The Mosley Review: The Devil All The Time
When it comes to films like these, they can either go 2 ways. They can become a subtle and very insightful look into the inherent evil in all humans and how it can lead to unfortunate repercussions or it could just be the same plotlines you've seen a dozen times and end as a messy waste of potential. This film was a combination of both. I do like that the story is challenging and it takes you into an almost unshakable darkness, but it doesn’t really delivers something new. This film was gorgeous to look at and the main protagonist was interesting to follow, but I felt that his story was hampered by the messy execution of the plot. The many themes of religion, crime, punishment, desperation and politics are riddled throughout, but they are always shown and not eluded to enough. Its a common mistake made when presented with an unorthodox way of telling a story. The film plays with jumping back and forth with time in each characters' life and it got confusing and unnecessary in many points. When you show your audience a hand of cards, you don't always have to show the face of the hand you're trying to deal.
This was truly a stacked deck of amazing talent working in hollywood right now. Bill Skarsgard was fantastic as Willard Russell and it was tough to see where his character ended up. Halley Bennet was radiant and sweet as his wife Charlotte. Tom Holland was outstanding as his son grown up, Arvin Russell. He was excellent in showing how he would protect his family while figuring out how to deal with his own demons. It was great to see him tackle something darker and heavier. Eliza Scanlen was great and innocent as his adopted sister Lenora. Her purity was a refreshing tone in the film and her chemistry with Holland was excellent. Sebastian Stan was great and sleazy as Sheriff Lee Bodecker. Riley Keough was great as his sister Sandy. The tension between brother and sister was palpable once their problematic lives started to collide with one another’s. Jason Clarke is always great and he delivers a sinister performance as Carl. He is partnered up with Riley's Sandy and every car ride with their character's was full of suspense. Harry Melling delivers yet again a great performance as the religious zealot Roy Laferty. Mia Wasikowska was good as his wife Helen and the two of them together was intriguing even if there was a tragic ending. The strongest and most deliciously scummy performance came from Robert Pattinson as Reverend Preston Teagardin. Right from the moment you see him, you know where and what his character was going to do. Even with that knowledge, he delivered yet another outstanding performance and the moments between him and Tom Holland were the best.
The score by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans was perfectly tense, beautiful, dark and moody throughout. The author of the titular novel in which the film is adapted from, Donald Ray Pollock, did a great job and really set the tone and kept you informed once the time skips were implemented. Even with the stellar cast and great visuals, I just felt that this film was put in the wrong hands. Don't get me wrong, its an exceptional piece of directing, but it never felt like there was a structure in the storytelling. Like I said before, less is more. I didn't hate this film, I just thought it was a waste of potential. If you want to check this film out, it is currently streaming on Netflix. Let me know in the comments what you thought of my review and of the film.
