Jack Delroy is the host of the syndicated talk show “Night Owls” through which he hopes to rival Johnny Carson, but unfortunately his show is stuck in the number two spot lacking the requirements to take over the number one spot. Things get worse when Jack’s wife Madeline dies of cancer and Jack goes into seclusion as a result. Coming back Jack is still intent on unseating Carson but the ratings are drifting and he needs something to boast the situation during Sweeps week, whatever the frack that is. The decision is made to do a Halloween show, and really bring something new to the viewing screens of the U.S. Besides the expected Psychics and professional sceptics Jack has a young girl who is apparently possessed by a demon. Hey what could possibly go wrong, well you make deals with the Devil and there will be hell to pay as Jack, the crew of the show, and the audience discover as Abraxus arrives for his interview.

Hold onto your knickers kids this one was a hoot and a half, and for mine the best horror flick I’ve seen thus far in 2024. Oh hell yeah, I was bouncing like a pre-teen chick going to a Taylor Swift concert as the events of the movie unfolded on my screen. The Cairnes Bros nailed it, and I for one am now hanging tough to see what they might next drop on us. This is one movie that should not only work for the traditional horror market of teens, and date movie, but also bring in the adults wanting to see something beyond the latest gimmick and accumulated jump scares. Let’s check out what needs to be exorcised in this excellent dances with demons’ romp from Australia.

Where the Cairnes bros really start things rocking is with their whole aesthetics that ring pure 1970s. From the actual set of Night Owls, through the costumes, to the hair styling everything rings as authentic. Even the attitudes expressed by the various characters, recall that by gone era, there’s a feeling of deju vu for anyone who had to endure Don Lane Downunder, which I wouldn’t hoist on my worst enemy to be honest. I especially dug the behind the scenes moments as things deteriorate and Jack Delroy and his producer are only concerned with their ratings, some people deserve all they get in a horror flick folks.

Got to give it to the Cairnes they are keeping the viewer on their toes with this one. While the movie can be watched as a straight forward exercise in terror, the Directors are also throwing on something subtle not seen perhaps since The Exorcist pretty much invented the notion of off camera shenanigans. No I’m not talking the obvious here, but if watching check out windows, mirrors, and other reflective services, we are getting some surprises in the cracks between reality and what we are taking for granted. 

Bit of a spoiler here so if you haven’t seen the movie, and why the heck haven’t you, skip to the next paragraph. Central to the plot is a Faust style deal with devil, apparently the demon Abraxus meets a certain character amidst the tall pines, a deal is struck and as we all know that never quite turns out how you want when the Devil is involved. Even darker, huge spoiler here, Jack Delroy’s beloved wife suddenly got cancer and died from the big C. Now how dark is the territory we are travelling through here folks. So to sum up, we’re pretty much dealing with reaping what you sow, a horror trope that goes back to The Monkey’s Paw and before. Unfortunately, this does leave the audience wondering who they should identify with, it definitely isn’t Jack who is prepared to do anything for fame and fortune, which might very much have included the painful death of his wife.

What I want to spend some time discussing however is the Cairnes Bros horror tactics, which rock in this movie. The Cairnes Brothers demonstrate they are right across the requirements with what is going down, yes we are talking slow beginnings, with a gradual elevation of the horror as things gear up to an absolutely insane final few scenes. And if you need to watch one of those “endings explained” vids then you are nowhere near the level of intelligence needed to hang out on this site. Anyways the Cairnes Bros quickly set the background and get us to the infamous night the movie covers, yeah demon amongst the tall pines, cult that went Waco on us. We then get the Halloween show and things are glitching from the beginning, witness apparent problems with the television cameras. This is a necessary approach for mine, don’t launch into full on horror mode because the audience are already checking their phones, they want to be entertained, they want to be unnerved. It’s call atmosphere and suggestion, delivering the fix horror fans are after.

Our first guest in the night from hell is Christou, a self-proclaimed psycho that wonderfully brings to mind the sort of 1970s snake oil salesmen like Uri Geller, no spoon is safe in the utensil draw y’all. Anyways Christou goes through the usual fishing procedure pretending to be talking to peoples’ family members who have passed on. Except things don’t go to plot during his final moments on stage, exit stage left one self-proclaimed psychic who appears to be under extreme psychic attack, guess who by. I could say more here, but those pesky spoilers.

Naturally we have to have a sceptic, which I guess address Night Owl’s balance presentation in amongst the Halloween titillation and shenanigans. Carmichael Haig is an ex-magician who has dedicated his life to disproving the snake oil that people like the Warrans have been peddling to the gullible since the beyond became fashionable from the 1950s onward. There’s a whole psychology involved here, but let’s not get side tracked. Unfortunately, Mr Haig is arrogant and thoroughly dislikeable, but guess that’s the purpose of the character. So naturally the audience is hoping the character doesn’t get to the end credits, watch the show to find out how it goes.

To the main event, June Ross-Mitchell and her patient/ward Lilly. June took on Lilly after the girl was the only survivor of the Cult of Abraxus, and soon discovered that Lilly was possessed by a demon. The pair head into the Halloween version of Night Owls to primarily promote June’s new book, name escapes me at the moment. Jack is keen on talking to the demonic entity Lilly harbours and that proves to be a mistake as things escalate and June losses control of Lilly. Hold onto your bum, multiple deaths result and Jack Delroy reaps what he sowed with a certain deal with the Devil. Yes, Jack you will have the fame you desire, it won’t however be the fame you actually want.

Every now and again you run across a horror flick that resonates with everything decent in the dark genre. Late Night with The Devil is exactly that movie, and which is going to land on every Aussie horror fans top ten local movies list. To be honest it is going to appear in a late of horror top tens. Yes, the movie is that good, and it’s a statement that Australian horror can match the best the British industry can produce and for sure highlights just how far Hollywood horror has sunk with its hyper focus on target audiences. Hint Hollywood, there is no “modern audience” showing up to your movies, there is just the audience as there always has been. The movie is realistic, looks straight out of the 1970s, and to be honest I cannot find an issue with the flick. Which doesn’t mean there isn’t an issue somewhere in the movie, just that I didn’t pin one down. Clearly full recommendation kids, have a late night chat, it might just give you nightmares.