Late Night with the Devil (2023)

 ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Late Night with the Devil (2023) – C. Cairnes & C. Cairnes

Australian directors Cameron and Colin Cairnes weave together a heap of cultural and cinematic references to create an enjoyable nostalgic horror film that manages to hold together (unlike so many).  Opening in documentary mode, the first eight minutes set up what is then presented as “found footage” of a late night talk show’s Halloween episode from 1977, revealing the backstory of the host (Jack Delroy, a Johnny Carson rival, played by David Dastmalchian) and the main guest (Lilly D’Abo, only survivor of a Satanic cult raided by the FBI leading to their mass suicide, played by teenage Ingrid Torelli).  The footage contains both the show as aired (in colour) and the offscreen events/dialogue during ad breaks (in B&W).  The episode is designed to attract viewer share for the show (“Night Owls”) during the ratings sweeps week by controversially presenting a live demonic possession.  Other guests on the show include a medium who can communicate with the dead and a skeptic clearly modelled on the Amazing Randi.  There is a delectably long lead up to the ultimately gruesome and horrific events that tantalizes viewers with potentially supernatural (or perhaps easily debunked) events that seem to link back to the host and his personal life, particularly his wife’s recent death from cancer.  With spot on period detail (apparently aided by artificial intelligence, upsetting the Arts community), the film hits the entertainment spot but is really just the cinematic equivalent of comfort/junk food.