The Devil is in the Details

 

Let's just admit it, right off the bat: the last challenge was a complete failure. That's on me for setting myself such a massive challenge that didn't end up panning out. Now that I've confessed, we're going to move past that last entry and go straight to this one. 

With Halloween right around the corner, I wanted to explore one of my favourite genres (horror) and its sub-genre of the Devil. For this article, I have decided to rank 5 films that heavily revolve around the devil, going from the least favourite to my absolute all-time must-watch. Spoilers abound, so enter if you dare.

'The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist'...

5) Little Nicky (2000)

Coming at last and certainly least is the Adam Sandler 'comedy' Little Nicky. Words cannot describe my utter contempt for this film (and Adam Sandler in general). I've mainly blocked all memory of having to suffer through this diabolical dud but will try my best to conjure up the plot. Satan has had enough of torturing Hitler so decides on trying to choose one of his three sons to succeed him. The first two sons, Adrian and Cassius, are the stereotypical evil antichrists but the third one, Nicky, is sweet and kind and goofy. Adrian and Cassius rebel by bringing hell on earth and freezing up the original hell. Nicky is sent, with a magical flask, to recapture his brothers and restore hell. After many failed attempts, at which Nicky must learn how to cope on earth, Nicky is killed and sent to heaven as a reward for his sacrifice. There he meets his mother, an angel, who convinces him he can overcome his brothers by the goodness he inherited from her. A fight ensues back on earth, with it somehow leading to Henry Winkler being covered in bees (really side-eyeing you for this one, Winkler). Nicky of course, saves the day and he lives happily ever after on earth with his love Valerie and their child. Do not ask me how we got from Winkler covered in bees to that conclusion, this recap is as good as I can give.

I remember watching this and wincing at every performance given. Sandler is a given but reputable actors such as Patricia Arquette, Harvey Keitel and Reese Witherspoon all pop up in supporting roles. The storyline, while at least an original twist on the trope, was filled with ridiculous occurrences: Satan's body completely falling apart, Nicky constantly dying and returning to hell each time, a talking dog. The list goes on. It felt like the writers were all messing around and trying to out-absurd each other with each suggestion, seeing which ones ended up sticking and throwing it into the completed film. At least be clever with the absurdity. Though what did I expect from a film, not only starring, Adam Sandler but being co-written by him as well. 

This film gets 0 out of 5 🎃

4) Devil (2010)

This very forgettable film was released in 2010 and featured around a broken-down lift (elevator for the American folk) full of people trapped. Maintenance try to sort the problem but end up nearly dying from their efforts. More unusual happenings occur: bite marks appear on the occupants, lights go out and when they return, blood is covering one of the characters' hands, mirrors break, the mattress salesman is murdered. Each occupant is surveyed by the security monitoring the situation, every one being identified apart from the mechanic. More and more occupants are killed, leading to paranoia and tension within the elevator. As confessions tumble out, the devil presents itself as one of the members of the group but since the main person it was after has confessed, the devil disappears with no ability to carry out its task.

I remember watching this film at the cinema and being quite excited at the prospect of the storyline. Unfortunately, that excitement was short-lived as Devil turned out to be slow, predictable and frankly, quite boring. It wasn't too hard to figure out who the devil was within the group and nothing about the film felt original enough to hold my attention. Perhaps with stronger writing and more of an unexpected twist, this could have held up as a modern classic horror. Instead, it floundered and struggled, with the result being a very unmemorable event in the genre.

This film gets 🎃🎃 out of 5 🎃.

3) End of Days (1999)

The next film on this devilish list comes in the form of End of Days. Not your usual Schwarzenegger feature, the macho action hero stars in a dark, brooding thriller about the devil walking the earth. Schwarzenegger stars as Jericho Cane, an alcoholic former cop who's been depressed ever since the murder of his wife and kid. After apprehending a crazed killer, Cane finds himself drawn into an unusual case involving killer priests, a supposed mother of the devil's son, and Satan himself. That's right, it's Arnie vs Lucifer. Cane takes it upon himself to protect Christine, who has been prophecised to be the mother of Satan's unborn child, causing both sides of Good and Evil to get involved. Satan pops up on earth to see to this prophecy being fulfilled which leads to Cane and Christine both not only fending off the devil but the Vatican itself. After a battle between the two sides, Cane and Christine succeed, leading to the devil being banished back to hell and Cane sacrificing himself to ensure the safety of mankind.

