Netflix’s “The Devil All The Time”

[scarlet-witch]

I really liked this. I had lowered my expectations based on early reviews and left the film liking it so much more. The actors are great, Pattinson going off the rails and being ridiculous like he was in The King again was unintentionally funny so that helped with how bleak everything was. It wasn't nearly as violent as I was expecting based on early reactions.

I wanted to give Tom Holland a hug after all of that.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

I really wanted to see Holland's character make it out of this town from hell alive. The whole last half of this movie had me on the edge on my seat, because I had no idea if he was going to make it or not and even when it got to the very with him in that van I was still on edge lol.

Loved his character man and even around all this madness he was easily the only one worth rooting for even if he wasn't all that innocent either. The bit where he takes revenge on those bullies sold me on his character though and is one of my favorite scenes in the movie.

I honestly wish we could have seen a little of this kind of Holland performance in the Sony/Disney Spider-Man movies instead of them making him so dependent and child like. I know they are completely different films, but its obvious now that Holland is capable of way more than what he has been given and I would at least like to see them attempt to take the character in a more mature/serious direction.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

I just finished it, and I really, really, enjoyed it.

This was just one good small town, Quentin Tarantino/William Faulkner/John Steinbeck-esque, not really in the south but Southern Gothic soap opera that just did it for me. The violence was bad, but not as gratuitous as I thought it would be. And I'm amazed that half of the cast were Brits/Aussie because they totally nailed the accents. But seriously, Holland, Pattinson and Dudley from Harry Potter (I forgot his real name) acted their asses off, they all should get something for this.

Someone called it on the previous page, but this was the first really good film of 2020 for me as well. Now I have to read the book, some scenes felt like they were left for interpretation but I'm sure the book goes into more gory detail.

Spoiler

I am so glad Holland’s character lived and killed that damn preacher to avenge his sister. I would’ve been pissed if he was killed off, someone had to break his family’s generational curse lol.

 

[Kev4000]

But seriously, Holland, Pattinson and Dudley from Harry Potter (I forgot his real name) acted their asses off, they all should get something for this.

Someone called it on the previous page, but this was the first really good film of 2020 for me as well. Now I have to read the book, some scenes felt like they were left for interpretation but I'm sure the book goes into more gory detail. [/SPOILER]

If you like Roys character you will love the book. His story and the relationship to his brother is more extended and fleshed out in the book.

 

[The Shape]

I actually found this to be a bit of a slog to get through.

Worth watching at least for Pattinson's performance.

 

[Prison Mike]

Anyone else think that

Spoiler

the guy who picked up Holland’s character at the end was going to end up being Charles Manson or something?

 

[Persona]

Yeah, haha, I totally did.

TRUST NO ONE

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Anyone else think that

Spoiler

the guy who picked up Holland’s character at the end was going to end up being Charles Manson or something?

I just knew it was going to be on some Jeffrey Dahmer mess. Thank God that was averted. Lol.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Anyone else think that

Spoiler

the guy who picked up Holland’s character at the end was going to end up being Charles Manson or something?

Yup

 

[Persona]

The Devil All the Time Shows Provocative Things, but Isn’t Very Provocative Itself

Did this review for Paste. This was a tough one to write because the film is such a mixture of good elements but underwhelming construction for me.

 

[The Shape]

The Devil All the Time Shows Provocative Things, but Isn’t Very Provocative Itself

Did this review for Paste. This was a tough one to write because the film is such a mixture of good elements but underwhelming construction for me.

I'm sure this story is much better served in the original book/novel. I did not think it made for a great film.

 

[Filmfreak]

Yeah I felt it would be much better as a limited series. It had so many characters and not enough time for it to breathe.

 

[Closerframe]

Went in with very low expectations since this is a Netflix film overall. However, it turned out to be an enjoyable way to kill a couple hours. My only criticism was the last 30 mins or so. Just seeing how things just seem to fly by and be so interconnected was just too coincidental for my taste.

 

[Schlosser85]

I had a hard time forming an opinion about this.

The whole cast was good, and I agree with the people who said Tom Holland showed why he should get meatier material as Peter Parker and how the MCU really isn’t using him to his full abilities, but I also agree with those who said this feels like it would have been better as a miniseries where everything gets more time to breathe.

