The Devil's Business (2011) Reviews

• Slow burning, intense and creepy gem of hit men and horror

  Bloodwank2011-09-18

  A sure thing in cinema is rarely just that, especially in horror films. This is the case in The Devil's Business, in which veteran hit-man Mr. Pinner and his greenhorn associate Cully wait in the home of a target due to arrive later after attending an opera, Mr. Kist. It seems easy enough, but after the discovery of a devil worship altar in a shed things start to go pretty pear shaped and pretty soon the night is one of terror. I'm not usually drawn to horror films with criminal protagonists as the nature of their work immediately puts them at a remove from my natural sympathies. However writer/director Sean Hogan conducts things with great skill, drawing inspiration from theatre to make things instantly compelling. Pinter's The Dumb Waiter was apparently a source and the characters of Mr. Pinner and Cully come out and grow from their very first exchange of dialogue, on the one hand we have the old master, wise, cautious and with little time for any consideration other than making things go absolutely smoothly, and on the other the young man, the thug in training who tries to talk the talk but constantly reveals his inexperience. Billy Clarke is great as Mr Pinner, sharp, sarcastic and assured while Jack Gordon is equally good as Cully, clumsy, curious and eager he brings a naive likability to a role which in the wrong hands could grate. They share fine chemistry and so as events get out of control an impressive level of pathos emerges along with the suspense, one genuinely hopes these two will get away OK. Rounding things out Jonathan Hansler is suavely sinister as the classy Mr. Kist, while Harry Miller makes for a solid old school boss. The film makes good use of shadow and darkness, with good use of eerie blue twilight as well as rich red, and calm and controlled camera lets the actors and dialogue shine whilst milking the uneasy setting, a highlight scene involving Mr. Pinner recounting a scary story as the camera moves slowly on his increasingly strained face, much like watching an intense monologue from the front row of a theatre. Some may find the dialogue a bit overwritten but I really appreciated it, I thought it great to see a film where the writing is so integral. Towards the end things do get a little out of control with traditional grue and madness that doesn't sit so well with what has gone before but on the other hand its still pretty unnerving and it does bring a certain needed release, without sacrificing too much power. Basically I thought this was pretty excellent, highly recommended if you can dig horror with a slow burning fuse and lots of talk.

• Great effort!

  perkin20002012-09-18

  Two hit men arrive at a house under instruction to kill the guy who lives there. They sit around talking waiting for him to get home, one of 'em goes for a Pooh just as he gets back. Timing, eh? The cast, all four of them, are very good, especially Billy Clarke as Pinner, the elder, experienced hit-man. His unblinking 10 minute monologue is flipping ace, a great, weighty centrepoint of the film. The majority of the runtime is the verbal exchange between the two hit men, there is gore and jump scares but they're not over used and the script will hold your attention as it creates a nice creeping tension. The only weak point is the very end of the film, without giving anything away, it gets, we thought, a little silly. It's a let-down, but a forgivable one as the hour leading up to it was so enjoyable and well made. Well worth a purchase/rental!

• Mr Pinner?......

  FlashCallahan2012-09-28

  Even though it's just over an hour long, this movie is very taut and tense for the majority of it's duration. Two hit men, on a new boy and one a veteran, are waiting for the eponymous Kist, who for some reason needs to be killed. He is at the opera and should be home after midnight. after a few exchanges, the hit men check the area, and find some very disturbing things in the garage, that could indicate some kind of devil worship is going on. After they find the body of a child, they realise all is not well. Kist arrives home and is killed. On their way out of the house, one realises that he has left his watch, on entering the house, Kists body has gone... Yes, the movie is so much like Kill List, that you know that something will change the whole of narrative and the genre before the final act, but, considering the lack of sets and the tight budget, it's very surreal and atmospheric. This is partly thanks to some use of wonderful lighting, and a fantastic monologue by Pinner about Eddie, and his cheating wife. The trouble is that the film gets a little too bonkers for it's own good come the end. I would accept the fact that Kist could be resurrected due to Paganism, but did you really have to go all 'Don't Look Now' at the end. Fans of kill list should see this, for the most part, it's excellent.

• Unjustly underrated

  jessicafischerqueen2014-07-31

  This film benefits by taking the time to develop an interesting dynamic between the two lead characters. The "old pro" vs the "rookie" is a shopworn premise, but it's carried off with good humour and even pathos here. We definitely care what might happen to both of them. Because the movie takes its time on character development, the surprising finale has all the more impact. I say "surprising" even though the film's title is somewhat of a spoiler, because the screenplay and narrative remains firmly in a realistic mode until the closing segment. The demonic character appears at the end and reveals that he was always in control of the situation, and in a most horrific manner. The actor portraying a man in league with the Devil employs an understated style that only adds to his menace. This film is the opposite of the all too-often comic bookish treatment of this familiar cautionary tale, and it stands out from the pack because of it. The subdued deep blue lighting, both inside and outdoors, lends an air of oppressive claustrophobia and impending doom. This film is a fine example of how a good idea, good screenplay, and good acting can turn a very low budget affair into a gem. Independent horror at its best.

• Good suspenseful horror

  MoviesReviews1012013-05-12

  Story: Two hit men the experienced Pinner (Clarke) and rookie Cully (Gordon) are sent by their boss Bruno (Miller) to take care of Kist (Hansler). The night starts routine but soon takes a turn as they find out that Kist is involved in the occult, can the men complete the job? Verdict Horror: very well played out suspenseful horror leaving almost everything off camera. (9/10) Thriller: You know the job and the twist keeps you on the edge of your seat through out. (9/10) Sound: good off screen sound effects leaving everything in your own mind (8/10) Settings: Basic creepy house, with large over grown garden works great for the genre (9/10) Suggestion: I would suggest watching this its short and sweet (9/10) Best Part: When Pinner is telling Cully a story with a complete emotionless facial expression. Worst Part: Bit short but that works well as it doesn't take the edge of the seat side of the film away. Star Performance Billy Clarke Favourite Character Pinner Similar Too: Kill List Overall: A very effect thriller using very little to create an overall great atmosphere, that both leads carry your attention. The sudden jumps in the story keep you wanting to watch to see what the final outcome will be. A short thriller which can keep you at the edge of your seat without having to using a big name actor or over the top special effects. Rating 84%