The Demon Detective

The Demon Detective, the new supernatural horror written and directed by T.C. De Witt, is an entertaining, though ultimately inconsistent thriller. It tells an almost episodic story of a Demon Detective’s latest encounters with the undead as he battles monsters and tries to understand the unrest currently taking place in the afterlife. The film’s most significant influence, in all the best ways, is of course Ghostbusters. Whilst this adopts a more explicit horror aesthetic, many of the plot-points and images affectionately mirror the 1984 comedy classic. This is an enjoyable, satisfyingly silly picture. But unfortunately, The Demon Detective is also stilted, convoluted and overlong; problems that will certainly detract from an otherwise satisfying viewing experience.

The biggest issue with the film is its main character Miles (the titular detective). Not because of the performance by Dustyn Gulledge – which certainly holds the camera – but due to the nature of the writing. For a character introduced as a ‘demon detective’, his motives and behaviours are, at first, bland and predictable. Eventually, the plot becomes about the fact that his latest demon encounter has taken a more personal toll on our protagonist; an encounter that brings up pains of the past and renders Miles doubtful of his ethics and his abilities. This development is a lot more effective than his characterisation in the script’s first hour, but you could argue that it takes far too long to acquire this kind of depth. On the flip side of this, however, is the character of Clara played by Dani Scott. The movie benefits greatly from this character as she makes for an effective audience surrogate, and surprisingly complex persona.

Visually, the cinematography is easily passable and accomplished on a professional level. Though it does leave something to be desired when we’re discussing how the creative style either does or doesn’t lend itself to the story being told. The visual effects are sometimes impressive, but sometimes unpleasant to look at. The images in The Demon Detective are well-constructed, and the lighting is especially impactful for its often-phosphorescent form. So, there’s a lot to love in the technical department – even when it feels as if a horror movie would operate best with a grimier, less clean sensibility.

What this critic enjoyed most about this movie was how it didn’t feel like an origin story. We’re introduced to characters who are already halfway through their journeys – maybe even becoming complacent about their place in the supernatural world. I like that what we’re getting is effectively a Day in the Life of a Demon Detective, instead of a ‘this is how he got his powers’. And the other highlight is that in the film’s final act, we are blessed with a ridiculously enjoyable performance by the legendary Doug Jones. He’s truly wonderful in the movie – tonally heightened and over the top in all the ways you would want from a dénouement villain reveal. Despite the fact that this picture feels directionless for much of its runtime, it’s also a fairly fun time for horror fans.