Two British heartthrobs in one movie together?
Gianna Gammello, Freshman
Movie cast: Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgard, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, Sebastian Stan, Haley Bennet, Eliza Scanlen, Harry Melling
Director: Antonio Campos
Producers: Jake Gyllenhaal, Randall Poster
Story by: Donald Ray Pollock
The fact that quite a few actors and actresses in this cast have a British accent yet they had to portray a southern accent for this movie is quite comical and it was interesting to see how they pulled it off.
The movie is about 140 minutes long, and because everyone is watching the movie at home rather than the theater, snack and bathroom breaks are not a problem for the film. You may even pause it to contemplate what just took place in the film as well, so the watching time may vary.
One thing that turned a few people away from the movie was the unusual and unsettling treatment of female characters in the film. Some believe that this was a needed part in the film, to show how the characters were as people. The film itself is rated R, for listed reasons. Though watching the film with someone and skipping through the not so good scenes makes it more TV 14.
The film takes off in 1957 with Donald Ray Pollock narrating. Pollock's mellow, worn voice gives a warming feel to the film, and gives the film an old western like feel. The movie is quite disturbing in a way, but the unsettledness is essential to the objective of the film. Bill Skarsgård as William Russel is the son of an extremely religious mother. His mother is not overbearing or really strict, just says to “talk to the lord about it dear, he’ll guide ya”, which isn’t bad in the slightest. Skarsgård’s role of Pennywise in the It movies without a doubt shows in the eerie, troubled character he pursues. William’s faith in the Lord is like any other adolescent male who believes in God which is, “having faith in Him, but going to church on an early Sunday morning isn’t something he’s really looking forward to”. His faith in ‘God’ progresses over the course of the film. The slippery slope of the movie which may be a little hard to understand while watching the film for those who do not partake in religious beliefs or Christianity in particular, is the characters that partake in obvious satanic like practices, thinking it is what “the Lord wants”. Certain characters abuse their power by excusing their vicious acts by manipulating other characters with the disgusting verse “it’s what the Lord wants”.
Williams' mother wants him to marry and start a family with former parishioner Helen Hatton out of pity due to what happened to her family. Though that’s what neither of them want, but maybe their lives would’ve been better off if they followed what his mother wanted.
William soon has a son, Arvin Russel, played by Tom Holland. The character's innocence matches Holland’s most famous character, Peter Parker, commonly known as Spider-Man. Tom's role in the film shows you that this 24 year old former dancer from England can really act! Though his character shows his innocence, his character is not the equivalent to his teenage boy character Spider-Man.
The character William raises his son with the same faith as he, and together they pray at the wooden cross in the woods that is a family tradition.
A sudden tragedy comes to Arvin’s mother and William’s son has to watch his father go insane, sacrificing animals, yelling and ‘praying’ nonstop, all to help his mother. This isn’t the only disturbing activity in the film. Not at all.
Robert Pattinson portrays a corrupt preacher, not making very good first impressions with Arvin and his family. Let’s just say this character that he portrays is much different than the virtuous old school vampire we all fell in love with in Twilight.
Robert's performance in the film may leave you a little uncomfortable, and view him differently, but not to worry, as seeing him as Bruce Wayne in Batman will restore your love for him. His acting in this film is shocking, as for no film appearances in a while, and for refusing a dialect coach for the film, this performance was impressive.
You may need to research some things after the movie, to fully understand everything that took place. The movie very much gives light to its title “The Devil All the Time”. Don’t let the vile acts of the characters paint the picture of believers in God. Though that is all a part of the plot. The characters have devoted their lives to church, prayer, and God, or, so they think. But what if what they think that “what the Lord would want” is what someone else would want? Maybe someone who’s the opposite of what we perceive God to be.
Comments