Devil (2010)

I remember going to see this in the cinema when it was released in the UK. For me, at the time I wasn't really a big fan of horror/thriller movies as they just didn't have me on the edge of my seat and wondering what's going on. The story kept me on edge trying to guess which one was the devil with the story from the opening monologue about the suicide and then those becoming trapped.This playing in with the multiple deaths over the timing of the film had you guessing who it was going to be and then when you found out you were in shock as it wasn't who you thought. All of it tied together for all the characters too played a brilliant story out on the screen and M Night Shyamalan can be proud of the film he created.

The year 2010 was not a great year for M. Night Shyamalan. It all started when when his over-profited film "The Last Airbender" was meant with negative feedback. One could only hope that the lesser budgeted film "Devil" can hope revitalize his decaying reputation. The first of his "Night Chronicles" franchise, but that was feared that the harsh critics would easily dismiss it. So Universal Pictures cleverly released in in theatres before they had a chance to chomp at it right away. It doesn't happen like this everyday, but "Devil" is an exception to that.The story focuses on five strangers trapped in an office elevator in Philadelphia. As the lift is at midway point, tension bursts in the air and the civilians isolated in the elevator develop a lot of mistrust in one another. The fear is that there is something else lurking around them which makes them prone to violent acts to the point where lives are taken from them. On the outside, through CCTV cameras, Detective Bowden (Chris Messina)a reformed alcoholic comes to the conclusion that the evil that's lurking isn't an act of nature, but The Devil or someone possessed by Satan. And the ruler of evil invited these civilians with no clear explanation.Due to the bad press given to Shyamalan for participating in this low-budgeted spectacular, the guys behind the lenses John Erick and Drew Dowdle the duo behind the appalling "Quarantine". To give them credits the Dowdles succeeded in using the most frugal resources by pitting five people in a generic setting like an elevator with 75 minutes saturated with heavy tension and paranoia among the victims stuck in one place. The film looks and has the feel more like a "Twilight Zone" integrity going for it thanks mainly to the script by Brian Nelson. The Dowdles succeed in doing everyone a favor by not making the Devil a scary being.Even though Shyamalan isn't directing or given penmanship for this movie, he does succeed in leaving his hand-prints all over it. It comes assembled with reactionary screenplays with performers coming to grips progressively with the situation they are facing and they have to absorb the nightmares that bestows upon them. The story divides between victims in a precarious situation and a befuddled detective trying to ascertain that a religious entity is just an eye-blink away. Though the Dowdles can't cram too much in a 75 minute parameter and using low-key effects to create a dire environment and enough to keep the horror film in all its PG-13 rating. I'm glad this movie's is doing everything to draw our own conclusions towards the unholy evil coming at us, but the scenes spell green screen everywhere. The off-camera yelps are heard in an omnipresent fashion.The score by Fernando Velazquez was quite electrifying as each sound was created the fear factor through every scene. Messina is also very impressive in his performance as a man of little faith challenging the supernatural entities that's coming for him and to reconsider his faith in the afterlife.It shouldn't come as a shocker that an unpredictable twist will be coming our way like the way Shyamalan delivers. And though Hollywood wants to restrain the integrity that Shyamalan provides, its the the sole purpose to why "Devil" can be a claustrophobic drag programmed to see the twist coming a mile away.

First of all, why would the devil waste his/her time trapping him/herself in a lift with a bunch of unremarkable humans? I mean, if the devil wanted to off these people for whatever reason, I'm sure s/he would have done it without having to resort to the lift charade.Are we really expected to believe that the devil has nothing better to do with his/her time, and can't find more creative ways to entertain him/herself? It was kind of obvious from the start who the supposed devil was, and the attack sequences were really tacky, so it wasn't a very engaging movie to watch. Not much suspense, stupid storyline, predictable.I kept falling asleep, so one word: borefest.

M Night Shyamalan probably deserves criticism. As far as I'm concerned, he totally ripped off that novel for 'The Village'. His dialogue style makes even house-pets cringe. The director that did that annoying catacombs found footage movie as well was the director. Talk about annoying - it made me want to throw a chair at my TV. Regardless, DEVIL is a decent movie, and here's why: -Acting: You can see Shyamalan's hands all over the production, from the shady mattress salesman to the dramatic lynch-pins of the lead's crisis and final resolution. In this case it works. The actors do a great job at their roles, in what is a very multicultural setting. The 'good guys' are all immediately sympathetic characters, while the characters of intrigue effectively provide conflict. -Score: I rate the intro as the best I've seen in the 2010s. Velazquez made an amazing score that might be the best I've heard of the 2010s. -Story: Apparently M.Night got the idea from an Arthur canon Doyle story. It's simple but very entertaining. -Overall: The movie does things that I like - mainly it has characters that i can enjoy watching, which most movies fail to do now. I guess I'm partial to morality plays involving the devil, but DEVIL delivers.