Devil

Devil

Directed By: John Erick Dowdle

Written By: Brian Nelson, M. Night Shyamalan

Produced By: John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowlde, M. Night Shyamalan, Sam Mercer

Cast: Chris Messina, Bojana Novakovic, Bokeem Woodbine, Logan Marshall-Green, Jenny O'Hara, Geoffrey Arend

Plot: 5 people get into an elevator, when one of them dies, tensions risee, until it is crystal clear, that one of them is not who they say they are.

M. Night Shyamalan attempts to be the modern day Alfred Hitchcock, by creating this claustrophobic thriller/slasher flick. He certainly suceeds by keeping the 5 unsuspecting victims in the lift for the majority of the film, he  manages to kill them off quite effectively. He also keeps us on the edge of our seats by keeping us guessing all the way through who the killer is, the end result? Almost comical, which to be honest, ruins the film. In the final scene, I cannot take the killer seriously simply because it seems ridiculous and slightly cliche'd.

However, I do find the narration from the Spanish security guard at the start and end of the film very effective. It gives the film an eerie atmosphere before it has even begun, add to that the heavy piano sounds mixed into some of the scenes, and the scary atmosphere is complete. The actors in the film are relatively unheard of, which is good to have some fresh talent introduced. I was a little nervous each time the lights went off, because it is not obvious how these people are going to die, so I was slightly anxious to see how M. Night Shyamalan would work this into the film.

Devil isn't a work of  art, but it is entertaining enough, and doesn't have you groaning at each twist, it also doesn't have an extremely complicated story, it is a simple idea, developed into an Agatha Christie style thriller.

Written By Eammon Jacobs