LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
Section: Midnighters
Director: Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
Screenwriter: Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
Logline: October 31, 1977. Jack Delroy’s syndicated talk show ‘Night Owls’ has long been a trusted companion to insomniacs around the country, but a year on from the tragic death of Jack’s wife, ratings have plummeted. Desperate to turn his fortunes around, Jack plans a Halloween special like no other, unaware he is about to unleash evil into the living rooms of America. “Late Night With The Devil” is the recently rediscovered recording of what went to air that fateful night.
Panelists: Colin and Cameron Cairnes, David Dastmalchian
Sales: Cinetic Media
Premiered: March 10, Alamo Lamar E
Key Quote: Dastmalchian tells us it was a look book the filmmakers sent him of the film which had real TV guides from the 1970s. “It was real imagery that spoke to me and reminded me of memories I had as a kid going into what would become the satanic panic of the 1980s,” says the actor.
He cracked the script which he found reminiscent of Network.
“I looked at this guy who really spoke to me on a journey that I’ve been on, because there’s this pressure when you’re someone in the spotlight a great deal and this sense that you have to present something to the public and what’s going on behind closed doors, is often much more complicated, less glamorous, more difficult,” said Dasmalchian.
“I had moments in my life when I’ve struggled to the point of near destruction as far as mental issues that I struggled with in the past, that I could relate to this character with,” he continued, “I feel like they did something that was true, felt authentic, it was character driven and lived in this space of genre that is my favorite niche.”
The Deadline Studio at SXSW runs March 10-13, where the cast and creatives behind the best and buzziest titles in this year’s lineup sit down with Deadline’s festival team to discuss their movies and the paths they took to get to Austin, Texas.
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