Spoiler Alert
The difference between Late Night with the Devil and Ghostwatch is that the former film hides Jack Delroy’s (David Dastmalchia) past from viewers to later be shocked by. Although both concerns live coverage about why a young teenage girl is haunted, and as for who controls whom, that depends on who is her keeper. Also, the question of broadcasting this look into what goes bump in the night may cause more harm than good. What’s being played out is like That’s Incredible! I had that reality TV show and Johnny Carson in the back of my mind while watching this film.
While this latest effort is firmly rooted into recreating the look of the 70s, it rarely delved into why this era was ripe for events to happen like the Satanic panic. There are quick references to certain trends–namely the influence of The Exorcist and The Omen–and without that added gravitas, this film doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Without these particular references, I thought Cameron and Colin Cairnes‘ movie didn’t fully hit its mark. I’d give this film a low grade more than anything else. The British film really does it better, because it keeps you invested through various characters, especially Craig Charles!
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