5 Devils (The)

A film that smoulders when it should have blazed.

It certainly takes its time, not much happens in the first 30 minutes...and then, when things start to happen, the brain has to be notched up a gear (or 2) to work out what is going on. When the penny does eventually drop, the story gathers momentum - all thanks to the little girl [Sally Dramé] who delivers a phenomenal performance - she ain't as cute as she appears!

Plot-holes and underdeveloped characters are undeniable problems. Julia [the aunt] is described as 'sunshine' yet fails to exude any detectable rays - she needed to light up the screen every time she appeared to understand what made her so desirable.

Without giving anything away and considering the rather weighty situation he finds himself in, the husband's attitude and [non]-reaction is somewhat befuddling. But, as they say, everyone is different!

Léa Mysius could have gone further, even darker with her story. Instead, rather than risking everything, she played it somewhat safer than necessary. What the little girl was capable of is unimaginable...but, if the writers had imagined it, The Five Devils would have been an entirely different film. Worth watching for Sally Dramé and her unimagined malignant potential.

Trailer...