Stephen King Really Wasn’t Kidding About 2024’s Next Best Horror Movie: “I Couldn’t Take My Eyes Off It”

Stephen King has endorsed the upcoming horror movie Late Night with the Devil, and the glowing approval from such a huge figure in the genre already looks to be well-earned. The trailer for the 2024 film looks to be making use of some classic horror tropes while reimagining them in a way that makes them seem freshly terrifying. The fact that Stephen King has signed off on the movie already goes to show the immense promise it holds when it releases in March 2024.

The scariest Stephen King movies and TV adaptations have come at various points throughout the decades. Fans of the horror genre hold many of the reworkings in high regard, which is why the author’s praise of Late Night with the Devil holds such weight. King is one of the most successful horror writers of all time, and his comments about the movie are made all the more believable now that the Late Night with the Devil trailer has dropped.

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The Late Night With The Devil Trailer Looks Like Justifying Stephen King’s Huge Praise

David Dastmalchian’s upcoming movie looks worthy of King’s comments

The terrifying teaser for Late Night with the Devil is broken up by rave reviews for the indie horror movie. Stephen King himself is shown to have labeled the film as, “Absolutely Brilliant,” and also states, “I couldn’t take my eyes off it.” The author says more in the tweet from which the words are taken, but his adoration for the movie is evident. Now that the trailer is out, Stephen King’s feelings after his early screening of Late Night with the Devil are understandable. The movie itself looks terrifying and unique, just as any good horror flick should be.

The Late Night with the Devil trailer reveals very little about the finer details of the movie’s plot, which is a nice divergence from recent trends. Even from the short bursts of action that are shown, it’s clear that the film will have an intense fear factor as well as a genuinely compelling story. Everything from the movie’s aesthetic to the retro sound design draws the senses and demands uneasy attention brilliantly. In addition, it’s great to see David Dastmalchian as the leading man after years of playing supporting roles.

What Critics Have Said About Late Night With The Devil

Reviews have been mixed but largely very good

The trailer has more praise for Late Night with the Devil beyond that of Stephen King’s. For instance, Mashable claims the movie, “Grabs on tight and won’t let go,” which is one of the best compliments a horror movie can receive. However, other reviews from other outlets have been mixed so far. IGN called the movie an “Amusing if unscary traipse” and awarded it a 6/10. Collider gave Light Night with the Devil a respectable B rating and said, “The film isn’t afraid to be absurd, but there is a real craft to the horror underneath it.”

IMDb have been slightly more complimentary of the Dastmalchian-led movie, rating Late Night with the Devil 7.5/10. However, Rotten Tomatoes have given the movie the highest praise by rating it 100%. While this superlative rating is not entirely uncommon, it’s still a tremendous achievement. So, although some critics haven’t been completely taken with Late Night with the Devil, there are sources whose ratings imply the movie is close to perfection. Regardless, the trailer makes the movie look very promising.

Late Night With The Devil Looks Like A Great New Spin On Old Horror Genres

Movies like The Exorcist and The Ring look to have inspired Late Night with the Devil

Late Night with the Devil looks fresh and exciting, but there are still tropes that have been used by some of the best horror movies of all time. For instance, an easy comparison is with 1973’s The Exorcist, with a possessed child being used to communicate. Late Night with the Devil is set in the 1970s, and even looks and sounds as if it were shot then, so these factors reinforce the movie’s comparison with The Exorcist. Late Night with the Devil also looks to rely heavily on found footage, a technique popularized by 1999’s The Blair Witch Project.

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There are also moments in the trailer for Late Night with the Devil that suggest 2002’s The Ring could have served as inspiration for the upcoming movie, with the television sets teased to be a threat as well. Filmmaker Kevin Smith is also quoted in the trailer as comparing Late Night with the Devil with 1968’s Rosemary‘s Baby, so there would seem to be no end to the great company the movie is already keeping.

Sources: IGN, Collider, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes