10 Best Horror Movie Performances Of 2024 So Far
3. David Dastmalchian - Late Night With The Devil
Written and directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes, Late Night with the Devil received critical acclaim when it premiered at South by Southwest before arriving on Shudder earlier this year. A smart play on the found footage genre, this Aussie flick is presented as being the master tapes of a Halloween special from a fictitious late-night talk show.
With the show on the verge of cancellation, smooth-talking host Jack Delroy does everything in his power to keep it on the air. This includes interviewing a young girl supposedly possessed by a demon, with events taking a sinister turn from there.
Complete with a retro '70s feel, this indie gem embraces its period setting, mixing in some humour and creatively grotesque imagery along the way. Another part of what makes this film so engrossingly entertaining is David Dastmalchian's performance as host Jack Delroy.
Whenever Delroy is in front of the TV cameras, Dastmalchian exudes charm and charisma, making him instantly likeable. Off camera, though, there's a more sympathetic side to the character connected to his tragic past. Dalstmalchian executes both sides of Delroy flawlessly, with the result being a protagonist who's hiding some dark secrets underneath their showbiz smile.