Late Night With the Devil (2023) - Found footage films revamped

Those long-term horror fans will remember 1999's 'The Blair Witch Project' and how it brought (back?) the 'found footage' sub-genre which was a cheaper way of making horror films and stayed around for about a decade or so before the gimmick became old hat.

'Late Night With the Devil' is effectively 'found footage,' only with a nice period gloss of paint on it and presented in the form of a 70s late night American TV show, rather than the usual video camera footage.  If you can get past the heavy 'information dump' which makes up the first five minutes, we learn that a late night TV talk show will do anything to save its failing ratings and so the producers conspire with the host to create a 'memorable' halloween special to scare their viewers.  Naturally, they - and the audience - gets more than they bargained for.

First of all, the film's charm is in its presentation.  It doesn't come across as overtly 'found footage' and the attention to detail to make it seem like it was a genuine television program from the seventies is truly great.  Everyone plays their parts well and kudos to not just the presenter, but also the younger actress who plays the 'centre' of the paranormal activities.

It's quite a 'slow build' as much of the first half of the show is... well, effectively just the first half of a 'variety' TV show - not much happens that isn't supposed to.  Naturally, as the broadcast progresses, things get further out of hand.  There are a couple of horrific moments, but they're few and far between and the ending is beautifully chaotic.

I think it's worth noting that there's actually quite a lot of humour in this 'horror' film, making it more of a 'black-comedy horror' rather than an outright gore/scare-fest.  Whether you're a fan of the found footage sub-genre of horror, were around in the seventies and need a shot of nostalgia, or just like your horror films, this film is a nice departure from your average modern horror film with no ump scares and real attention to detail and cheeky fun.

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one