Netflix has been consistently delivering films with impressive casts. Whether audiences enjoy those movies or not is another matter entirely, but having well-known actors certainly encourages people to give a film a try, even one as lengthy as *The Devil All the Time*, which runs close to two and a half hours. This was my first experience with an Antonio Campos film, and I had moderate expectations based on the synopsis and genre. I wasn’t entirely sure what the movie was about because the description didn't really explain the central story. I wait to watch the official trailer until *after* seeing a film so that I can write my reviews properly, and honestly, it’s misleading regarding how much screen time certain actors get—Holland doesn’t appear until forty-five minutes in, for example. For the first hour and a half, I struggled to understand where the narrative was headed. There are many characters and storylines, which became my main issue with the film. The cast is exceptional, as you'd expect. Tom Holland provides a surprising performance, showcasing a side of himself we haven’t seen before. Arvin’s personality develops from his traumatic and violent childhood. It’s not easy to transition from playing the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to such a troubled character, but Holland manages to navigate this emotionally difficult and dark journey. However, it's a long film where every character has an important role, even those who seem insignificant until near the end. Bill Skarsgård portrays Holland’s father, convincingly embodying a man whose unwavering faith in religion sets off a terrible chain of events and establishes the film’s overall theme. Riley Keough and Jason Clarke play a peculiar couple with a disturbing approach, but Keough is particularly impressive; she seems to be choosing unique roles in unconventional films. Everyone else performs well—Robert Pattinson, Eliza Scanlen, Sebastian Stan, among others—but Holland, Skarsgård, and Keough were my standouts, along with their characters. They are the most fully developed throughout the film, which leads me to one of my criticisms. With so many different characters, maintaining a consistent balance between storylines proves challenging, preventing me from staying engaged for the entire runtime. Antonio and Paulo Campos give each character substantial screen time, allowing viewers to understand their motivations and connect with their stories—a great storytelling technique. However, by the film’s end, some characters have very little impact on the narrative overall. In contrast to my standouts, a few characters feel underdeveloped, serving primarily as plot devices or targets for gratuitous violence. That last aspect might be off-putting for many viewers. There are numerous scenes depicting characters being brutally shot or beaten close to death, so I offer that warning. It can quickly shift from entertaining to excessively graphic. What I appreciated most about *The Devil All the Time*, and what some viewers will likely dislike, is its exploration of religion. Like Darren Aronofsky’s *mother!*, this film doesn't shy away from showing how blind faith in religious extremism can lead down dark, somber, sinful paths. It's a central theme that connects all the storylines. Throughout the movie, nearly every character’s decisions are influenced by their religious beliefs. If they believe prayer is the cure for cancer, they will pray relentlessly and make sacrifices. If they think God is granting them supernatural abilities, they’ll do everything to test his will. If they believe God instructs them to make illogical choices or perform inhumane acts, they'll do so without hesitation. This depiction of religious manipulation feels very realistic, making *The Devil All the Time* a difficult film to watch. For me, it felt so authentic that I could easily relate it to events in the real world. Once I recognized this underlying theme, the second half of the movie became much more engaging. Character arcs begin to merge, earlier questions start receiving answers, and everything comes together during the final thirty to forty-five minutes. Nevertheless, the runtime still feels too long, and while Antonio and Paulo Campos do a commendable job connecting the various storylines, some simply don’t add anything to the narrative or Arvin's journey. Technically, the film is impressive across the board, with notable contributions from Lol Crawley’s cinematography and the beautiful score by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans. *The Devil All the Time* is likely to be a divisive film. Antonio Campos and Paulo Campos created a somber, dark, extremely violent screenplay filled with numerous storylines and a theme that will undoubtedly spark debate. With such a strong cast, it’s hard not to have outstanding performances. Everyone is excellent, but Tom Holland (my absolute standout), Riley Keough, and Bill Skarsgård deserve special recognition for their genuinely impressive work. However, the large number of characters and their storylines unnecessarily extend the runtime. Too much time is given to characters who ultimately have little impact on the narrative or the protagonist’s arc; some are used merely as plot devices or victims in violent scenes. Nevertheless, the film's focus on religion is bold and daring, illustrating how blind faith can negatively affect people's lives, leading them down painful paths. Depending on your views on religion, your openness of mind, and your tolerance for graphic violence, this film may not be for everyone. But if it is, you’re unlikely to forget it. Rating: B+

Source on TMDB