Bad Things Happen For A Reason|Jan. 13, 2010|United States|80 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Horror;Mystery;Thriller
Description: The 2010 film “Devil” begins with a childhood story narrated by an unseen man, recalling his mother’s explanation of The Devil’s presence on Earth. The story unfolds with a man leaping to his death from a skyscraper, leaving a suicide note warning of the Devil’s impending arrival. Soon after, an elevator in the same building becomes trapped with five individuals inside: a temporary security guard, a mechanic and former soldier, a mattress salesman, a young woman, and an elderly woman. Despite a repairman’s efforts, the elevator remains stuck, and he nearly loses his life in the process.
Inside the elevator, the lights flicker and periodically go out completely. During one of these blackouts, security guard Ramirez sees a sinister face on the security monitor, which he believes to be the Devil, though his partner Lustig remains skeptical. Meanwhile, the young woman feels something on her back, leading the group to suspect the mattress salesman. When the lights return, the woman has a bite mark on her back, and the salesman’s hands are covered in blood. Detective Bowden, who was investigating the earlier suicide, is called to the scene.
Another blackout occurs, and the elevator’s mirrors shatter. When the lights return, the mattress salesman is found dead, his jugular vein pierced by a shard of broken mirror, turning the situation into a crime scene. Outside, security guards, the repair technician, and the fire department attempt to intervene but are unsuccessful. The passengers grow increasingly suspicious of one another, while the security guards monitor them through the camera, communicating one-way via the speaker. As tensions rise, the repair technician’s rappelling device fails, resulting in his fatal fall.
Ramirez tries to convince the detectives that this incident could be “The Devil’s Meeting,” but they remain unconvinced. An unidentified woman attempts to enter the building unsuccessfully and eventually moves to the back entrance. Using the sign-in sheet and elevator camera, Bowden and his partner identify the trapped individuals. The temporary guard is revealed to be Ben Larson, who has a history of assault. The mattress salesman is identified as Vince McCormick, known for his involvement in a Ponzi scheme that caused financial ruin for many.
Cast director: John Erick Dowdle
Cast actor: Chris Messina, Bojana Novaković, Logan Marshall-Green, Jacob Vargas, Bokeem Woodbine, Matt Craven, Caroline Dhavernas, Joshua Peace, Zoie Palmer, Joe Cobden
Original name: Devil