I'm just going to say it: I have a soft spot for this movie. I'm not a massive fan of Schwarzenegger and normally will have one of his films on for mindless background noise. However, I always find myself compelled to view End of Days every time it's on. It helps that Schwarzenegger doesn't defeat the devil in his usual fashion and instead the twist of his character sacrificing himself is one that sticks out as that isn't a usual ending for a film starring the action hero (ok, just pretend I'm just overlooking Terminator films). The film's biggest draw, and the reason why it does work well, is Gabriel Byrne's take on Satan. He oozes charm and yet the audience knows instantly that this is the devil, not someone to be reckoned with. The fact that he goes head-to-head with Arnie and leaves you wondering if the main macho man can be defeated, shows what a good job he does. It might not be everyone's favourite (it received quite negative reviews at the time) but I still have a fondness for the film.

This film gets 🎃🎃🎃 out of 5 🎃.

2) Devil's Advocate (1997)

Coming in at number two, is the one and only Devil's Advocate starring Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino as the devil. Reeves is Kevin Lomax, a successful defence lawyer in Florida. Following a successful trial in finding a paedophile innocent, Lomax gets noticed by the bigwigs in New York, specifically the head of a law firm John Milton. Milton charms Lomax and convinces him to up sticks to become a big-time lawyer in the Big Apple. As Lomax becomes more and more engrossed in his new job with the boss, strange things start occurring: Lomax's wife Mary-Ann begins to hallucinate Lomax's colleagues as demons and has a graphic nightmare of a baby playing with her removed ovaries; a colleague who Lomax complains about to Milton gets beaten to death; anyone going against Milton seems to die in a gruesome way. Mary-Ann is slowly being driven insane with her hallucinations and the news that she cannot conceive a child, leading to her being committed to a mental hospital. As Lomax life starts to unravel, he gets the surprising news that he is actually the son of Milton, and even more of a shock, that John Milton is Satan. After some odd incest suggestions, Milton encouraging Lomax to sleep with Milton's daughter, Lomax self-sacrifices himself by shooting himself in the head. The next scene has Lomax back at the trial of the paedophile, with him stepping down as the representative. The film ends with a reporter who tempts Lomax with fame, turning into Milton and breaking the fourth wall.

I love this film, in fact if it wasn't for the next film, this could have easily been number one. Al Pacino puts in a devilish, over-the-top performance as Satan with the film allowing him to be as bigger than life as he could possibly be. Keanu Reeves is great as the clueless, arrogant lawyer and Charlize Theron is amazing as the vulnerable Mary-Ann. The film is everything a devil-starring movie should be and Pacino is a perfect choice for the devil hiding in plain sight, bringing charm and menace to the role.

I give this film 🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5 🎃.

1) Bedazzled (2000)

Not the first film that may leap to mind while thinking of devil-themed films, Bedazzled is a remake of the 1967 version starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Yes that's right, I'm choosing a remake rather than the original as my number one. Elliott Richards (Brendan Fraser) is a nerdy, over-keen guy working at a computer company. Everyone he knows is dismayed to be in his company, constantly put off by Richards' over-zealousness. At a work night out, Richards bumps into a dazzling stranger who claims to be the devil (Elizabeth Hurley). After proving herself and putting an end to Richards' doubt, the devil states that she is there to grant 7 wishes to Richards, with the condition of getting his soul in return. Richards eventually agrees and asks for his first wish to be rich and in love with the girl he lusts after, Alison. The devil grants the wish, but due to the devil's crafty ways, the reality of what Richards wishes for doesn't go to plan. This leads to more and more wishes being granted in order for Richards to get the life that he so desires. Eventually, Richards realises that he would never be happy this way and asks the devil for Alison to be happy. This breaks the contract as the devil states that any wish that is asked for on behalf of someone else's happiness immediately nulls the deal. Richards parts with the devil and meets a girl who is the female equivalent of himself (and happens to look the double of Alison).

On the surface, this film can be dismissed as a ridiculous comedy based on tropes seen time and time again but in reality, Bedazzled is a heart-warming film, full of soul (pun intended). Granted, Elizabeth Hurley is not the best actor but she goes all out here as a sultry, seductive devil, abandoning the cliche of the devil being portrayed by a male actor. Brendan Fraser shines as Elliott, managing to convey the character's annoying traits and always cheerful persona, to being serious when the scene demands it. The audience is pulled onto his journey and you end up rooting for him to be the champion in the end. Plus, I always get wardrobe envy when I watch Hurley strut in all the various costumes she dons as the devil. The film is funny in unexpected ways and never fails to make me laugh.

This film gets 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5 🎃.

And that's it. Ranging from the most absurd to the most enjoyable, this is my definitive list. I would love to hear your thoughts and if you agree or disagree. Who's your favourite portrayal of the devil? Until next time...

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