{{short description|2020 American film by Antonio Campos}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | image = The Devil All The Time.jpeg | caption = Promotional release poster | director = Antonio Campos | screenplay = {{Plainlist| * Antonio Campos * Paulo Campos }} | based_on = {{Based on|''The Devil All the Time''|Donald Ray Pollock}} | producer = {{Plainlist| * Jake Gyllenhaal * Riva Marker * Randall Poster * Max Born }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Tom Holland * Bill Skarsgård * Riley Keough * Jason Clarke * Sebastian Stan * Haley Bennett * Eliza Scanlen * Mia Wasikowska * Robert Pattinson }}<!--PER POSTER BILLING BLOCK--> | narrator = Donald Ray Pollock | cinematography = Lol Crawley | editing = Sofía Subercaseaux | music = {{Plainlist| * Danny Bensi * Saunder Jurriaans }} | studio = {{Plainlist| * Nine Stories Productions * Bronx Moving Company }} | distributor = Netflix | released = {{Film date|2020|9|11}} | runtime = 138 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = }}
'''''The Devil All the Time''''' is a 2020 American southern gothic psychological thriller film directed by Antonio Campos, from a screenplay co-written with his brother Paulo, based on the novel of the same title by Donald Ray Pollock (who also serves as the film's narrator). The film follows several characters whose stories weave together in two small towns, one in Ohio and the other in West Virginia, during the period from the end of World War II to the 1960s. It features an ensemble cast that includes Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgård, Sebastian Stan, Riley Keough, Haley Bennett, Eliza Scanlen, Mia Wasikowska, and Jason Clarke.
''The Devil All the Time'' was released in select theaters on September 11, 2020, and on Netflix on September 16, 2020. It received polarizing reviews from critics, who praised the performances (particularly Holland and Pattinson), but were critical of the film's length and dark tone.
==Plot== During World War II, while serving in the Solomon Islands, U.S. Marine Willard Russell and his patrol find Gunnery Sergeant Miller Jones skinned and crucified by Japanese soldiers. As the patrol examines his dog tag, Jones becomes conscious. Knowing that he will not survive, Willard shoots Jones in the head to end his agony. After the war, on his way home to Coal Creek, West Virginia, Willard passes through Meade, Ohio, where he meets Charlotte, a waitress at a diner, and a photographer named Carl Henderson. Willard and Charlotte marry and move to Knockemstiff, Ohio, where they have a son named Arvin.
In 1950, Helen Hatton—whom Willard’s mother, Emma, wanted him to marry—marries Roy Laferty. Roy is a bizarre, albeit charismatic, evangelical preacher who pours venomous spiders over his head while giving sermons to demonstrate his faith in God. Helen and Roy have a daughter named Lenora. During a sermon, Roy is bitten by a spider on his face and has a severe allergic reaction that affects his grip on reality, coming to believe that he can resurrect the dead. After Helen drops off Lenora at Emma's home, Roy takes Helen out to the woods and stabs her in the neck with a screwdriver. He then tries and fails to resurrect her. A distraught Roy hitchhikes and is picked up by photographer Carl Henderson and his wife Sandy, who met at the same time and place Willard and Charlotte did. Carl and Sandy are revealed to be serial killers who pick up male hitchhikers, encourage them to have sex with Sandy while Carl takes photographs, then murder them. Roy refuses to have sex with Sandy, but Carl kills him anyway.
In 1957, Willard erects a wooden cross in the woods behind his family home, where he makes Arvin pray daily by kneeling at their "prayer log," a fallen tree at its base. Later, Charlotte is diagnosed with cancer. Willard believes he can influence God with fervent prayer to remove the cancer from his wife's body. He prays to God and sacrifices Arvin's dog as an offering, crucifying its body at the prayer log. Despite his efforts, Charlotte dies. Devastated, Willard commits suicide by slitting his throat at the base of the rustic cross. Arvin discovers his father's body beneath the rotting corpse of his dog, and later leads Sheriff Lee Bodecker, the corrupt brother of Sandy Henderson, to the scene. Arvin goes to live with his grandmother Emma in Coal Creek, who has also adopted Lenora.
In 1965, Arvin—now a young adult working manual jobs around town— receives Willard's Luger from his uncle as a birthday present. He is fiercely protective of high school-aged Lenora, who is bullied by some local greasers. One day, their harassment pushes Arvin to attack them mercilessly. The pious Lenora grows close to the new, self-righteous Reverend Preston Teagardin, whom Arvin resents for previously ridiculing Emma. Reverend Preston grooms Lenora, eventually sexually assaulting her and she becomes pregnant. When she informs Preston, he rejects her. Overwhelmed by the bullying and her pregnancy, Lenora considers hanging herself. Right before she does, she changes her mind but ends up accidentally hanging herself. After the autopsy, Arvin is told that she was pregnant. Stalking Preston, he sees him grooming another girl and deduces that Preston was the father. Confronting him alone at the church, Arvin shoots and kills Preston with the Luger before fleeing.
