Late Night with the Devil (2024): Cults, Conspiracies, and Celebrity Secrets
Late Night with the Devil is a campy horror that cleverly intertwines reality with the supernatural. Join us as we unpack Jack Delroy’s desperate bid for ratings, culminating in a live séance that spirals into chaos. Gabe discusses the film’s bold commentary on media manipulation and our obsession with the occult, drawing parallels to real-life spiritualism. Kat uncovers the mysterious Bohemian Grove, the secretive society that inspired the film’s cult elements, and how its rituals echo in the eerie world of Jack Delroy’s Night Owls.
Sources in this Episode:
Late Night with the Devil Is Inspired by a Real-Life Secret Society — And the Details Are Horrifying
Other Reading:
Media from this week's episode:
Late Night with the Devil (2024)
A live television broadcast in 1977 goes horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation's living rooms.
Directed by Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes
Late Night with the Devil: A Faustian Bargain for Ratings
by gabe castro
RED: Quotes, someone else's words.
Synopsis
Late Night with the Devil is a gripping, campy horror film set in the 1970s that follows a fictional late-night talk show spiraling out of control in a desperate quest for ratings. The story centers on Jack Delroy, the charismatic but struggling host of Night Owls. To save his show from sinking, Jack decides to air a special Halloween episode packed with supernatural guests—a parapsychologist, a medium, and a young woman believed to be possessed by demons.
During the live broadcast, a séance conducted by the mysterious medium Christou triggers real supernatural events, which are at first dismissed as part of the theatrics. But as Lily, the possessed guest, begins exhibiting terrifying behavior, it becomes clear that something truly sinister is happening. Chaos erupts as the demonic presence violently manifests, terrorizing the crew, guests, and viewers, turning the live broadcast into a frantic fight for survival.
The film cleverly explores themes of media manipulation, tapping into the 1970s and 1980s Satanic Panic era, where the media’s obsession with the occult led to mass hysteria. Late Night with the Devil uses the live-TV format to build tension, blending fiction and reality to question the ethics of exploiting fear for entertainment. With an ambiguous ending, the film leaves viewers pondering the consequences of meddling with dark forces and the fine line between entertainment and truth.
Sensational Supernatural
Jack’s decision to air a live séance is a bold move to blur the line between reality and theatrics, stirring up real fear and curiosity in his viewers. The broadcast amps up the drama with perfectly timed scares and shocking twists, designed to keep the audience on edge. As creepy events unfold, Jack and his crew lean into the chaos rather than stopping it, distorting the viewers’ sense of what’s real for the sake of entertainment. The film taps into our fascination with the occult and how media can influence public perception. By making the supernatural seem so real, Late Night with the Devil raises concerns about the power of the media to deceive and thrill us.
The film also echoes real-life spiritualism, which took off in 1848 thanks to the Fox sisters, Kate and Margaret, who claimed they could communicate with the dead through "table rapping"—interpreting knocks from spirits. Their eerie séances drew huge crowds and sparked a movement, leading to spiritualist churches and a fascination with contacting the afterlife. But the hype didn’t last forever—Margaret confessed in 1888 that the whole thing was a hoax, with the "rapping" sounds actually made by cracking their toe joints! Though she later took back the confession, the sisters still ignited a lasting spiritualist craze.
All the characters in Late Night with the Devil feel familiar—take Carmichael the Conjurer, the abrasive skeptic, clearly inspired by James Randi, the famous magician and debunker of paranormal claims. Randi, who once exposed illusionist Uri Geller on The Tonight Show (Uri is one of the people who convinced the CIA he was a psychic for their projects like Stargate) and went after TV mediums, built a career on revealing frauds. Known for his daring escape acts, like Houdini, he founded the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), offering $1 million to anyone who could prove supernatural abilities under scientific conditions. Just like the film’s Carmichael who also offered a lofty sum to anyone who could prove their mysticism beyond a doubt, despite numerous attempts, no one ever claimed the prize. Randi exposed numerous frauds, including television faith healer Peter Popoff, who claimed to receive messages from God but was actually getting information from his wife through an earpiece. His legacy remains a beacon for skeptics and truth-seekers everywhere and inspired many to question extraordinary claims and seek evidence-based explanations."
