The Devil All The Time

By: Sophia Soto

The twisted and horrific tale that is The Devil All the Time is now streaming on Netflix. Based on the book of the same title by Donald Ray Pollock, the film takes you on a journey that you aren’t exactly sure where it is going to end. You put pieces and connections together throughout and then are left with an ending that leaves you strangely satisfied, but at the same time ready for more.

This was not the type of movie I would usually choose, but I am so glad I sat down to watch it the day it came out. The movie is dark and complex in the best way. You will find yourself shocked more than once and thinking, “what more could they do?” The actors deliver amazing performances from start to finish and the cast should truly be proud of their work in this film. While this isn’t a lighthearted movie, it is definitely worth the watch, especially if you’re a fan of any of the actors involved— and I do mean any because they all get such incredible content.

Throughout the movie you meet plenty of sinister characters that make you question how corrupt the world really is, but the main focus of the story is Arvin Russell (Tom Holland). We follow a story that spans from World War II and the Vietnam War and put the pieces together as you meet each character. You start off with the story of Arvin’s parents, played by Bill Skarsgård and Haley Bennett. You see them meet and eventually start their lives with their son, Arvin. You watch them get a house and then see their family and the characters grow.

As time goes on you meet the rest of the characters, such as the unholy preacher (Robert Pattinson), a twisted couple (Jason Clarke and Riley Keough) and the crooked sheriff (Sebastian Stan). The common theme here is Arvin’s desire to protect his family against all of this evil. We see his love and need to protect his step-sister Lenora (played by Eliza Scanlen) eventually cause his dark journey to truly begin after her death. Arvin learns the truth about the preacher (who he didn’t like to begin with) and from there his storyline takes him to meet a murderous couple. We also see him have a run in with the sheriff in the final moments of the film, which really allows this tale to truly come full circle. We see how someone like Arvin, who is not evil, is forced to do evil things. Although living in Knockemstiff, Ohio and its neighboring backwoods, you have to wonder if it was only a matter of time before this corruption reached Arvin.

The audience can’t help but get invested in Arvin’s story because with all the tragedy and loss the boy faces, you want him to overcome it and succeed. You don’t fault him for what he is forced to do because you know it’s not what he wants. Unfortunately, he feels he has no choice due to what is occurring around him. In the end, he’s the character you care about making it out alive.

Tom Holland’s performance was incredible, as simple as that. Anyone who watches this movie will be blown away with how he portrays this character. It is so unlike any other role he’s done and truly shows his range as an actor. It makes you want to see more from him and proves how much potential his career has. I can’t wait to see him take on more complex roles like this in the future. He leaves you on the edge of your seat with his scenes, captures your attention and truly makes the movie. You feel for his character through everything and root for him from beginning to end. If anyone ever doubts Holland’s acting abilities, this is the film they should watch. This really is only the beginning for his career.

I was beyond impressed with Bill Skarsgård. I genuinely can’t explain it, but even after his role in the movie was over his character still stuck with me. His performance left such an impression on me. Surprisingly, this was my first time seeing a film with Robert Pattinson as well. He managed to give such an eerie and unsettling performance, which fit his character so well. He delivered when it came to trying to manipulate situations and slowly turning into the unholy man the audience thought he was. From the second he appears on the screen you feel off and that’s due to Pattinson’s intense performance.

Lastly, I have to talk about Sebastian Stan and Eliza Scanlen’s performances. Stan starts off as a small presence. Although his introduction is in one of the biggest moments in the film, it is towards the end you really see who his character is and the way he manages to bring this individual to life. This role is a very different one for Stan and he did so well with it, leaving the audience holding their breath in his last scene. Scanlen was a new actress for me and as soon as she came onto the screen the audience is drawn to her. You end up loving her and you don’t question it. Also, her chemistry with Holland was one of my favorite parts of the story as their brother/sister relationship is something that was so wholesome in this cruel and unforgiving film.

Director Antonio Campos did a fantastic job. The story flows perfectly and everything is played out perfectly. Every detail and aspect are accounted for and Campos managed to bring the script to life with his interpretation. The tone of the film is set by both the direction and cinematography, which were wonderful. Everything fit the story well and you felt like you were there with the characters. All the visual elements were there and made the story ignite.

While I won’t get too in detail about the ending, all I will say is the thing I enjoyed most about this film is the way the storytelling all connected and everything came full circle in the end. The way all of these characters managed to have their stories connected and intertwined while all having their own plots was astonishing. I can genuinely say I was happy with the ending, which nowadays is rare for me.

I thought the film really delivered on multiple levels and the most important ones, which to me are performances, story and ending. There was truly never a dull moment and every detail was there for a reason. I would definitely recommend it. You do have to prepare yourself that it does earn the R rating in multiple ways, but as long as you know the plot and understand the warnings I’d definitely recommend sitting and seeing it at least once. This isn’t the type of film I’d watch over and over, but I don’t think that’s the type of film it wanted to be. It was a viewing experience that stuck with you after the movie ended because the ending and connections were so well done. The performances alone make this movie worth the watch. The Devil All the Time definitely makes an impression on whoever watches it.