Arvin decides to drive back to his childhood home in Knockemstiff, his car breaks down however and he ultimately decides to hitchhike there instead. He is picked up by Carl and Sandy, whose relationship has become acrimonious. Upon noticing Carl's gun and realizing the Hendersons' ill intentions, Arvin kills the couple in self-defense. Afterwards, Arvin searches the car and finds evidence of the Henderson's serial killings, taking some of it with him. When Lee finds out that Carl and Sandy were murdered, he goes to their apartment and burns Carl's photo collection to protect himself and his upcoming re-election campaign.
While investigating their deaths, Lee concludes that Arvin was responsible. He tracks him to Willard's cross, where Arvin has gone to bury his dog. As Arvin places the bones in the ground beneath the prayer log, Lee arrives and attempts to kill Arvin with a shotgun. A shootout ensues and Arvin shoots Lee in the chest. As the sheriff dies, Arvin explains his actions and plants the evidence of Carl and Sandy's killings on Lee's body so that their crimes will be revealed. Arvin then places Willard's Luger in the hole with bones and buries them.
As Preston's death is also uncovered, Arvin hitchhikes out of the area with a hippie headed to Cincinnati. As they drive off, Arvin falls asleep and contemplates his future, which he imagines will be very similar to Willard's.
==Cast== <!--- WP:NOTDATABASE MOS:FILMCAST - cast and order per Main Cast closing tombstone stand-alone credits, roles per closing credits scroll ---> {{cast list| * Tom Holland as Arvin Russell ** Michael Banks Repeta as Young Arvin * Bill Skarsgård as Willard Russell, Arvin's father * Riley Keough as Sandy Henderson, Lee's sister * Jason Clarke as Carl Henderson, Sandy's husband * Sebastian Stan as Deputy Lee Bodecker, Sandy's brother * Haley Bennett as Charlotte Russell, Arvin's mother * Eliza Scanlen as Lenora Laferty * Mia Wasikowska as Helen Hatton, Lenora's mother * Robert Pattinson as Rev. Preston Teagardin * Harry Melling as Roy Laferty, Lenora's father * Douglas Hodge as Leroy Brown * Kristin Griffith as Emma Russell, Willard's mother and Lenora's adoptive mother * Pokey LaFarge as Theodore, Roy's cousin *Drew Starkey as Tommy Matson }}
In addition, narration throughout the film is performed by Donald Ray Pollock, the author of the novel.
==Production== Production for ''The Devil All the Time'' was announced in September 2018, with Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Chris Evans and Mia Wasikowska in talks to star. Antonio Campos was set to write and direct the film, with Jake Gyllenhaal serving as producer. In January 2019, Bill Skarsgård and Eliza Scanlen joined the cast, and Netflix was set to distribute the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/it-bill-skarsgard-sharp-objects-eliza-scanlen-netflix-the-devil-all-time-1203109113/|title='It' Star Bill Skarsgard and 'Sharp Objects' Actress Eliza Scanlen Join Netflix's 'The Devil All The Time'|website=Variety|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=January 16, 2019|access-date=January 16, 2019|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916223157/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/it-bill-skarsgard-sharp-objects-eliza-scanlen-netflix-the-devil-all-time-1203109113/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/chris-evans-tom-holland-robert-pattinson-netflix-movie/|title=Chris Evans, Tom Holland Lead A-List Cast for Netflix Film 'The Devil All the Time'|first=Allison|last=Keene|website=Collider|date=January 16, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916223203/https://collider.com/chris-evans-tom-holland-robert-pattinson-netflix-movie/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sebastian Stan was cast to replace Evans, after scheduling conflicts caused him to drop out and personally recommended Stan for the role.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/sebastian-stan-replaced-chris-evans-the-devil-all-the-time-netflix-avengers-endgame-captain-america-1202557139/|title=Sebastian Stan Replacing Chris Evans In Netflix Film 'The Devil All The Time'|first1=Mike Jr.|last1=Fleming|date=February 14, 2019|access-date=February 14, 2019|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916223209/https://deadline.com/2019/02/sebastian-stan-replaced-chris-evans-the-devil-all-the-time-netflix-avengers-endgame-captain-america-1202557139/|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, Jason Clarke, Riley Keough and Haley Bennett were announced as part of the cast,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/haley-bennett-jason-clarke-riley-keough-the-devil-all-the-time-netflix-1202561135/|title=Haley Bennett, Jason Clarke, Riley Keough Join 'The Devil All The Time' At Netflix|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=February 19, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2019|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916223212/https://deadline.com/2019/02/haley-bennett-jason-clarke-riley-keough-the-devil-all-the-time-netflix-1202561135/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in March 2019, Harry Melling also joined.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/netflix-harry-melling-devil-time-harry-potter-1202568082/|title=Netflix's Starry Pic 'The Devil All The Time' Adds 'Buster Scruggs' Star Harry Melling, Shoot Underway|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=March 4, 2019|access-date=March 4, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090130/https://deadline.com/2019/03/netflix-harry-melling-devil-time-harry-potter-1202568082/|url-status=live}}</ref> Saunder Jurriaans and Danny Bensi composed the film's score.