COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL (SECOND SIGHT FILMS 4K UHD)
Much like a culture, film genres evolve. Take found footage as an example, a genre that was defined quite literally by the limitations of the aesthetic. It was supposed that the film you’re watching was a recording someone found, even if we know that it isn’t real. That aesthetic forced filmmakers to withhold some things in favor of authenticity, which in turn made the first era of found footage films beholden to this need for realism for better or worse. As time went on, filmmakers pushed the genre's limits and started experimenting with subtle diversions that often occur in moments of heightened tension. Like a diversion of sorts, you are so caught up in the horror that you aren’t thinking about the logistics or logic of the camera's POV. “Hell House LLC” could be seen as a transitionary film in the found footage genre in that it started being more authentic, as as entries furthered it veered more into simply having a first-person POV that isn’t always logically or narratively organic. This new wave of found footage films, for lack of a better phrase “found footage 2.0” don’t concern themselves with the details but rather the cinematic impact of weaving both narrative and found footage into one mutated whole. A prime example of this evolution is “Late Night With The Devil” from Directors Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes which has recently gotten the Limited Edition treatment from the aficionados at Second Sight Films. Is this the set to tune your collection into?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Halloween night, 1977. In an attempt to boost viewing figures, a struggling late-night talk show host promises to broadcast television's first live possession. This is the footage from that infamous and extremely harrowing event.
HOW IS IT?
“Late Night With The Devil” or “LNWTFD” for brevity’s sake is another entry in what we referred to in the intro as “Found Footage 2.0.” It hits all the hallmarks of this new wave of found footage films that break the previous mold by disregarding the rules of immersion in favor of aesthetics. The idea isn’t a wholly original one, but the execution and clever plot twists elevate “LNWTFD” in tandem with standout performances from every member of the cast. The moments that are divorced from the found footage may take some viewers out, but the ending is bombastic enough to win even the purest of found footage enthusiasts over.
Jack Delroy’s (David Dastmalchian) late-night talk show “Night Owls” hasn’t been the same after he lost his wife to cancer. To help fill us in, the first section of “LNWTFD” is essentially a newsreel bringing us up to speed on Jack’s life, show, and the events that caused his run in the late-night circuit to take a tumble. Great care was taken to make this as authentic as possible, with the digital enhancements blending nicely with clever costume design and post-production edits. Once it pivots into the Halloween episode, the POV switches from that of the cameras in the studio, much like one would see at home, alongside cameras that take us “behind the curtain” to show the backstage as well as the audience during commercial breaks. Already, three different perspectives are being taken, but they are all singular and not organically integrated which both defy legacy-found footage rules in favor of something more stylistically focused and narratively driven. This may irk some viewers, but that shouldn’t deter from how captivating the Night Owls production is. It is almost impossible to look away as every detail of the production design is fit to reflect the period in the 70s when folks like Johnny Carson owned the evening hours. Dastmalchian is perfectly at home with the Delroy character and has opportunities to display a lot of range, some of which we can’t talk about without going into spoiler territory. The rest of the cast is a delight as well, with special mentions to Ian Bliss as Carmichael Haig and Ingrid Torelli as the young girl, Lilly. So much of what makes “LNWTFD” work is how well the cast plays off of each other while also accurately reflecting the kinds of hijinks, guests, and attitudes of the time.
