The Devil All the Time (2020)

The Devil All the Time (2020)

5/10

Starring

Tom Holland

Bill Skarsgård

Riley Keough

Jason Clarke

Directed by Antonio Campos

The Devil All the Time weaves together multiple stories centered on one character, Arvin (played by Tom Holland). Filled with remarkable acting and prolonged situations, this movie is one of the most well-acted yet tedious films you can find on Netflix.

The movie carries a dull tone, and with a runtime of over two hours, it can feel wearisome. The complexity of the plot, intricately connecting various lives, is commendable. However, the actions of the characters can often be unnerving.

True to its title, the movie is brimming with characters either indulging in moral depravity or falling victim to it.

The story begins with a brief intro before diving into the life of a young boy, Arvin. In one of the first shocking scenes, his father sacrifices the family dog to God in a desperate attempt to save Arvin's dying mother. Arvin ends up an orphan, and combined with the trauma of his dog’s sacrifice, it’s clear he’s mentally scarred from a young age.

Another thread in the story introduces a young woman with a religiously fanatical partner similar to Arvin’s father. She also faces tragedy, leaving behind her daughter. This daughter grows up in the same orphaned home as Arvin. Unlike him, she becomes pious, but her naivety leads to a devastating encounter with another religious fanatic (like mother, like daughter). This eventually spirals into a colossal tale of death, somehow involving Arvin.

The madness doesn’t stop there. The movie also introduces a serial killer couple who travel around murdering people, a silly sheriff with no respect for his office, and a host of other unsettling characters.

With so much happening, the movie undoubtedly captures your attention. However, despite all this action, I found it tedious and, at times, boring. The film is based on the 2011 Gothic crime novel of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock, who also serves as the film’s narrator. Notably, the movie stays true to the book’s plot (is what is said, even though I have not read the book to confirm).

You can stream this movie on Netflix. For me, watching it wasn’t worth the time, even though the acting deserves praise. I believe films like this are better suited for Netflix than a theatrical release, because they are more like experiments to see what people will like, than actual production to entertain various people and their taste.

The movie boasts an ensemble cast capable of drawing viewers, but I feel the director wasted the potential of his stars.