The Devil All the Time (2020)

"The Devil All the Time" (Ukrainian: Диявол завжди тут) is a 2020 American psychological thriller with elements of crime drama and Southern Gothic. The film was directed by Antonio Campos from his own screenplay, co-written with Paulo Campos, based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock. The film had a limited theatrical release on September 11, 2020, and became available on Netflix on September 16, 2020.

Plot

The story takes place in post-war America, in the fictional town of Knockemstiff, Ohio, and neighboring Coal Creek, West Virginia, spanning the period from the end of World War II to the 1960s. The story intertwines the fates of several characters whose lives are marked by violence, religious fanaticism, and corruption.

• Willard Russell (Bill Skarsgård) is a war veteran traumatized by what he saw in the Pacific. He marries waitress Charlotte (Haley Bennett), but when she dies of cancer, Willard falls into despair and resorts to bloody sacrifices, believing it will bring his wife back. His son Arvin (Tom Holland) grows up witnessing his father's madness.
• In parallel, the story follows Roy Laferty (Harry Melling) — a charismatic preacher who tests his faith by handling venomous spiders, and his disabled wife Helen (Mia Wasikowska). Their daughter Lenora (Eliza Scanlen) after a tragedy ends up in the care of the depraved pastor Preston Teagardin (Robert Pattinson).
• The third storyline involves serial killers Carl and Sandy Henderson (Jason Clarke and Riley Keough), who travel the country photographing their victims.

All these threads converge on Arvin, who tries to protect his loved ones and restore justice in a world where the devil seems always near.

Cast and Crew

• Director and screenwriter: Antonio Campos (also known for the films "Simon Killer", "Christine").
• Producers: Jake Gyllenhaal, Riva Marker, Max Born, Randall Poster.
• Cinematographer: Lol Crawley.
• Composers: Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans.
• Studios: Nine Stories Productions, Bronx Moving Company.
• Distributor: Netflix.

Main roles

• Tom Holland — Arvin Russell
• Bill Skarsgård — Willard Russell
• Robert Pattinson — Preston Teagardin
• Sebastian Stan — Lee Bodecker (sheriff)
• Riley Keough — Sandy Henderson
• Jason Clarke — Carl Henderson
• Harry Melling — Roy Laferty
• Mia Wasikowska — Helen Hatton
• Eliza Scanlen — Lenora Laferty
• Haley Bennett — Charlotte Russell

Franchise Chronology

The film is a standalone adaptation of Donald Ray Pollock's novel. No sequels, prequels, or spin-offs have been released. The novel "The Devil All the Time" (2011) is the only literary work on which the plot is based.

Where to Watch

• Netflix — official film page on the platform.
• UAKino — search on the Ukrainian localized resource.

The film received mixed reviews from critics but was highly praised for the acting (especially Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson) and the dark atmosphere. On Netflix, the film was the most popular in the first two days after release.