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Devil's Knot

Devil's Knot (2013)

May. 09,2013
|
6.1
|
NR
| Drama Thriller Crime

The savage murders of three young children sparks a controversial trial of three teenagers accused of killing the kids as part of a satanic ritual.

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Reviews

AnhartLinkin
2013/05/09

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

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Edison Witt
2013/05/10

The first must-see film of the year.

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Tobias Burrows
2013/05/11

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

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Cristal
2013/05/12

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

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timcurryis god
2013/05/13

Such a treat to see Colin Firth in this role; the last movie I watched that featured Firth in the legal profession was "The Advocate," which is an interesting film, and I couldn't help but think of his role (as attorney) in that film while watching this one. This movie is like a really satisfying episode of the x-files, but real-life; not sci-fi.

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Cyaneyed
2013/05/14

Like many others I was introduced to this case through the 'Paradise Lost' documentaries (there's a very brief scene where they mention the documentary being filmed), and I have spent many hours reading over the transcripts, case files, '500' etc. It was after the first documentary that I said to myself 'this is such an incredible story, you couldn't have written it'.So I suppose I shouldn't be too disappointed with this film - I had preempted my own opinion years ago after all.I call this film disjointed because it doesn't seem to know what point it wants to make. Prior to watching, I had the impression from the trailer that this was Pam Hobbs' (now Hicks) story, and that Terry would be fingered by the end (he is the current 'favourite' suspect). However the film seemed keen to avoid this kind of direct conclusion, instead dipping its toe into every little side event which, while helping to maintain the mystery element, made everything feel confused.Hobbs is represented as violent and controlling, yet this seems to have little effect on the relationship between him and Pam. It's almost as if his negative behaviour is for the viewer, and it feels very telegraphed.The viewer is also left with no kind of grasp on what to think of the WM3, and this seems to be by design. Nowhere is this more evident than the scene where Damien is taking his polygraph. They carefully avoid referencing what happened in his polygraph results (they state he failed - but the test should have been inconclusive anyway since he was taking Imipramine). Is the viewer supposed to just not wonder whether he passed the polygraph? Are they being nudged to look it up? Or what? Why include the scene at all if you're not willing to show the conclusion? This question is all the more bewildering when we are exposed at length to Chris Morgan's 'failed polygraph' and his ensuing reaction (he was, in reality, dismissed as a suspect weeks before Jessie was taken in).Starting out the film had a haunting air, as a lot of the set pieces were lifted right from the real events (including Pam collapsing against a car wailing, one of the most memorable and harrowing of the real moments - I felt very uncomfortable watching this moment being synthesised).But the film then jumped forwards in time a lot, and while there are brief captions stating what the viewer is seeing, I can imagine people unfamiliar with the story being put off or confused by this execution. Atmosphere took a backseat once the bodies had been found.The child's voice narrating was wholly unnecessary.Many things are left out, and it's not even totally clear at what point the film is supposed to end - we just suddenly cut to a shot of the creek with a quick fire bit of text mentioning what happened in the next 18 years. Michael Moore's parents apparently don't exist, and John Mark Byers is unfairly represented here as a bumbling simpleton (complete with hick dungarees).The reason I gave the film a six instead of lower is that redeemingly it put emphasis on the children who died - it's sad but they are almost forgotten against the backdrop of 'whodunnit' in the public domain. This was at least avoided here.I also went from five to six because the film included the court scene exposing what a fraud Griffis was (regardless Burnett's ignorant sustain).I think the open ending is meant to generate thoughtfulness about the whole thing, but it falls short. Look at 'Changeling' for proof that you can make a mystery with an open ending successfully. That left you longing to know what happened, this just felt incomplete.

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SteveMiller_MovieReviews
2013/05/15

Paradise Lost documented the story of three child murders in West Memphis, Arkansas. The Devils Knot goes on to dramatise and become the 'Hollywood' version and sadly falls flat. The case was so complex and difficult to take in that a running time of under 2 hours both fails to make you empathise with any character or help you to make up your mind as what you think the truth is. I really feel this was an opportunity missed as it is probably one of the most intriguing and complex cases ever with its possible injustice, combined with very credible other suspects that a lay person could easily connect with the murders. Overall it just fails to deliver on most fronts and will do nothing for viewers who are new to the case and adds very little to those who know it well. I feel it may well be picked up again by someone else in the future but requires a lot more attention and running time to really get it right.

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veronikastehr
2013/05/16

Films based on actual, recent events are not easy for realization. Regardless how documented the case is, if there is room for speculation, it is difficult to make conclusions with regard to the actual participants who are still living. Devils knot (2013.) attempted to clarify the suspicious circumstances under which the three young men are sentenced to long prison punishments under the judgment that they killed three boys, and also to implicate on other possible perpetrators. However, due to attempts that the story is both neutral and on the side of the defendants , result is a mediocre, lukewarm TV movie with surprisingly unused stellar cast.

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