Devil

It's a well known fact by now that I love me some B horror films. And 'Devil' submits itself for my approval. Does it measure up to my somewhat lofty standards?

A couple things you should know first:
1: The film is based on a story by M. Knight Shyamalan.
2: One of the stars is Geoffrey Arend. He's engaged to Christina Hendricks (bastard). So I am predisposed to not like him.

So you'd think that me deciding to point out those two things is a sign of a terrible film, and I have to say...ehhhhh not so much.

'Devil' is about five people trapped in an elevator, and one of them may be the Devil. Not 'A' devil, but good ol' Scratch himself. It seems he's here to claim these people for their sins. As the film plays, we get peeks into each person's transgressions, and what circumstances brought them to this exact moment. It plays out like a horror novella. A ramped up, super budgeted episode of The Twilight Zone, and viewed through that prism, it's pretty darn successful.

The M. Knight factor.  I am hard pressed to think of another director who's sustained such a rapid downward spiral.  And perhaps this film is helped by the fact that it is only 'based on a story', and not written or directed, by him. I was impressed by the tension director John Erick Dowdle was able to sustain, considering most of the film takes place inside an elevator. The performances are all adequate, with some good scares and very little gore. It does have a PG-13 rating after all. But don't let that keep you away, horror fans. Does it wrap up a little too contritely? Perhaps. But it's well worth a view on a rainy, cold night.... Devil, I approve.

Report Card: B-

'Devil' is available on Blu-Ray, DVD, and On Demand now.