Late Night with the Devil succeeds far more than most of of its ready comparables, telling a dark tale about the fictional never-before-seen filming of a late night show’s final episode. While this not an unfamiliar setup for a horror film, Late Night does an exemplary job of creating the illusion that we’re going back to a broadcast television set on Halloween night in 1977, when hardluck variety show host Jack Delroy and his show Night Owls will roll tape for what will ultimately be their final outing. By the end of the filming, the stage will be an abattoir, the audience fled and traumatized, and Jack himself primed to be the subject of decades-long speculation.

Double Blind is a really solid early-career effort from director Ian Hunt-Duffy–who also plays one of the more antagonistic volunteers–and it’s a decent horror film to boot. Most of the elements are played safe but effectively, and there’s not a clear misstep to be found. The script, sets, acting, setpieces, and plot all serve the aim of the film, and the fulfilled promise gory sci-fi horror entertainment outpaces the modest creative ambitions. My caution is to manage expectations appropriately, and this film will deliver provided you’re just looking for a bit of fun.