It doesn’t quite all add up the way it should, though some scenes in and of themselves are great (the three pivotal confrontations in the second half are super tense).

My full review if anyone’s interested:

https://www.jestersreviews.com/reviews/6923

 

[Schlosser85]

While I don’t think there was anything wrong with Sebastian Stan as Sheriff Bodecker, is anyone else a teensy bit curious what it would have been like with Chris Evans in the role (who was originally cast, and recommended Stan when he became unavailable)?

I enjoy the way Post-Cap Evans is playing against type with more villainous characters like Knives Out and what Bodecker would have been.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

Chris Evans would have definitely been a more interesting choice IMO, but Sebastian Stan was good in the role. After Knives Out and Defending Jacob I just want to see Evans in a bunch of different, dramatic roles where he is able to show off his range as an actor.

 

[chamber-music]

I just finished it, and I really, really, enjoyed it.

This was just one good small town, Quentin Tarantino/William Faulkner/John Steinbeck-esque, not really in the south but Southern Gothic soap opera that just did it for me. The violence was bad, but not as gratuitous as I thought it would be. And I'm amazed that half of the cast were Brits/Aussie because they totally nailed the accents. But seriously, Holland, Pattinson and Dudley from Harry Potter (I forgot his real name) acted their asses off, they all should get something for this.

Someone called it on the previous page, but this was the first really good film of 2020 for me as well. Now I have to read the book, some scenes felt like they were left for interpretation but I'm sure the book goes into more gory detail.

Spoiler

I am so glad Holland’s character lived and killed that damn preacher to avenge his sister. I would’ve been pissed if he was killed off, someone had to break his family’s generational curse lol.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Melling_(actor)
Harry Melling was good in the Coen brothers western anthology The Ballad of Buster Scruggs also. He was serviceable as the villain in Old Guard as well.

I think Melling would make a good Mad Hatter in a Batman film if they ever featured that character.

 

[The Shape]

While I don’t think there was anything wrong with Sebastian Stan as Sheriff Bodecker, is anyone else a teensy bit curious what it would have been like with Chris Evans in the role (who was originally cast, and recommended Stan when he became unavailable)?

I enjoy the way Post-Cap Evans is playing against type with more villainous characters like Knives Out and what Bodecker would have been.

I saw Chris Evans on Broadway in "Lobby Hero", in which he played a total *****ebag, corrupt cop -- the anti-Cap. I agree that he would have been better in this.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Stan was one of my favorite performances in the film. I always thought he was kind of bland as Bucky, but he was very strong here.

 

[Schlosser85]

Stan was one of my favorite performances in the film. I always thought he was kind of bland as Bucky, but he was very strong here.

He's also really good in I, Tonya, IMO.

 

[Stringer]

Stan was fine in the movie, but Evans is just flat out a more interesting actor than him in my opinion. I'm always curious to see what he's going to do in a role.

I did enjoy the movie though, even if everything felt kind of distant to me, especially towards the end when everything seemed hastily connected. I thought the story intersections worked much better in the first hour.

 

[Schlosser85]

I really love that scene between Holland and Pattinson. The tension and intensity is off the charts.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

The final confrontation at the church towards the end is definitely the best scene in the movie IMO. Holland and Pattinson deserve somekind of awards recognition for that scene alone, especially Pattinson who did a great job showing just how scared ****less he was of Holland to the point that his accent/voice actually starts breaking which I thought was hilarious lol.

 

[Schlosser85]

The final confrontation at the church towards the end is definitely the best scene in the movie IMO. Holland and Pattinson deserve somekind of awards recognition for that scene alone, especially Pattinson who did a great job showing just how scared ****less he was of Holland to the point that his accent/voice actually starts breaking which I thought was hilarious lol.

He also really shows what a gaslighting coward he is with how he’s trying to slither out of it and accusing Lenora of being some kind of temptress (“she wouldn’t leave me be”).

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

One more intense scene was...

Spoiler

When Holland’s foster sister gets second thoughts about the suicide and then accidentally kills herself...

made me literally go: