Late Night with the Devil (2023) is a critically acclaimed supernatural horror film presented as a "found footage" master tape of a fictional 1977 Halloween talk show special. Written and directed by Australian brothers Colin and Cameron Cairnes, the film stars David Dastmalchian in his first leading role as Jack Delroy, a desperate talk show host who unleashes hell live on air to boost his plummeting ratings. Movie Overview
Format & Aesthetic: The film uses a mockumentary style, blending 4:3 aspect ratio "broadcast" footage with black-and-white "behind-the-scenes" segments. Its meticulous 1970s production design includes period-accurate costumes, sets, and a grainy visual filter.
Plot: Jack Delroy’s show, Night Owls, hosts a Halloween special featuring a psychic, a professional skeptic (based on James Randi), and a parapsychologist with a young girl, Lilly, who is allegedly possessed by a demon named "Mr. Wriggles".
Themes: The narrative serves as a satire on the "price of fame," exploring how far individuals will go for success and the dangers of media sensationalism. Key Details Late Night with the Devil (2023)
Late Night with the Devil is a 2023 horror film presented as a "found footage" documentary, focusing on the never-before-seen master tapes of a fictional late-night talk show from Halloween night in 1977. Plot Summary
The story follows Jack Delroy, the host of the syndicated talk show Night Owls. Once a popular rival to Johnny Carson, Jack's life and career have spiraled following the tragic death of his wife. Desperate to save his plummeting ratings during the critical "sweeps" period, he stages a sensational Halloween special. The fateful broadcast includes a lineup of occult guests: A psychic who communicates with the dead. Late.Night.with.the.Devil.2023.1080p.WEB-HD.mkv
An ex-magician turned professional skeptic who aims to debunk the supernatural.
A parapsychologist and her young subject, Lily, a girl who is allegedly possessed by a demon after surviving a satanic cult.
As Jack pushes for more shocking content to boost viewership, he encourages an on-air conjuring that goes catastrophically wrong. The live broadcast becomes a conduit for a malevolent force, unleashing horror not just in the studio, but into the living rooms of millions of viewers across the country.
Late Night With the Devil - Official Trailer | HD | IFC Films
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Since its release, Late Night with the Devil has defied box office expectations. Despite a modest budget, its clever marketing—including a real faux-documentary about Jack Delroy’s career—fooled many viewers into believing Night Owls was a lost broadcast.
The film currently holds a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and was lauded at the SXSW Film Festival. Critics have praised its ability to blend the aesthetics of Ghostwatch (1992) with the slow-burn dread of The Exorcist. However, some controversy arose regarding the use of AI-generated interstitials (the "title cards" between acts), sparking a debate about horror’s relationship with artificial intelligence.
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The container: .mkv (Matroska). A wise choice for archiving — supports multiple audio tracks (e.g., commentary, 5.1), softcoded subtitles (PGS/SRT), chapters, and metadata without re-encoding.
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