The matted 70s style look in “LNWTFD” doesn’t carry with it the same quality and graininess of film at that time, so things look sharp, especially the use of both practical and digital effects to complement each other. The premise may not win any awards for originality, as we’ve seen variations of this formula before in the UK’s “Ghostwatch” and the 2013 “WNUF Halloween Special” before, but the difference here is that “LNWTFD” isn’t committed to maintaining a complete sense of perspective. The two former films are so committed to their TV broadcast aesthetic that everything abides by the logic of that situation, whereas “LNWTFD” diverts course three times; the beginning, the episode itself, and then the finale. The finale may divide some viewers with its disregard for immersion, but it isn’t as if the diversion isn’t worth it. The reveals that accompany this shift in perspective add an entirely new layer of darkness to the story, and cause you to reconsider your sympathies for some characters. Make no mistake, it is also audacious and gonzo with complete havoc being wreaked and some truly outstanding practical deaths. The novel adjustments to the formula and bold confidence in defying the genre’s previous standards land “LNWTFD” somewhere on the index of genre innovation near “Deadstream”, but slightly lesser than given “Deadstreams” commitment to ensuring immersion is never broken or gone unexplained.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
This should need no explanation, but Second Sight Films always delivers the most pristine transfers in the boutique label space. Granted, this is a recent production, but the Second Sight team has taken great care to add HDR10 with Dolby Vision to “LNWTFD” which adds a nice, dark depth to some of the deeper tones while giving a nice pop to the brighter scenes, particularly in the closing act. Second Sight’s 2160p 4K transfer comes in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, and the Blu-ray disc included is in 1080p. Images from this release are used throughout the review.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
The 5.1 surround soundtrack included has a lot of range and the rear speakers get a great workout between the live television audience and the heightened moments of action that occur in the back half of the film. The dialogue is balanced nicely never feeling too soft or hard to hear, and there is an English subtitle track included as well. We do wish there was an Atmos track, as the film would’ve sounded great with it, but that isn’t a knock on the 5.1 as much as a wishlist item.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
One thing that Second Sight is second to none in is its special features and Limited Edition boxset treatments. Even for a film so recent as “LNWTFD” it is amazing to see just how many different interviews, essays, and commentaries they were able to pull together for this Limited Edition set. We started with Bringing Their ‘A’ Game: an interview with Directors Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes which is just around 45 minutes or so with the two discussing every aspect of the production in hilarious and heartfelt detail. They take the time to mention each department head by name and reference how their work contributed to the whole of the film which by proxy comes with some great anecdotes. Such as how Steph Hooke, Costume Design, was so specific about the style of dress that even audience members had their socks scrutinized despite not being able to see most audience members' feet or ankles. Or how each cast member is Australian, and not all of them were afforded accent and voice coaches for their roles. It also reveals what a labor of love the film is for the two considering they were hacking away at it for 10 years before it got to a production-ready state.
One of our favorite inclusions in Second Sights’ limited edition sets is the accompanying book of essays and production notes. The complementary aspect of genre and academic observation calls out themes that many may not pick up on, but are most certainly there for the unpacking. One that stood out is Betrothed Betrayal: Horror’s History of Duplicitous Husbands by Julieann Stipidis. Stipdiis’ thesis is that Jack Delroy is just another in a long line of horror husbands who see their wives merely as bargaining chips to further their desires and ambitions, and Stipidis brings receipts! Reflecting on some of the genre's greatest films about the awful husbands within them from Guy Woodhouse to Alex in “Ready or Not” Jack isn’t unique so much as he represents a married woman’s potentially greatest fear, or as she so precisely puts it, “...her husband not devoting himself through sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for richer or poorer, through fame or obscurity.” A full list of special features is below.
Special Features
Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
New audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
Bringing Their 'A' Game: an interview with Directors Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes
Mind if I Smoke?: An Interview with Actor Ian Bliss
We're Gonna Make a Horror Movie: An Interview with Actor Ingrid Torelli
Extremely Lucky: An Interview with Actor Rhys Auteri
Cult Hits: Zoë Rose Smith on Late Night with the Devil
Behind the Scenes with the Devil
The Making of the Night Owls Music
South by Southwest 2023 Q&A with David Dastmalchian, Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes
Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Haley Turnbull
120-page book with behind-the-scenes images, storyboards and new essays by Kat Hughes, James Rose, Rebecca Sayce, Graham Skipper, Julieann Stipidis and Emma Westwood
6 collectors' art cards
LAST RITES
“Late Night With The Devil” doesn’t reinvent the wheel so much as it fine-tunes the engine in this found footage narrative hybrid. As usual, Second Sight has put together a package that both pleases on a technical level as well as a supplemental one as well. These truly are the best of the breed when it comes to physical media releases.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at AIM Publicity and Second Sight Films for providing a review copy for the crypt! Late Night With The Devil is available NOW and can be ordered via Second Sight Direct!
Stay up to date with “The Dark Side Of Pop Culture” by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
