‘A Gripping Southern Gothic’
Tom Holland delivers his finest performance to date as Arvin Russell. Holland is best known for playing the lighthearted superhero Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With “The Devil All the Time”, however, he takes on his most dramatic role to date. It is not easy to get into the mindset of a grief-stricken teenager that is coping with traumatic loss. However, Holland pulls it off effortlessly. With mesmerizing expressions, he conveys the angst, courage and heroism of an adolescent that seeks justice in a disgraceful town. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most talented young actors working today.
The supporting cast is spectacular and also worthy of recognition. Robert Pattinson is remarkable and steals nearly every scene he is in as a pedophile preacher that abuses innocent women. Jason Clarke and Riley Keough are perfectly cast and bring nerve-wracking tension to the movie as a pair of serial killers. And finally, it is hard to not mention Bill Skarsgård. As Arvin’s father, he brings humanity to the movie.
Despite its superb performances, however, it’s unfortunate that “The Devil All the Time” isn’t quite successful all the time. If there’s one area where the film falters, it is in the pacing department. Campos’ decision to tell the interweaving stories in a non-linear structure is bold and innovative, but it doesn’t entirely pay off. It drags down the pacing and detracts from the entertainment-value of the movie. Due to this faulty approach, the interconnected stories aren’t always as engaging as the central narrative. Moreover, the film suffers from a lack of compelling character development. All of the characters are reprehensible humans that exhibit little redeeming qualities. For instance, we’re barely given strong reasons to care about Arvin beyond his orphaned upbringing. It is difficult to connect with certain characters when they are hardly given a shred of humanity. Literary adaptations thrive based on the likeable personas of their characters, and in this regard “The Devil All the Time” falls short of expectations.
On a final note, it is worth bearing in mind that “The Devil All the Time” is not meant for everyone. Given its provocative themes, the movie may not please everyone. The film tackles controversial topics such as fanaticism, rape and suicide that may upset certain viewers. Viewers that are sensitive towards harsh depictions of Christian faith will not enjoy this movie. In light of its anti-religion message, “The Devil All the Time” is one of those movies that may not appeal towards mainstream audiences.
In the end, “The Devil All the Time” is a satisfactory psychological thriller with ambitions that often exceed its grasp. An entertaining but overstuffed adaptation, it sheds light on provocative issues that are rarely seen in movies today. At a time when religious fanaticism is rarely depicted in Cinema, it offers a cautionary reminder of the dangers posed when faith motivates mentally unstable men to commit acts of violence.
3.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
suffers from a specific kind of pacing wherein the film moves too fast sometimes as it tries to hit all the necessary plot points, but too slow in others, when Campos truly digs into a scene and the actors get a chance to really showcase their talents. Add in the fact that jumps around from one character to another, with only Pollock’s voiceover to offer a connective thread (which is much easier to follow in a book than in a film), and Campos delivers a movie that is, at its best, like watching a novel come alive, and at its worst, a confusing mess of story threads that can be hard to follow. The overwrought plot and characters are at least interesting enough, and Campos’ ability to build the tension of movie – with the occasional, violent stopgap – will keep viewers compelled to watch, but the limp conclusion may also leave them wondering if the journey was worth it.
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