Late Night with the Devil gives off major Michelle Remembers vibes—remember that discredited 1980 book by psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder about his patient Michelle Smith's supposed satanic abuse? (We touched on it in our Maxxxine episode!) In the film, Dr. June Ross-Mitchell, a parapsychologist with a perfect mix of vulnerability and conviction, is joined by Lilly, the eerily unsettling girl who shifts between dead-eyed and lively. Lilly’s story evokes similar tales sensationalized during the Satanic Panic.
Christou in Late Night with the Devil seems inspired by the many “Man from India” clairvoyants who captivated early 20th-century America. One such figure, Professor Stanley, offered psychic readings for 50 cents, claiming to be the only expert in "Hindoo occult mysteries." Then there was Professor Sidney Elkins, who charged double and promised to solve all your life’s mysteries. Khiron, another “Man from India,” lured clients with flashy newspaper ads. Despite their exotic claims, many of these psychics were eventually exposed as frauds, adding to the air of mystery and skepticism surrounding their practices.
I Ordered Found Footage and All I Got Was this Highly-Produced Film
I love found footage films, so Late Night with the Devil initially had me hooked with its promise of a mysterious master tape and backstage footage that would reveal the truth behind that fateful night. Classic found footage setup, right? But unfortunately, the film’s cinematography falls flat in delivering the raw, immersive scares typical of the sub-genre.
It never feels like we're watching something forbidden or accidentally captured. The only moments that come close are the clips from the documentary about Lilly’s childhood in the cult, Abraxas, which is styled after Satan Wants You. But even that leaves a sour taste with its overly-edited, almost AI-generated imagery. While this mock-doc does nail the absurdity of Satanic Panic documentaries, it doesn’t save the film’s overall "found footage" feel. As the New York Times review, ‘Late Night With the Devil’ Review: Selling Your Soul for the Ratings points out, the footage feels scripted—shot in traditional shot/reverse shot style—making it clear this isn’t the rogue, hand-held camera style that draws you into the chaos of found footage.
Despite this, I still enjoyed the film’s tension and horror, even though I had to accept that it wasn’t really found footage anymore. The gore in the third act is great, and while the exorcism scene was lacking, it was still a fun ride with plenty of twists, especially the theme of "can you believe what you see?"
Then came the final ten minutes, which ruined the whole thing for me. The movie promised to reveal what really happened to Jack Delroy that night, but instead, it veers into a strange dream sequence that explains Jack’s deal with the devil and his downfall. By pulling us out of the already absurd reality and into Jack’s surreal consciousness, the film completely loses its footing. When we come back to reality, Jack has killed Lilly, but we’re robbed of the “truth” promised in the beginning. We never get to know what actually occurred during that night while Jack was in his mind, spiraling and regretting his life - what was happening on camera?
What would’ve saved the film for me is a twist where we discover that Lilly wasn’t possessed but rather Jack was the entire time! That those events we just watched (after learning that the audience couldn’t believe what they saw and that the truth is out there in the footage) could be explained away as Jack having a breakdown, resulting in him murdering all of the people on camera. Ultimately, making him as infamous as he’d dreamed to become. Instead, the film’s ending just leaves us hanging, denying us the real reveal we were promised.
Unveiling the Truth: The Real Bohemian Grove and Satanic Panic Behind Late Night with the Devil
by Kat Kushin
RED: Quotes, someone else's words.
Late Night With the Devil highlights the ethically questionable Day and Night time TV shows where care for those on the show goes out the window for ratings. Delroy was literally willing to do anything to reach fame. In my research, I actually watched the Documentary Satan Wants You (2023) which gives a lot of context for what we see unfold in Late Night with the Devil. Similar to Late Night, Satan Wants You discusses the impacts of late night and day time tv in spreading Satanic Panic. Additionally it displays a highly inappropriate relationship between doctor and patient. The Documentary covers the Michelle Remembers book, and the drama behind it that lit the fire of Satanic Panic. What we also see throughout this documentary is how talk shows like seen in “Late Night with the Devil” furthered Satanic Panic for ratings. The book "Michelle Remembers" is a controversial memoir that gained notoriety in the 1980s. It was co-authored by Michelle Smith and her psychiatrist, Dr. Lawrence Pazder. The book details Michelle's alleged experiences of horrific satanic ritual abuse, including the slaughter of animals and babies. However, the ethical implications of the book's creation and its impact on individuals and society have been widely questioned.
