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Late Night with the Devil, helmed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes, has drawn the fascination of horror fans globally since its debut. Blending the visual style of 1970s television with supernatural terror, the film debuted at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in March 2023 and had a broader release in 2024.
The film combined found footage and mockumentary narration to fascinate viewers and engage with its disturbing concept.
In a time when viewers are used to waiting for post-credit teases, many have questioned if this movie adheres to this practice. Post-credits scenes, commonly employed in franchise movies to tease sequels or new narratives, have become a hallmark of contemporary cinema.
However, Late Night with the Devil does not feature a scene after the credits. Conversely, its conclusion presents audiences with additional questions rather than solutions, sparking debates and conversations regarding the narrative's haunting last scenes.
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Does Late Night with the Devil include a post-credits scene?
No, Late Night with the Devil does not have a post-credits scene. The absence of such a feature aligns with the directors' decision to craft an experience that ends with the film’s final frames.
However, the film’s ambiguous ending invites viewers to reflect on the story and interpret its eerie conclusion. This approach aligns with the Cairnes brothers’ intent to engage audiences in a narrative that lingers long after the credits roll.
The Cairnes brothers’ approach to open-ended horror storytelling
Cameron and Colin Cairnes are recognized for making films that steer clear of clear-cut resolutions, concentrating instead on narratives that prompt viewers to reflect on their themes and endings. In their previous film 100 Bloody Acres (2012), a dark comedy-horror, the narrative ends in a way that doesn’t neatly resolve the characters’ destinies.
In the same manner, Scare Campaign (2016) creates tension with its plot twists yet avoids providing a clear conclusion, allowing audiences to reflect on the significance of its haunting concluding moments. This method corresponds with a wider trend in horror movies, in which ambiguity intensifies the disturbing effect of the narrative.
The movie upholds this practice, featuring an ambiguous ending that allows for interpretation regarding the characters' destinies and the reality of its supernatural aspects. This intentional vagueness enables the narrative to connect with audiences, igniting discussions and speculations regarding its underlying significance.
The filmmakers aimed to capture the visual style and cultural anxieties of 1970s television, merging them with supernatural horror. elements. Leveraging societal fears from the Satanic panic period, the directors crafted a storyline rich in intrigue and terror. The movie's unclear ending presents conclusions that prompt audiences to develop their own understandings.
Everything we know about Late Night with the Devil
Late Night with the Devil is a supernatural horror film directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes. The official logline on Lionsgate Play describes the film as follows:
"A live television broadcast in 1977 goes horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation's living rooms."
The film incorporates elements of found footage and documentary filmmaking, following the events of a late-night talk show episode aired on Halloween night in 1977, during which the host attempts to boost ratings by inviting an allegedly possessed girl onto the show.
The film centers on Jack Delroy, a late-night talk show host portrayed by David Dastmalchian. In an effort to revive his show's declining ratings, Delroy plans a special Halloween broadcast featuring a live exorcism.
The supporting cast includes Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Georgina Haig, and Josh Quong Tart, who contribute to the unfolding chaos as supernatural events begin to overtake the live broadcast.
Production insights from Late Night with the Devil
Late Night with the Devil is an international co-production involving Australia, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. The filmmakers meticulously recreated the 1970s television aesthetic, utilizing period-appropriate set designs and filming techniques to enhance authenticity.
The production employed practical effects to depict the supernatural occurrences, aligning with the film's documentary-style approach.
The film premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) on March 10, 2023. It was later released theatrically in the United States on March 22, 2024, by IFC Films, and in Australia on April 11, 2024. It grossed approximately $15 million and received positive reviews from critics.
Late Night with the Devil reflects the Cairnes brothers’ approach to creating atmospheric and suspenseful horror. Its absence of a post-credits scene, paired with its open-ended conclusion, aligns with its storytelling style, leaving the narrative open to interpretation and sparking discussions among viewers about the film’s final moments.
Read more: Late Night with the Devil ending explained: How did the live broadcast spiral into chaos?
