The Devil All the Time
The Devil All the Time

Movie spotlight

The Devil All the Time

2020
Movie
138 min
English

In Knockemstiff, Ohio and its neighboring backwoods, sinister characters converge around young Arvin Russell as he fights the evil forces that threaten him and his family.

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes65%
Metacritic61/100
Google Users71%
Director: Antonio CamposGenres: Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller

Plot Summary

In a post-World War II rural landscape, the lives of a troubled veteran, his wife, and their son become entangled with a series of dark characters. Driven by faith, vengeance, and desperation, their stories unfold across two generations in a grim tapestry of sin and redemption. The narrative explores themes of trauma, religion, and the cyclical nature of violence in the American South.

Critical Reception

The film received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its ambitious scope, strong performances, and atmospheric direction. However, some found the relentless bleakness and complex interwoven plot somewhat overwhelming. It was noted for its adaptation of Donald Ray Pollock's novel and its striking visual style.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its stellar ensemble cast, particularly Tom Holland and Bill Skarsgård.

  • Applauded for its dark, atmospheric direction and faithful adaptation of the source material.

  • Criticized by some for its gratuitous violence and convoluted narrative structure.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight strong acting performances and a compelling, albeit dark, story. Many appreciated the film's gritty atmosphere and ambitious storytelling, though some found it to be excessively violent and disturbing.

Fun Fact

The film's distinctive Southern Gothic aesthetic was heavily influenced by the original novel's setting and tone, with director Antonio Campos aiming for a sense of timeless dread and moral decay.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
Wiccaburr

Wiccaburr

<i>It's a prayer log...but it don't work too good.</I> First off this movie have good moments and dark moments, be ready for this roller coaster cause it'll be a ride. I love how they have the author of the book being the narrator for...

Wuchak

Wuchak

_**Drearily fighting… the devil all the time**_ In backwood towns of West Virginia and southern Ohio during the mid-60s several characters converge around a disillusioned orphan (Tom Holland) devoted to protecting those he loves. “The...

Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com Netflix has been able to deliver films with all-star casts pretty regularly. Whether people like the movie or not, that’s a whole other sub...

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