The Devil All the Time is a haunting, slow-burning Southern Gothic crime drama directed by Antonio Campos and based on Donald Ray Pollock’s 2011 novel of the same name. The film dives deep into the corruption of faith, the cycle of violence, and the darkness lurking beneath postwar American life. Set across two decades in Ohio and West Virginia, it paints a grim tapestry of damaged souls and moral decay.
Detailed Summary
Setting the Stage: A Town Full of Sinners
The story unfolds in Knockemstiff, Ohio, and Coal Creek, West Virginia, after World War II. The narrator (voiced by Donald Ray Pollock himself) introduces us to a cast of morally conflicted characters—each wrestling with their own demons, faith, and violence. The film is built as an interwoven tale of several lives spiraling around sin and retribution.
Willard Russell’s Faith and Descent
Willard Russell (Bill Skarsgård) returns from war traumatized by what he’s seen. He marries Charlotte (Haley Bennett) and raises a son, Arvin. Willard is devout—borderline fanatical—and believes in praying hard enough to change fate. When Charlotte falls ill with cancer, his faith turns dark. He sacrifices Arvin’s dog as an offering to God in a desperate act of devotion—an early sign of how religion twists into violence in this world.
After Charlotte dies despite his prayers, Willard takes his own life, leaving young Arvin (later played by Tom Holland) orphaned.
Arvin’s Childhood and the Seeds of Violence
Arvin is raised by his grandmother, Emma, alongside his stepsister Lenora (Eliza Scanlen). He grows up witnessing cruelty masked as piety—particularly from men claiming divine authority. Arvin develops a moral code rooted in vengeance and protection, especially for those who can’t defend themselves.
The False Prophets
Two preachers dominate the film’s middle portion. First, Roy Laferty (Harry Melling), a charismatic but unhinged revival preacher, believes he can resurrect the dead. After killing his wife to test his faith, he flees, only to be later murdered by a sinister couple, Carl and Sandy Henderson (Jason Clarke and Riley Keough). The Hendersons are traveling serial killers who photograph their victims before murdering them, a grotesque twist on religious “judgment.”
Later, a new preacher, Reverend Preston Teagardin (Robert Pattinson), arrives in town. A manipulative predator, he seduces and abuses young girls in his congregation—including Lenora. When Lenora becomes pregnant and Teagardin denies responsibility, she takes her own life out of despair.
Arvin’s Path of Retribution
Arvin discovers what happened and decides to take justice into his own hands. In a tense confrontation, he kills Teagardin in cold blood—a brutal but cathartic act that cements Arvin as both sinner and savior in a world where moral boundaries have evaporated.
From there, Arvin becomes a fugitive, his father’s gun in hand, haunted by the same violence he once feared.
The Corruption of Power
Meanwhile, Sandy’s brother, Sheriff Lee Bodecker (Sebastian Stan), struggles to maintain control of his corrupt little empire. He’s up for re-election and desperate to keep his crimes hidden—crimes tied to his sister and her murderous husband.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Arvin crosses paths with Carl and Sandy. Carl tries to kill him during a staged hitchhiker “photo shoot,” but Arvin shoots him first. Sandy hesitates, conflicted, before Arvin kills her in self-defense.
The news reaches Sheriff Bodecker, who tracks Arvin into the woods, seeking vengeance for his sister’s death. A bloody shootout follows. Arvin kills Bodecker, burying his father’s gun beside him—symbolically ending the cycle of violence that began with Willard’s warped faith.
Exhausted and emotionally drained, Arvin hitches a ride with a passing driver, contemplating his uncertain future. As he closes his eyes, he imagines finding peace—or perhaps facing judgment—finally at rest after a lifetime of inherited sin.
The film closes without moral resolution, leaving the viewer unsettled but reflective: in a world full of devils, maybe the only good man is one who knows he isn’t.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, The Devil All the Time has no post-credits scenes. The film ends definitively with Arvin’s ambiguous departure, symbolizing the continuation—or possible end—of generational violence.
Type of Movie
This is a psychological crime drama and Southern Gothic thriller. It blends elements of noir, religious horror, and tragic family saga.
