‘The shocking climax will set your soul ablaze’
Devil’s Workshop is a 2022 American supernatural horror drama film about a struggling actor who spends a weekend with a female demonologist to prepare for an audition.
Written and directed by Chris von Hoffmann (Drifter; shorts: Lauren; Blue; Monster Party; Graffiti on My Heart; Fuel Junkie; White Trash; The TV; The Movie Pitch; Bloodshot Animals; Apartment Terror).
Produced by DJ Dodd, Miles Doleac (director of Demigod; The Dinner Party; Hallowed Ground; Demons), Joe Gallagher, Phillip B. Goldfine, Matt Rosen, Geno Tazioli, Kurt Van Fossen, Chris von Hoffmann, Zack Weiner and Kevin Weisberg.
The Manhattan Movie Studio-Future Proof Films production stars Radha Mitchell (Dreamkatcher; The Darkness; The Crazies), Timothy Granaderos, Emile Hirsch, Sarah Coffey, Brooke Ramirez, Miles Doleac, Lindsay Anne Williams, Kelly Lind, Nick Smith and Nick Taylor.
Plot synopsis:
Struggling actor Clayton (Timothy Granaderos) is desperate for a role as a demonologist in a forthcoming movie called Psychic Highway. He contacts Eliza (Radha Mitchell), an expert in devil lore, to help him prepare and spends the weekend at her home. Eliza forces Clayton to confront his troubling past, perform dark rituals, and sacrifice a goat. Does she want to help Clayton, seduce him… Or destroy him?
Reviews:
” …Devil’s Workshop taps into the same space as Starry Eyes in terms of its analysis of the pressure to be a star. It’s a more subtle approach to that of Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch, and so the theme might be lost to those without familiarity with the industry. Those that dig deep enough though will find plenty of discourse to discuss and digest.” 4/5, The Hollywood News
“Devil’s Workshop is a fun, subversive horror movie with mainly two people at its center. Like the intimate House of Darkness, focusing on a limited cast and establishing an eerie mood before the horror ensues turns out to be a wise choice […] I am always happy to discover more indie horror, and this gem from Lionsgate easily fits the quota.” 3.5, Josh at the Movies
“The acting is stellar, beginning with Mitchell. Her giggles and offhanded terms of endearment, hand gestures and facial expressions create an elusive character. Granaderos, so impressive as the sinister partygoer in Who Invited Them, adopts a wide-eyed insecurity that suits von Hoffman’s style […] The horror does well enough for nearly long enough. A couple of times it’s effective, but it never rises to true scares.” 3/5, Maddwolf
” …the finale of Devil’s Workshop—the big punch line to material that eventually stops behaving like a joke—is a predictable one. After all of the potential of the setup, the cheap and rushed payoff does a final disservice to this previously promising material, which is good while it lasts but doesn’t go the distance.” 3.5/4, Mark Reviews Movies
“The idea within the script is an interesting take, even with a beautiful homage to Misery thrown in. Had there been more signs of the horror genre throughout the film, it would’ve been a little more successful. I didn’t dislike most of the film; I just found the tonal shift to be a little too jarring.” Overly Honest Movie Reviews
” …unless it’s all an in-joke meant for those working in film and theatre, it’s never really funny. Even the final scene, meant to provide an ironic chuckle only provoked an eye roll and killed any effect the preceding scenes might have had. As a horror film it never even gets started. There are a few moments when I got a sense of unease but nothing more.” 1.5/5, Voices from the Balcony
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