Tuesday, May 24, 2022
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
FLICKFEAST
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews HE Reviews

The Devil’s Business (2011)

Kevin Matthews by Kevin Matthews
September 10, 2012
in HE Reviews
14
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Small but almost perfectly formed, that’s probably the best way to describe The Devil’s Business. It only has five actors appearing onscreen, with most scenes focusing on any two characters at one time, and the focus is on the dialogue and the atmosphere throughout, with some superb monologues distracting viewers from the obvious low budget and limited resources.

The premise is a simple one. Two hitmen (one older and experienced, played by Billy Clarke, and the other one young and a bit nervy, played by Jack Gordon) sit and wait for their victim to arrive back at his home. While waiting they talk to each other, with the older man telling a creepy tale to the young lad. It’s just a waiting game with nothing much that can be done about it though things take a turn for the strange when the hitmen discover some artifacts and nastiness that show them that their intended victim has some strange practices, to say the least.

You might also like

Death on the Nile (2022) – Blu-ray Review

The Mitchells Vs The Machines (2021)- Blu-ray Review

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)- 4K Blu-ray Review

Director Sean Hogan does a very good job here, especially when you consider that money was lost and a replacement location had to be found at the eleventh hour, and things are never boring but it’s in the writing department that he really excels. The story that develops in the movie is surprisingly predictable but no worse for it. The main story is actually the one told by the older hitman to the youngster, a story that is effectively interspersed throughout the rest of the movie after most of it is conveyed in two large sections in the first half of the film. It feels very much like a traditional, fireside tale and I LIKE that kind of horror piece, something that’s usually only seen nowadays on TV Christmas specials. The fact that the film runs for only 69 minutes adds to that feeling.

The small group of actors all do very well, with Billy Clarke being the absolute stand-out. Jack Gordon is fantastic and believable as the young, inexperienced lad trying to act tough but happy to show his vulnerable side as soon as things start to get strange. Jonathan Hansler is very good as the potential victim and Harry Miller is suitably loud and sweary as Bruno, the man who emplyed the hitmen for the job.

With a nice, brooding soundtrack by Justin Greaves, some great lighting and colour choices and a real build-up of tension throughout, The Devil’s Business is a little movie that still just about manages to pack a fairly big punch. It deserves to do well and I hope that horror fans seek it out. I’m sure that some will hate it but many others may well appreciate it as I did.

The Devil’s Business hits DVD on 10th September. The disc includes an informative and lively commentary track involving director Sean Hogan and producer Jennifer Handorf (found in the Set Up submenu, as opposed to the Extra Features section), one little interesting outtake and an interview with Justin Greaves, the man responsible for the haunting soundtrack, that runs for about 15 minutes.. Like the film itself, it’s not too much but it’s a great little mix.

WRITER/DIRECTOR: SEAN HOGAN
STARS: BILLY CLARKE, JACK GORDON, JONATHAN HANSLER, HARRY MILLER
RUNTIME: 69 MINS APPROX
COUNTRY: UK

Film Rating: ★★★½☆
DISC Rating: ★★★½☆

Tags: billy clarkeCrimeharry millerhorrorjack gordonJonathan Hanslersean hoganthe devil's business
Kevin Matthews

Kevin Matthews

Kevin Matthews lives in Edinburgh and has done for some time. He loves it there and he loves movies, especially horrors. No film is too awful to pass through his cinematic haze.

Related Posts

Death on the Nile (2022) - Blu-ray Review
HE Reviews

Death on the Nile (2022) – Blu-ray Review

by Jed Wagman
April 11, 2022
The Mitchells Vs The Machines (2021)- Blu-ray Review
HE Reviews

The Mitchells Vs The Machines (2021)- Blu-ray Review

by Jed Wagman
December 13, 2021
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)- 4K Blu-ray Review
Film Review

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)- 4K Blu-ray Review

by Jed Wagman
December 6, 2021
Superman & Lois
HE Reviews

‘Superman and Lois’ (2021) Series Review

by Jenna Scott
December 2, 2021
Koko-Di Koko-Da (2019) – Film Review
HE Reviews

Koko-Di Koko-Da (2019) – Film Review

by Dallas King
September 9, 2020

Recommended

Top Ten Most Depressing Animated Movies

Top Ten Most Depressing Animated Movies

September 23, 2021
FRIGHTFEST 2020 – Digital Edition: The Columnist (2019)

FRIGHTFEST 2020 – Digital Edition: The Columnist (2019)

September 1, 2020

Don't miss it

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) – Film Review

May 23, 2022
Benediction (2021)
Film Review

Benediction (2021) — Film Review

May 19, 2022
Top 100 Greatest Movies Films
Spotlight

100 Greatest Movies (and 50 Honorable Mentions)

May 23, 2022
The Innocents (2021) – Film Review
Film Review

The Innocents (2021) – Film Review

May 17, 2022
Father Stu (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Father Stu (2022) – Film Review

May 12, 2022
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Film Review

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) — Film Review

May 11, 2022
flickfeast

Whetting your appetite for cinema with the best film reviews and features since 2009

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

Posting....