The Satanic Panic and the Rise of False Memories
The documentary Satan Wants You provides a compelling look at the Satanic Panic that swept the United States in the 1980s and 1990s. The documentary covers Michelle Remembers, the book that sparked the panic, and many other victims of alleged Satanic Ritual Abuse. Michelle’s claims, led to lasting consequences both in their own respective families, but as well as society as a whole. Michelle, before meeting with Dr. Pazder had no thoughts of being abused by a Satanic Cult. She had however recently had a miscarriage, and was feeling reasonably depressed about that. She sought Dr. Pazder’s help and expertise. After meeting with him a few times, she claimed to have been subjected to horrific satanic ritual abuse, including the slaughter of animals and babies. Her psychiatrist, Lawrence Pazder, encouraged these claims, exploiting Michelle's vulnerability and using hypnosis to implant false memories. Quickly their relationship became inappropriate.
After some of their early sessions, Pazder’s wife mentions her husband watching the movie Sybil. For those who don’t know Sybil, it’s a TV movie based on the book Sybil by Flora Rheta Schreiber, about a woman with multiple personality disorder. In the film adaptation they show how as a child Sybil experienced extensive abuse at the hands of her mother. Pazder’s wife recalls after watching that film, Pazder told her he wanted to do psychiatry like that, that he wanted to be famous, and that he had a patient that would be a perfect path towards fame, because she was like Sybil. To discredit that immediately, if Sybil was about someone with DID, then her and Michelle were not alike. It seems possible that he could have manipulated Michelle into these experiences for his own gain, through hypnosis and other methods. There are many reasons why I feel this way, which i’ll get into now.
Several factors contributed to the credibility of Michelle's claims:
Religious beliefs: Both Michelle and Pazder were deeply religious, which made their claims more appealing to a religiously conservative audience. A friend of Michelle’s describes her as a Puritan, very religious. Dr. Pazder was devoutly catholic and active in their church, he had also taken missionary trips to Africa (this came up a lot, and he had lots of problematic and racist views against the people he was “helping”). As an additional fun fact, the nuns at the missionary location he traveled to did not like him, claiming he was evil and should leave.
Hypnosis: Pazder used hypnosis to "recover" Michelle's memories, a technique that has been shown to be unreliable and can lead to the creation of false memories.
Media attention: The sensational nature of Michelle's claims led to widespread media coverage, which further fueled the Satanic Panic. She appeared on many day time and night time tv shows promoting the book, speaking on her experiences and Dr. Pazder leading the charge throughout.
Financial gain: Both Michelle and Pazder profited from the book they wrote about Michelle's experiences, which was heavily promoted by the Catholic Church. The Church decided to subsidize the book, seemingly using it as a way to revitalize religious fervor. In recorded conversations they mention that the church thought the book would make them a million dollars. The church was operating as a business, using Michelle’s book as marketing.
However, there were significant flaws in Michelle's claims:
Conflicting evidence: Michelle's family and friends disputed her claims of abuse, providing evidence that contradicted her story. Specifically her knowledge of French. Pazder’s ex wife also found evidence of Michelle being in school during the time she claimed to be in the possession of the Satanic Cult.
Unreliable memories: Hypnosis can lead to the creation of false memories, making it difficult to determine the accuracy of Michelle's claims.
