The movie Late Night with the Devil is a chilling tale set in 1970s America. It follows the rise and fall of a popular late-night talk show host, Jack Delroy, who makes a Faustian bargain for fame and success at a terrible cost.
The Rise of Jack Delroy and “Night Owls”
The film opens with a montage depicting the tumultuous social and political landscape of 1970s America – the energy crisis, protests, and violence on the streets. Amidst this chaos, television offers an escape. On April 4, 1971, a new late-night talk show called “Night Owls” premiered on the UBC network. Its host is Jack Delroy, a famous Chicago radio announcer. With an entertaining mix of celebrity interviews, musical performances, and comedy sketches, “Night Owls” quickly captures the hearts and minds of audiences across the country. Jack’s wife, renowned stage actress Madeleine Piper, is his muse and biggest supporter.
In November 1972, Jack signed a lucrative 5-year contract with UBC owner Walker Bedford, cementing his status as a rising star. However, there are whispers about Jack’s association with The Grove, a secretive men-only club in the California redwoods. Rumors swirl that the club engages in arcane rituals and has the power to make or break careers in the entertainment industry.
Rating Struggles and Personal Tragedy
Despite a well-received first few seasons, “Night Owls” consistently fails to surpass Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show” in the ratings. Jack and his producer, Leo, resort to courting controversy to boost viewership. In the October 1976 episode, Madeleine, now diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, makes a special appearance on the show. It becomes the highest-rated episode in the show’s history but still falls short of beating Carson. Two weeks later, Madeleine succumbs to her illness. A devastated Jack takes a hiatus from the show, his whereabouts unknown.
To revive the show’s fortunes, UBC announces Jack’s return to host a special Halloween episode in 1977. The network’s hopes are riding on the episode as the all-important Sweeps Week begins.
The Fateful Halloween Special
The Halloween special opens with Jack welcoming the audience, expressing his gratitude for their support during his darkest times. His first guest is Christou, a mysterious spiritualist with a growing reputation as a miracle worker. Christou proceeds to seemingly channel messages from the dead relatives of audience members, including a woman’s deceased brother and another’s estranged wife.
In a particularly dramatic moment, Christou senses a presence in the studio, a spirit named “Minnie” trying to reach Jack. Christou appears to be in distress, bleeding from his nose. Jack hastily cuts to a commercial break. Backstage, Christou collapses and is rushed to the hospital.
Debunking the Paranormal
Next on the show is Carmichael Haig, once a famous magician known as “Carmichael the Conjurer” who has now become a leading skeptic. Haig introduces IFSIP, the International Federation of Scientific Investigation into the Paranormal, which he founded to investigate claims of the supernatural and verify their authenticity.
Haig dismisses Christou as a fraud, explaining the techniques he used to create the illusion of communicating with the dead. When Jack mentions the “Minnie” incident, suggesting it may have been a message from his late wife Madeleine, Haig scoffs at the idea. He issues a challenge to Christou or anyone who claims to have genuine psychic abilities – IFSIP offers a $500,000 reward to anyone who can prove their powers under controlled conditions. So far, the organization has never had to pay out.
The Girl Possessed
The final guest is Dr. June Ross-Mitchell, a parapsychologist, and the 13-year-old girl Lilly, the subject of her new book “Conversations with the Devil”. A clip provides the backstory – Lilly was the sole survivor of a Satanic cult known as the First Church of Abraxas. The cult, led by the charismatic Szandor D’Abo, became the target of a federal investigation. In August 1974, as law enforcement laid siege to the cult’s compound, D’Abo ordered his followers to douse the premises and themselves in gasoline. In a mass ritual suicide by fire, only Lilly emerged from the ashes.
Under Dr. Ross-Mitchell’s care, it is revealed that Lilly is seemingly possessed by a demonic entity she calls “Mr. Wriggles”. A video clip shows the girl undergoing a violent transformation during a therapy session, her body contorting, objects flying around the room.
Jack asks Lilly if she would be willing to attempt to summon Mr. Wriggles on the show. Despite June’s vehement objections, citing the need for a carefully controlled environment, Lilly agrees.
The Summoning
As the summoning begins, Lilly appears to enter a trance. Her skin turns a ghastly white as she begins to speak in a chilling demonic voice. The entity addresses June, asking where they are. Jack introduces himself and the show. The demon immediately recognizes Jack, greeting him with a familiarity that unnerves him:
“Good to see you again, Jack,” the demon rasps.
