Devil

Trapped in an elevator with the devil, what's the worst that could happen? 'Devil' attempts to spin a supernatural horror yarn but ends up winding itself into a convoluted mess.

Life and Death in a Box

The premise is straightforward: five strangers are stuck in an elevator in a Philadelphia skyscraper, and one of them is the devil. As the group struggles to figure out who among them is the malevolent force, tensions rise and secrets spill. The film juggles a limited setting with a real-time narrative, which could have been thrilling but often feels forced. The mystery behind the identities and motivations of the characters is undercooked, leaving viewers scratching their heads instead of engaging with the plot. The 80-minute runtime flies by fast but not always in a good way, with some pacing issues that could have benefitted from deeper exploration of the characters’ backstories.

Performances That Fall Flat

The cast is a mixed bag, with Chris Messina as Detective Bowden trying hard to add depth to his role. Bojana Novaković and Jenny O'Hara deliver decent performances, but some characters, like the mechanic played by Logan Marshall-Green, feel underutilized and poorly developed. There are moments where the tension could be heightened, but the actors often lack the material to work with, resulting in performances that range from convincing to utterly forgettable. The ensemble’s chemistry is neither compelling nor disastrous, which does little to elevate the film from its mediocre script.

Shaky Direction in Close Quarters

John Erick Dowdle’s direction makes the most of a closed setting, using claustrophobic angles and flickering lights to instill a sense of dread. Yet, the occasional reliance on jump scares feels cheap and distracting rather than genuinely frightening. The visual style could have added a layer of tension, but it often defaults to cliché horror tropes instead of innovative techniques. The elevator setting, while limiting, could have been used more creatively to build suspense, but it sometimes feels like a crutch rather than a feature.

A Frustrating Horror Experience

Watching 'Devil' can be a frustrating experience, as it often teeters on the edge of potential without fully realizing it. There are moments when you feel the weight of impending doom, only to be let down by a lackluster reveal or underwhelming dialogue. The film's runtime is short, but that brevity doesn’t save it from dragging at crucial points. Instead of feeling the tension build, you might find yourself checking the time and waiting for it to reach a satisfying conclusion. Existing emotional stakes are skimmed over, resulting in a diminished impact.