Directed by Antonio Campos

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Haley Bennett, Tom Holland

Rated R for violence, bloody/disturbing images, sexual content, graphic nudity, and language throughout

The Devil All the Time is a physiological thriller that centers around multiple stories in a town 1950/1960’s West Virginia. Some of the stories include a World War II veteran, (played by Bill Skarsgård) who is raising a family, Arvin (played by Tom Holland), a young man in 1960’s West Virginia, and a corrupt Sheriff (played by Sebastian Stan) who is trying to win re-election. Although all of these stories seem separate from one another, they all eventually connect with one another.

The brief synopsis given above does not even to scratch the surface of all the stories explored in the film. The film have several stories that do eventually connect, but at times it feels like its one too many. The first 40 minutes of the film focuses on two different stories, two families, that are related, and their unfortunate end. The film is establishing the characters and what the film is going to be about, but the film focuses on these families a bit too much. It’s hard to explain without going into detail too much, but there could have been scenes left on the cutting room floor. But soon after the 40 minute mark, we move on to a different set of characters that are related to the first set of characters we saw at the beginning of the film. My main argument here is that there are too many plot points and characters. The film does get a bit too convoluted a point and the film needed to step back a bit and make it a bit simpler.

This film is based on the novel by Donald Ray Pollock, who also narrates the film. The film almost plays out like a book, from its constant narration to its ambiguous ending that is commonplace for novels. Throughout the film, I kept getting the feeling that the film wanted to emulate To Kill a Mockingbird. While both films take some time to establish the characters and the setting, To Kill a Mockingbird eventually gets to the plot and sticks to it. While I have yet to read the novel this film is based off, The Devil All the Times seems to be ripped off the pages. When adapting a novel to a film, there are some elements that have to be revoked in order to make a cohesive film. Instead, the film just didn’t know how to translate a novel to a film.

With the criticisms of the film, I have to give credit for the strong performances given throughout the film. The main standouts include Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson, who both transform into their roles and get lost into them. Pattinson, while only being in the film for a few scenes, standouts as a new pastor who has sexual relations with young girls. Pattinson is slowly becoming one of those actors who goes beyond acting and actually becomes a character. Not once did I think of the actor on the screen, but more of the character I was viewing on the screen. Holland did a fantastic job of conveying the emotions of a young man who has recently killed others. We know he has done horrific acts, but somehow the audience cheers the character when he escapes death or succeeds in his plan.

The Devil All the Time is one of those dark films that can bring a somber mood. The film best succeeds in bringing the despicable characters to the screen along with the grim atmosphere, however, it does have a glaring issue of a complicated screenplay. If the film would have made a few cuts to a few characters or scenes, this would have been a fantastic viewing. The film already has a superb cast giving terrific performances, a great screenplay would have helped the film. I know this film has been receiving positive reviews, The Devil All the Time was not my cup of tea. I understand there will be fans of the film, and I can respect that, but this is was a bit of a miss.

2.5/4