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/11/20/danny-bensi-saunder-jurriaans-to-score-antonio-campos-the-devil-all-the-time/|title=Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans to Score Antonio Campos's 'The Devil All The Time'|website=FilmMusicReporter|date=November 20, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2020|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916223217/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/11/20/danny-bensi-saunder-jurriaans-to-score-antonio-campos-the-devil-all-the-time/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Principal photography began on February 19, 2019, in Alabama, with filming locations including Anniston, Pell City, Birmingham, and Montevallo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/make-a-deal-with-the-devil-all-the-time-66438|title=Make a Deal With 'The Devil All the Time'|website=Backstage|date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=January 2, 2019|archive-date=February 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219183353/https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/make-a-deal-with-the-devil-all-the-time-66438/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latlong.net/location/the-devil-all-the-time-locations-624#:~:text=The%20Devil%20All%20the%20Time%20was%20shot%20in%20different%20cities,Jacksonville%2C%20Montevallo%2C%20and%20Riverside|title=Locations|website=latlong|access-date=August 26, 2020|archive-date=December 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231160250/https://www.latlong.net/location/the-devil-all-the-time-locations-624#:~:text=The%20Devil%20All%20the%20Time%20was%20shot%20in%20different%20cities,Jacksonville%2C%20Montevallo%2C%20and%20Riverside|url-status=live}}</ref> Filming completed on April 15, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.projectcasting.com/casting-calls-acting-auditions/tom-hollands-the-devil-all-the-time-is-now-casting/|title=Tom Holland's 'The Devil All The Time' is Now Casting!|author=Project Casting|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=December 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231160216/https://www.projectcasting.com/casting-calls-acting-auditions/tom-hollands-the-devil-all-the-time-is-now-casting/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/maryscotthodgin/status/1104534282624778241|title=Filming for the multi-million $$ @netflix film, "The Devil All the Time" happening in Bham today (Highland Park). Crew member says they're shooting the whole movie in AL & will wrap up April 15. The story is based on a book by David Ray Pollock & takes place in Ohio and West VA.|website=Twitter|access-date=April 15, 2019|archive-date=October 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011162406/https://twitter.com/maryscotthodgin/status/1104534282624778241|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Visual style === Campos stated that visual inspiration from the film mainly stemmed from the visual descriptions that Pollock provided in the novel itself. "The book kind of offers these amazing moments and images, things like, the prayer log, Carl's photographs in the book," Campos stated, "it gets your mind going." The film's visual style is inspired by painter Andrew Wyeth and photographer William Eggleston. Campos stated that the scenes that were inspired by Eggleston's work were mainly due to how colorful they were. Appalachia itself also inspired Campos and company when they were considering the visuals in the film. Campos wanted the film to mirror what Appalachia looked like during the timeline when the story takes place.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGdLRlHA-3t|title=Inspirations behind THE DEVIL ALL TIME|website=Instagram|access-date=April 30, 2022|archive-date=October 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001163045/https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGdLRlHA-3t/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Release== ''The Devil All the Time'' was released in select theaters on September 11, 2020,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/everyone-s-a-sinner-in-antonio-campos-moody-coal-count-1845051461|title=Everyone's a sinner in Antonio Campos' moody coal country crime drama ''The Devil All The Time''|last=Murray|first=Noel|date=September 14, 2020|website=The A.V. Club|access-date=November 6, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610190542/https://www.avclub.com/everyone-s-a-sinner-in-antonio-campos-moody-coal-count-1845051461|archive-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rottenberg|first=Josh|date=September 25, 2020|title=With 'The Trial of the Chicago 7,' Netflix returns to movie theaters amid the pandemic|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-09-25/netflix-chicago-7-theatrical-release-coronavirus|url-status=live|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925220126/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-09-25/netflix-chicago-7-theatrical-release-coronavirus|archive-date=September 25, 2020|access-date=November 6, 2022}}</ref> and digitally, on Netflix, on September 16, 2020.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/tom-holland-the-devil-all-the-time/|title=Tom Holland-starring Southern Gothic saga The Devil All the Time to premiere on Netflix in September|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Clark|last=Collis|date=July 17, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2020|archive-date=July 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717191859/https://ew.com/movies/tom-holland-the-devil-all-the-time/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The film was the most-watched on Netflix over its first two days, and third overall in its first five days.