Director – Chris von Hoffmann (Drifter, Monster Party)
Starring – Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill, Pitch Black), Timothy Granaderos (13 Reasons Why, Room 104), and Emile Hirsch (The Darkest Hour, The Autopsy of Jane Doe)
Release Date – 2022
Rating – 3/5
I’m a sucker for titles and artwork but I’m the first to tell you not to judge a book by it’s cover. I love how certain titles and artwork sends your imagination into over time as it races through all the possibilities that could be before us when we hit play. A few weeks ago, I received the press release for the horror film Devil’s Workshop.
The title didn’t do much for me but all the attached artworks for the film really intrigued me. I was also curious when I saw Emile Hirsch attached. I fucking loved the Autopsy of Jane Doe so I was looking forward to checking this one out.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows an aspiring actor who is cast in a film about demonology and exorcisms. He turns to the internet to do some research on his role where he places an ad looking for a demonologist. He soon receives a call from one and she invites him to her rural home. She was a former host of a paranormal show and now lives a reclusive life. The two begin talking about demonology but soon he realizes that there is something more going on than a quick learning experience. **Spoiler Alert**
The artwork and title for Devil’s Workshop made me think that I was going to be visiting a film with a dark occult aspect and Satanic imagery. I have a soft spot for films centered around cults and paganism, but Devil’s Workshop was not that kind of film at all. Don’t get me wrong because I actually liked the film to some extent, but it didn’t feel like a horror flick. In fact, it felt like a spiritual drama with some horror elements scattered throughout.
The acting in this one is decent but the generic characters didn’t give the cast much room to work with. Hirsch stars as another aspiring actor who has made a small name for himself and has let the little bit of success go to his head. He wasn’t a big part of the story and his part could easily be cut from the film with little to no impact on the story. It’s clear his part was added last minute or filmed after production when he agreed to the film. With that being said, Radha Mitchell and Timothy Granaderos were great. Most of the film, possibly about 80 percent or more, focuses on these two and their interactions in the home. They work very well together, and their scenes felt natural.
The story for this one is about discovery in a sense with a heavy spiritual theme. The film makes you think that it’s going to be dark and foreboding, but the film is anything but that. The dialogue heavy scenes and lack of anything horrifying makes it feel like a thriller with no atmosphere. Some attention to lighting, establishing atmosphere, and giving the characters a legitimate threat would have made this one so much better. It’s still decent for what it is but it’s forgettable and unimaginative.
Finally, don’t expect a bloodbath or a film with memorable deaths. In fact, don’t expect a film with that many thrillers aside from some lazy jump scares that doesn’t work. Overall, Devil’s Workshop wasn’t a bad film. In fact, I actually liked it but there was a huge missed opportunity here. The movie is not what you would expect and could use a horror make-over. It’s worth a watch but don’t expect something that will stick with you for days after viewing.
