The Horrors of Found Family are Found Where the Devil Roams (FANTASTIC)

Title: Where the Devil Roams

First Non-Festival Release: November 3, 2023 (Theatrical Release)

Director: John Adams, Zelda Adams, Toby Poser

Writer: John Adams, Zelda Adams, Toby Poser

Runtime: 93 Minutes

Starring: John Adams, Zelda Adams, Toby Poser

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

This film’s review was written after its screening at the Fantastic Film Festival in 2023.

Pushed to the limit while traveling with a struggling carnival show, a family commits horrific acts for the sake of survival and satisfaction. When one of their hits ends horribly, the daughter, Eve (Zelda Adams) takes matters into her own hand by performing a dark spell that will ensure their survival. Along with her parents, Maggie (Toby Poser) and Seven (John Adams), she is taken on a journey of discovery to see how far she and her family will go to stay together.

An intriguing concept and beautiful visuals can’t steer the attention away from the ambitious yet uneven script of Where the Devil Roams.

A compelling double prologue promises equal parts devilish whimsy and gory mayhem before fully introducing its sideshow crew. An original poem that serves both as the central dark spell that interrupts the lives of a family with dark impulses and as a recurring interlude to describe their exploits as they take place. Nailing the tonal energy of the film, Where the Devil Roams allows the creepiness to simmer in, using this original poem and the director’s own music to push the plot forward and provide an extra layer to the characters indirectly enticed by the devil.

Known for their unusual characters, the Adams family doesn’t disappoint with their intimate portrayal of found family as well as their larger cast of curiosities. Loving yet varying shades of messed up, Maggie, Eve, and Seven form an unlikely bond through their shared need of family. Seven’s PTSD from serving in World War I makes him faint at the sight of blood and Eve’s muteness outside of her signing allows for unique dynamics to play out as they plot their murder spree. Beyond them, the world they inhabit is strange yet familiar, crossing paths with memorable characters throughout the sparse New York Catskills. Bubbly hair stylists and cartoonishly callous landowners allow the fantasy of this spooky little gem to shine bright.

The energy from its initially captivating first act turns to confusion as the plot goes all over the place. When focusing on the quiet moments of the family between their murderous outbursts, Where the Devil Roams finds success. An intimate approach to horror, we gradually learn more about their shared and separate histories and why they are compelled to behave this way. Once the film leans more into the satanic magic angle, the plot gets lost in the frankensteining of body parts and devilish incantations. Of course, the film hints at this direction the entire way through, it nonetheless feels bumpy once the elements interlock together primarily affecting the film’s already languid pacing.

As the film progresses, the gothically rich cinematography slowly fading to black-and-white mirrors the life force gradually draining from the family. Gorgeous visuals of an Americana of yesteryear juxtapose the twisted exploits of the murderous family. The bizarre nature of the carnival captures attention easily, but the dark magic of Eve’s devastating choices infect the family making their once endearing existence turn into something horrific. As the color drains from their life, it also evaporates from their surroundings. Their once joyful, if difficult world, is replaced with the coldness of their action’s consequences.

There is plenty to appreciate in the Adams family’s latest horror jaunt. Compelling characters, unique setting, and captivating visuals make Where the Devil Roams a must-see for any horror fan that delights in the beauty of the macabre. What it lacks in a truly cohesive story, Where the Devil Roams makes up for it in atmosphere and indie panache. It’s hard to ever dog on the Adams family, as they always manage to make something different, whether it hits personally for the viewer or not. While Where the Devil Roams doesn’t quite stick the landing, it is still an exceptionally crafted and ambitious feature.

Overall Score? 6/10