The differentiation in human beings is mostly derivative of their points of view and belief systems. Religion, philosophy, and science are instrumental in how everyone sets themselves apart. Religion is the toughest to gage, because it cannot be proven (technically it can’t be disproven either). The biggest question that plagues everyone is, who is right? Whose God is real, and whose isn’t? What about the antithesis of God? Does the ‘devil’ walk amongst humanity? All interesting questions, and rest assured they won’t be answered here, though M. Night Shyamalan’s Devil offers a rather unique story on what a chance encounter (or faithful one) with the devil may look like.
Shyamalan and screenplay writer Brian Nelson wrote this little number and had it screened back in 2010 with John Erick Dowdie in the director’s chair. The setting takes place in Philadelphia, where a Detective Bowden is sent to investigate an apparent suicide. At the same building where this took place, five complete strangers end up stuck in one of the elevators. Here things begin awkward and frustrating, and soon turn morbid and sinister, as frequent power outages occur with each one then leading to an assault or death with no one in the elevator to know who is committing the acts. Only one of the security guards watching these events unfold thinks that something supernatural is actually happening, believing the devil himself could actually be responsible for the events at play.
Is it a ‘good’ movie? The readers and viewers can decide that. What can be said, is that it is a movie made ‘right’. Apart from veteran actor Bokeem Woodbine and Logan Marshall-Green who in recent years has started to find his footing, most of the actors that make up the cast though aren’t unknown but are also not technically overly popular among the masses. That said; the concept, the ensemble-like format of the script, the simplicity of the location and plot, and the budget, make this a watchable and successful movie. Estimated to be about ten million in scale, the movie went onto gross about six times that at the box and surpassing the initial amount in the opening weekend. All of the actors in the elevator do well to play into the mystery of the entire ordeal, whilst Chris Messina (Bowden) drives things from the outside looking in and a more than effective performance to give the movie some added suspense.
The thing to note about Devil however, is that it doesn’t attempt to answer any of these questions that drive all of society into debate.
Viewers will be split on Devil without any doubt, but that is mainly because of the religious implications of the story which some people just can’t shake themselves from. The thing to note about Devil however, is that it doesn’t attempt to answer any of these questions that drive all of society into debate. It’s a mysterious story with a shocking twist that many a movie are left without these days, and that should be enough for most anyone. It’s currently streaming on Netflix in select territories and available for online purchase, so give it a try.
