The Devil’s Left Hand (2023) Film Review
When it comes to indie horror, it’s very common that producers and directors trespass on boundaries that should never be crossed. The limitations should be an essential part of your idea, and your concept should be built out of what you can do, budget-wise, for telling a story on a genre that’s often disregarded by most. It’s something that becomes pretty clear early on in Harvey Wallen‘s The Devil’s Left Hand.
Wallen knows exactly who his film is made for. He doesn’t want to impress anybody with The Devil’s Left Hand, and he could almost be accused of restraining himself in a genre where the lack of rules often makes every thing better. Fortunately, being self-aware of his capacity makes his film more digestible. He always stays in control of a story that will work for some, and for others it will seem too simple. As for me, I simply wanted to have fun with a horror movie, and that’s what I got. You guys know what I will say next.
In The Devil’s Left Hand, a group of friends gather to participate on a seance during a housewarming party. Yeah, for fun! As if people haven’t died/been spooked to death/possessed in the past with these. Regardless, things take a wrong turn when a physical manifestation seems to be too much for the group. They’ve made contact and it’s too late.
Richie becomes affected by the event. A very traumatic past is enough to make him start seeing things after suspecting his dead father may have come back to haunt him. His mother lies in bed in a mental institution and she also suffers from the trauma. They will have to seek help from the medium that started it all to fight a demon whose ability ranges from shape-shifting to physically harm everyone in its path.
Trauma is always big selling point for horror movies because it allows for some drama to be part of the plot. It’s no longer about jump scares and horror tropes being excessively used to make a point in horror. Wallen doesn’t go for a cheap plot move. He prefers to dig into Richie’s story to center the film around the power of his inner demon and how they’re able to cross some boundaries if the guy’s weak enough. The supporting characters surrounding him are an emotional compendium that will allow to reach what he’s aiming for. In a third act that goes by in a few minutes, the power of the demon is made clear, and The Devil’s Left Hand becomes a full-blown horror movie.
The film isn’t perfect. You will ask questions about some plot devices (the safe in the kitchen?), and some characters are… not necessary. But this doesn’t affect the experience. Wallen’s display of horror knowledge is used to his advantage to make an indie horror that could work as a presentation of his skills. As a horror film, it feels incomplete. But as an approach to a horror subgenre, it’s pretty promising.
And if you don’t know what I meant before by “you guys know what I will say next”, here it goes: Sometimes it’s all about having fun, and Wallen’s indie approach of a possession film was good enough for that.
