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Plot Details for M. Night Shyamalan's Devil Finally Uncovered

by Alex Billington
October 17, 2009
Source: SlashFilm

If you want to stay completely fresh on this project, then you should stop reading. But if you want to know just a little bit more about what happens in this, not enough to ruin the experience, but enough to get you interested, then keep on reading. Most of what is said will be revealed in the first trailer anyway, so it's not that big of a deal. Earlier this week it was announced that Chris Messina would star in Devil, an M. Night Shyamalan produced project and the first film in his Night Chronicles series. John Erick and Drew Dowdle (of The Poughkeepsie Tapes) are directing from a script written by Brian Nelson. Read on to find out!

Following that casting, Brendon from SlashFilm went on a quest to find out more details about the project. He first discovered this short logline: "A group of people are trapped in an elevator, and one of them is the devil." From the mind of M. Night Shyamalan, that's enough to get me excited, but he also uncovered a bit more (since the script is apparently floating around). "Devil is basically a supernatural thriller set inside of an office building. There are some people stuck in an elevator, and one of them is not who they say they are [the devil]." Definitely sounds like a very cool concept and I'm even more excited for it knowing this.

I hope this isn't made using only footage from security tapes (in the office building) and that's it. Following Paranormal Activity, I have a feeling that's what they could do, to ramp up the thrills. "There is also a security guard and a policeman. The security guard is trying to convince the policeman to get them out of the elevator. He is also trying to convince the policeman that he is the chosen one to save the people." I'm liking this the more I hear, but I think that's the perfect place to stop. Ideally, I'd love to just see this at a festival only knowing that much, but I'm sure Universal is going to build up a big marketing campaign for it.

Filed under Indies, Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

jake the snake

spoiler warning: the devil and god are both in the elevator and every person in the elevator is there for a specific reason. whole movie in an elevator? lol sweet.
giraffic

^-- sounds REALLY interesting! I'm excited. I think I'm one of the few that still likes Shyamalan.
Quicksilver

Why are they still letting this idiot make films? I mean really? At what point do you just say, "No, I don't want to waste my money on another movie for you to flop." This guy is the most overrated one-hit-wonder director/writers in Hollywood today, period.
heN.rY.

Finally, something worth keeping an eye out. The last few movies he's done made me waste my time and money. I will be honest, I loved The Six Sense and Signs, but the rest ? Hm, i had to sit through it and yawn . PLEEEASE let this one count !
ImaginaryVisionary

I like that Shymalan is stepping out from behind the camera and letting someone else direct his films, because he is one heck of a story teller....unfortunately he's a horrible director. So letting someone else take the reigns is a smart move on his part, because he's one more bad movie away from falling into Indie obscurity. I don't know much about Dowdle and Ewick aside from Quarantine, which I loved. I'm a big fan of Zombie-esque movies and I thought Quarantine was one of the creepiest Zombie movies I've ever seen. As much as I'd like to see this movie shot in regular fashion, I'm sure its going to be a handcam type film like Quarantine. I just don't see any other way to do it and be able to keep the intensity. The only other movie I can think of that involves a plot in as small of an enclosed space was Colin Farrels Phonebooth and while that movie did the best with what it had, it's hard to keep a film going when the scenery never changes.
Sabes

I'm really interested in this now.
Eli

@3, 6 I can't understand how people say he's such a bad director, consider The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs (many also say The Village was brilliant).
twispious

I don't think his films were that frustrating to watch,besides The Happening of course which was horribly shot and had one crap story running for it. But his earlier work,the guy knows how to build atmosphere and to use simple,quiet imagery to instill the emotions his film rely on.The Village,discounting the stupid twist ending,had some powerful mythology to it and all the footage shot at night was wonderful.
Robbie

Shyamalan isn't a bad director at all! I love his work. He does something that many other people can't: creating ORIGINAL plots and plottwists.
JimD

How does the devil get trapped in an elevator?
DD

Wow this is another fail for sure. Anything this mofo touches turns into curry induced diarrhea.
Cineprog

Sound's like Phonebooth in A Elevator to me.
Robbie

#12: then you don't know what's Phonebooth about.
Tra la la la la di da

Well the viewpoint could be like Phonebooth. They could film it like that mixed with "security" footage. Still, it's M. Night and he has more misses than hits. I have faith after The Happening but it was casting that made that movie so we'll see. The premise was garbage and the idiocy of using the wind. Plants doing that, sure, but the wind doesn't blow 'cause the plants say so and using it like it did changed the natural premise to cheesy supernatural.
Rabican

What a twist.
jfc3po

Sounds like a movie called Blackout with Amber Tamblyn. Except in Blackout, there was a serial killer in the elevator. Not a bad movie at all.
loci

Think of the sulphur farts!
Madnezz344

this guys movies suck balls
Robbie

I trust him. I can't wait for The Last Airbender!
Dave Lister, JMC

Anyone who says The Village was brilliant is obviously jerking your chain.
snickers

Shyamalan is a schmuck. They better not put his name at the top of the film's poster.
http://www.myspace.com/brianriccireviewsmovies Brian Ricci

hahaha @ # 10
LuckyLoser

shymalan! here comes your two-hit wonder!
Raja

Either going to be epic or epic fail.
Robbie

The Village was not bad. Throughout the film nothing much happened, but the ending was great.
Hater

Unbreakable was incredible!
Ostilad

Shymalan will have a good idea but usually fails to execute it. I actually preferred "The Others" with Nicole Kidman to "The Sixtxh Sense". I think he's movies need someone with a more wild imagination than him to direct. I liked the "The Happening" idea. This movie fan is not excited at all.
smitty

Worst. Movie. Ever.
Robbie

How can you say that? Have you seen it? No, so shut up.
http://www.wtf.com Rod Tidwell

I don't know how anyone can determine if this movie is any good based on that simple ass description. Big freaking deal. Let's wait til the first trailer to judge this. The difference however, this time around is going to be that Shyamalan can't f8ck it up, it's out of his hands.
Robbie

#30: I agree with you on your first two sentences. The third one, however, is profiling, and I hate that.
RATAN

amazing twist. it`s going to be a great hit.
jam13

i am facinated with this man and his childhood years around the age of 10 through to about 12 i w2atched a doco done by nathenyal khaan i think his name was very intreging
Chaz

Stop me if you've heard this one: A priest, a rabbi and the devil walk onto an elevator...
JESSE

First of, 6 Sense was great, Signs I did enjoy.... the rest had GREAT potential... Problem with his movies is that they have a great plot, great build up, usually great actors....but either the ending (or money shot) is given to quick and the rest of the movie is not needed or the movie itself seems like it was re-written and kills the flow of the rest of the movie.... Hopefully this one will be good. I like the premise so far.... TO BE CONTINUED.
queen say

Watching a shyamalan film is an experience. Many disliked "the village" because they were expecting a sixth sense-ish thriller, its not. all it is is a story about a sick and twisted village's way of life. It didnt outdo the 6th sense but it sure is entertaining. m night is on top of his game in the airbenders..unbelievable imagery leaves you gasping. Im excited about this coming elevator movie. good times!
Dog

Well everyone should have seen it by now and it is not a bad movie by anyone's standards I believe. It is a strange time we live in where everyone has a voice while judging anyones artistic endevours. When the online media allows for taxi drivers, accountants and hair dressers to be slagged to the same extent as others we will have finally have found equality....and what a wonderful world that would be!