalan are reflected; an inexperienced viewer will probably bite at the constant twists of the director with the phantom goal of preserving intrigue until the very end.
The second complaint I have is the philosophical subtext of the film. The moral of this fable is simple and as old as the world: know how to forgive, and you will be happy and saved. I do not doubt, the lesson is useful, relevant, but the director allocated only a few minutes to reveal this topic with the participation of the main character of the detective at the beginning of the film and a few more at the end, where the lesson is taught to the viewer directly demonstratively, on a plate with a blue border. Attempts to involve the other characters of the film (with the exception of one directly related to the storyline) were not made, despite the existence of prerequisites. As a result, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that all the victims of the punishing devil are nothing more than “red shirts” characteristic of horror, without claims to a deeper disclosure of images.
As a result, we have a quite good, although not particularly original, thriller with elements of horror, fans of the genre will appreciate. But I would say the movie is for once.