Cast
- Tom Holland as Arvin Russell
- Bill Skarsgård as Willard Russell
- Robert Pattinson as Reverend Preston Teagardin
- Riley Keough as Sandy Henderson
- Jason Clarke as Carl Henderson
- Sebastian Stan as Sheriff Lee Bodecker
- Eliza Scanlen as Lenora Laferty
- Haley Bennett as Charlotte Russell
- Harry Melling as Roy Laferty
- Donald Ray Pollock as the Narrator
Film Music and Composer
The score is composed by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, known for their dark, brooding soundscapes. The soundtrack also includes period-appropriate country and gospel music, enhancing the rural Americana aesthetic and religious undertones.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed primarily in Alabama, specifically around Anniston, Birmingham, and Montevallo, though the story is set in Ohio and West Virginia. The Southern landscape—with its dense forests, decaying churches, and isolated towns—serves as a visual metaphor for spiritual corruption and moral decay.
Awards and Nominations
While the film didn’t win major awards, it received strong praise for performances, particularly from Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson. Critics lauded the ensemble cast and cinematography, though the movie was divisive due to its bleak tone.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Robert Pattinson refused to use a dialect coach and developed his high-pitched Southern accent on his own, surprising the director on set.
- Tom Holland called the film “the darkest thing I’ve ever done,” and admitted the role left him emotionally drained.
- The narrator, Donald Ray Pollock, is the author of the original novel—a rare choice that gives the narration an authentic literary tone.
- Director Antonio Campos spent years developing the film, aiming to stay true to the book’s non-linear, multi-character storytelling.
Inspirations and References
The film is directly based on Donald Ray Pollock’s novel, which itself draws inspiration from real-life Appalachian stories, religious extremism, and postwar American disillusionment. The narrative style echoes works like Flannery O’Connor and Cormac McCarthy, mixing faith and brutality with poetic fatalism.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No official alternate ending was released, but some deleted scenes explored more of the Hendersons’ crimes and Lenora’s inner turmoil before her death. These were cut to maintain pacing and focus on Arvin’s emotional arc.
Book Adaptations and Differences
While the film stays loyal to the book’s tone and key events, it condenses several subplots and character backstories. The novel provides deeper insight into the characters’ motivations—especially Willard’s mental unraveling and the Hendersons’ perverse relationship. The movie trims these for a more cinematic rhythm but keeps the moral complexity intact.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Willard’s desperate prayer ritual with the dog sacrifice.
- Reverend Teagardin’s chilling sermon and seduction of Lenora.
- Arvin’s confrontation with Teagardin in the church—tense, cold, and final.
- The roadside shootout between Arvin and Carl and Sandy.
- The quiet ending in the truck, symbolizing Arvin’s uncertain redemption.
Iconic Quotes
- Narrator (Donald Ray Pollock): “Some people were born just so they could be buried.”
- Reverend Teagardin: “Delusions! They can be as dangerous as a loaded gun.”
- Arvin: “I guess I got no choice but to fight the devil all the time.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Arvin’s father’s gun is the same one he uses in his final showdown—symbolizing the inherited violence that defines him.
- The diner scenes feature small details from the 1950s, including posters of real gospel singers of the era.
- The narrator’s omniscient presence serves as both storyteller and moral judge, mirroring the tone of the novel’s prose.
Trivia
- Robert Pattinson’s preacher costume was partially his idea—he wanted bright, flashy suits to mask the character’s hypocrisy.
- The film’s title comes from a quote in the book, describing Arvin’s lifelong battle against evil.
- Netflix financed the movie after several studios turned it down for being “too dark.”
Why Watch?
Watch The Devil All the Time if you’re drawn to morally complex stories, stellar acting, and atmospheric tension. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s a gripping exploration of faith, guilt, and generational sin—anchored by Tom Holland’s best dramatic performance to date.
Director’s Other Movies
- Christine (2016)
- Simon Killer (2012)
- Afterschool (2008)
Recommended Films for Fans
- There Will Be Blood (2007)
- No Country for Old Men (2007)
- The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
- Winter’s Bone (2010)
- In the Valley of Elah (2007)