Exploitative relationship: The inappropriate and exploitative relationship between Michelle and Pazder raised concerns about the validity of her claims. They had a really inappropriate and not healthy relationship. The family of Dr. Pazder spoke of her calling constantly and following them on family trips. Michelle’s friends describe their relationship as her being deeply in love with him. During their sessions there was documentation that in order for the therapy to work he would have to hold her, her hands, spoon with her and other forms of affections. It would make sense that in exchange for the affection she was receiving from Dr. Pazder, as well as the trust she felt towards him that Michelle would sensationalize what she was experiencing because it resulted in reward. It resulted in closeness, and affection from Dr. Pazder, as well as attention and interest. He at many points seemed to encourage her attachment, especially in inappropriate situations. In sessions, to “recover” Michelle’s memories, they worked for months often spending 8 hours a day together holding sessions. In the sessions, according to photographs released in People magazine, Michelle would be shirtless and holding onto Dr. Pazder on the ground, basically spooning. During sessions you can also hear the auditory cues of affection, Michelle asking if she can hold on to him, etc. After the release of the book both Michelle and her husband Doug got divorced, and Dr. Pazder and his wife got divorced.
The Satanic Panic had a lasting impact on North American culture. It led to the wrongful conviction of innocent people, the disruption of families, and the creation of a climate of fear and paranoia. The case of Michelle Remembers serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of believing sensationalized claims without critical examination.
Key takeaways from the documentary:
The Satanic Panic was fueled by a combination of factors, including media sensationalism, religious beliefs, and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
The case of Michelle Remembers illustrates how false memories can be implanted through hypnosis and other techniques.
The Satanic Panic had a significant impact on North American culture, leading to wrongful convictions, family disruption, and a climate of fear.
Many therapists tried to hop on the bandwagon and there are countless individuals who also “recovered Satanic abuse memories” that were later discredited, and the therapists sued. Many also appeared on Late night and day time TV, spreading further fear.
The Insurance companies actually became the voice of reason when no one else would, refusing to cover therapy for Satanic Ritual Abuse. The documentary mentions at many points that without the pushing of these shows, the book would likely not have gained as much traction or impacted as many people. Unfortunately, many hosts and networks were willing to sell their souls for ratings.
Sell Your Soul for Sweeps Week
Jack Delroy's deal with the devil is the driving force of the film, pushing the narrative into supernatural chaos. Desperate to save his sinking career, Jack makes a Faustian bargain that leads to terrifying consequences. His bargain is made through the Grove, a secret society of rich and famous men who desire more riches and larger fame. The film’s cult is inspired by the real Bohemian Grove, often referred to as the “Culte Du Grove,” a private, all-male club attended by some of the world's most powerful men. Started by a group of journalists in 1872, it expanded to include those in power including four Republican Presidents (Herbert Hoover, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.) Also Clarence Thomas.
In an article on CBR about the real group which inspired Delroy’s own coven, Late Night with the Devil Is Inspired by a Real-Life Secret Society — And the Details Are Horrifying, they share information on the club's secretive nature, elaborate rituals, and high-profile memberships which have made it the subject of much speculation and conspiracy theories. Writer Phillip Weiss infiltrated the group with members of the anti-Grove Bohemian Grove Action Network and discussed the findings in an article for Spy Magazine. The "Cremation of Care" ceremony, in particular, has garnered significant attention. The “Cremation of Care” ceremony involved the burning of an effigy called "Care" in front of a large owl statue, symbolizing the release of the members' worldly burdens. The ceremony is theatrical and elaborate, featuring a procession, music, and speeches. While it is intended to be a symbolic act of liberation, the secretive nature of Bohemian Grove has led to various interpretations and conspiracy theories about the true meaning and purpose of the ritual. Weiss in his reporting quoted the owl statue which plays a recording during this ceremony of Walter Cronkite (a member), saying "Fools! When will ye learn that me ye cannot slay? Year after year ye burn me in this Grove.... But when again ye turn your feet toward the marketplace, am I not waiting for you, as of old?"
While some view Bohemian Grove as a place where the global elite gather to discuss world events, others see it as a private retreat for relaxation and networking. Regardless of the perspective, Bohemian Grove remains a symbol of power and secrecy in modern culture. Jack’s journey and involvement in the Grove serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked ambition and the dark side of chasing success at any cost.
Hozzászólások