“Sorry, I don’t believe we’ve been acquainted,” Jack replies nervously.
“Don’t be a fool. We go way back. We met amongst the tall trees, remember?”
The entity then addresses June in a taunting, sexualized manner, suggesting she and Jack have had an affair. It begins to sing a mocking rhyme:
“Jack and June went up the hill to fuck each other’s brains out,” the demon cackles. “Jack and Jill went up the hill to [bleep] each other’s…”
An outraged June slaps Lilly across the face, snapping the girl out of the possession. Lilly, disoriented and tearful, apologizes. Jack hastily cuts to a commercial break.
Dueling Magicians
Returning from the break, Jack apologizes to the audience for the disturbing scene they just witnessed. Haig interrupts, insisting that Lilly’s demonic transformation was nothing but a clever hoax orchestrated by June. He proposes to prove his point by performing the same “trick” on Gus, Jack’s sidekick.
Haig selects Gus from the audience and brings him center stage. Using a watch, he quickly hypnotizes Gus and the audience, convincing them that Gus has a deathly fear of worms. He suggests that worms are crawling out from a cut on Gus’s neck. The audience reacts in horror as they imagine worms erupting from Gus’s skin. With a snap of his fingers, Haig ends the spell – it was all a masterful illusion.
To further prove that June and Lilly deceived the audience, Jack proposes that they review the tape of Lilly’s possession. However, Lilly insists that cameras don’t lie. They will see the truth of what happened.
Shocking Revelation and Supernatural Chaos
As the tape plays back in slow motion, a ghostly face flashes on the screen – Jack’s deceased wife Madeleine. The studio plunges into supernatural pandemonium. The lighting rig sparks and explodes. Furniture levitates. The audience screams in terror.
Amidst the mayhem, the TV screens flash with disturbing imagery from Jack’s past – a contract being signed, a toast being raised by mysterious hooded figures, Jack drinking from a chalice.
Lilly, possessed once again, reveals the truth in a demonic voice – Jack is one of them. He made a pact with the Devil, sacrificing Madeleine to become the greatest television star in the world. Haig attempts an impromptu exorcism but his head is violently twisted around, killing him instantly.
June manages to break Lilly from the possession by reciting a prayer in Latin. As the girl regains consciousness, she pleads with June, “We have to tell them… tell everyone the truth.” Jack agrees to let them show the unedited tape of her initial possession.
Madeleine’s Curse
The scene shifts to a flashback of Madeleine on her deathbed. She confronts Jack about the Satanic pact he made, lamenting that she never thought he would let her die as part of the deal.
“Your soul belonged to them. Still does,” Madeleine rasps. “It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way,” Jack sobs. “You’re on your own now, Jack,” Madeleine says coldly. “Then, please… do this one last thing for me. The pain… you know what to do,” she begs.
In a final act of mercy and damnation, Jack suffocates Madeleine with a pillow. The flashback ends.
The Final Revelation
As the unedited tape of Lilly’s possession plays, the audience watches in horror as the demon “Mr. Wriggles” addresses Jack directly:
“How could you let it happen, Jack? How could you let it happen?”
The demon taunts Jack about Madeleine’s death, the sacrifice he made for fame.
Jack’s Final Act
Realizing the depths of his sins and unable to bear the guilt any longer, Jack grabs the nearest sharp object – a prop dagger. As June and Lilly flee the cursed studio, Jack plunges the blade deep into his own chest. With his dying breaths, he renounces the Devil and his own ambition:
“It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way,” Jack gasps, echoing his words to Madeleine. “Dreamer, here. Awake.”
Jack Delroy, the once beloved king of late night, takes his final bow, lying in a pool of his own blood as the cameras roll, fallen victim to his own Faustian bargain.
The film ends on a haunting note as the show’s theme song plays, now an elegy to Jack’s doomed American Dream:
♪ Write another song for the money
Something they can sing, not so funny
Money in the bank to keep us warm… ♪
Roll credits.
Ivelina Dimitrova is a seasoned journalist with extensive experience spanning various facets of the media industry. Over the years, she has worked in numerous newspapers and magazines, contributing thoughtful articles that reflect her deep understanding of various topics. Ivelina’s journalism career also extends to radio and regional television stations, where her articulate and compelling narratives have reached a broader audience. Her commitment to truth, accuracy, and storytelling has earned her a respectable place in the industry, and she continues to dedicate her craft to enlightening and engaging her readers and listeners.