<ref>{{Cite web |title= 'Antebellum' Immediate #1 on VOD Charts While RBG Films Soar on Apple TV |url= https://www.indiewire.com/2020/09/antebellum-vod-charts-rbg-films-apple-tv-1234587952/ |last= Brueggemann |first= Tom |website= IndieWire |date= September 21, 2020 |access-date= September 22, 2020 |archive-date= November 16, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201116202439/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/09/antebellum-vod-charts-rbg-films-apple-tv-1234587952/ |url-status= live }}</ref> In November 2020, ''Variety'' reported the film was the 22nd-most watched straight-to-streaming title of 2020 up to that point.<ref>{{cite web |last= Bridge |first= Gavin |date= November 4, 2020 |url= https://variety.com/vip/data-borat-2-second-only-to-hamilton-in-most-watched-u-s-svod-movies-of-2020-1234823177/ |title= DATA: 'BORAT 2' SECOND ONLY TO 'HAMILTON' IN MOST-WATCHED U.S. SVOD MOVIES OF 2020 |website= Variety |access-date= November 4, 2020 |archive-date= November 4, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201104174256/https://variety.com/vip/data-borat-2-second-only-to-hamilton-in-most-watched-u-s-svod-movies-of-2020-1234823177/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
==Reception== {{RT prose|65|{{RT data|average}}|{{RT data|count}}|''The Devil All the Time''{{'}}s descent into darkness can be harrowing to the point of punishment, but it's offset by strong work from a stellar cast.|ref=yes|access-date=2023-08-20}} {{MC film|55|39|ref=yes|access-date=2023-08-20}}
The ''Chicago Tribune''{{'}}s Michael Phillips wrote, "It's easy on the eyes... worth seeing for an intriguingly cast ensemble, authenticating the milieu as much as possible. Holland's terrific, taking in each new setback in [his character's] life without revealing the full extent of the damage."<ref>{{cite news |title='Devil All the Time' review: Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson wrestle with their sins in a bloody Southern Gothic |last=Phillips |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Phillips (critic) |date=September 11, 2020 |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/michael-phillips/sc-mov-devil-netflix-pattinson-review-0910-20200912-7gcaisbjhrg3nczbyjvc4fv23u-story.html |access-date=September 11, 2020 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925145754/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/michael-phillips/sc-mov-devil-netflix-pattinson-review-0910-20200912-7gcaisbjhrg3nczbyjvc4fv23u-story.html |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Ryan Lattanzio of ''IndieWire'' gave ''The Devil All the Time'' a "C−" and called it a "colossal misfire, a sweaty mess from start to finish," although he praised Holland and Pattinson's performances.<ref>{{cite news |title='The Devil All the Time' Review: Netflix and Antonio Campos' Bloated Gothic Profoundly Fails a Terrific Cast |last=Lattanzio |first=Ryan |work=IndieWire |date=September 11, 2020 |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/09/the-devil-all-the-time-review-netflix-1234585399/ |access-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214234642/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/09/the-devil-all-the-time-review-netflix-1234585399/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Owen Gleiberman of ''Variety'' said that "it's hard to imagine how a movie with this much sordid crime and violence could be this rote" and wrote "''The Devil All the Time'' shows us a lot of bad behavior, but the movie isn't really interested in what makes the sinners tick. And without that lurid curiosity, it's just a series of Sunday School lessons: a noir that wants to scrub away the darkness."<ref>{{cite magazine |title='The Devil All the Time' Review: Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson in a Netflix Drama of Small-Town Sin |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |author-link=Owen Gleiberman |magazine=Variety |url= https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/the-devil-all-the-time-review-robert-pattinson-tom-holland-riley-keough-1234766310/ |access-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231160313/https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/the-devil-all-the-time-review-robert-pattinson-tom-holland-riley-keough-1234766310/ |archive-date=December 31, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Netflix title}} * {{IMDb title}}
{{Antonio Campos}} {{Authority control}} {{Portal bar|2020s|Film|United States|Crime|Religion|Christianity}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devil All the Time, The}} Category:2020 films Category:2020 psychological thriller films Category:2020 English-language films Category:2020 American films Category:American World War II films Category:American psychological thriller films Category:Films about child abuse Category:Films about death Category:Films based on American novels Category:Films critical of religion Category:Films directed by Antonio Campos Category:Films produced by Jake Gyllenhaal Category:Films set in 1945 Category:Films set in 1950 Category:Films set in 1957 Category:Films set in 1965 Category:Films set in Ohio Category:Films shot in Alabama Category:Films set in West Virginia Category:Southern Gothic films Category:Films critical of Christianity and Christians Category:English-language thriller films Category:Netflix original films Category:Southern noir films