Metal music, wet paint, and family are the passions of Jesse, a struggling painter who lives a happy life with his wife, Astrid, and their preteen daughter, Zooey. And things look even brighter when Jesse and Astrid are able to put in a bid on their dream home - a huge property in rural Texas with a barn big enough for a proper art studio - after the price is driven down due to the home's mysterious past. After the trio moves in, Jesse's work starts taking on a new, considerably darker flavour - and things get even more ominous when Ray, the hulking, clearly unbalanced son of the deceased former owners, appears on the doorstep one night, clutching a red electric guitar and asking to "return home." It soon becomes clear that Ray and Jesse are both being influenced by the same satanic forces, and that Jesse's family won't be safe until they find a way to quiet the Devil himself. Written by

Plot Synopsis:
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Greg (gregmoroberts@yahoo.com) from Oakville, Ontario
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Back in 2009, director Sean Byrne brought The Lovely Ones to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film won the Midnight Madness People's Choice Award, but it somehow never really caught on amongst horror film enthusiasts. I myself must admit that I missed it. I missed screening it at the 2009 Festival and I made the mistake of overlooking the feature for a few more years. When I eventually did screen the film in 2011 I was shocked at how such a fun, violent and well shot horror film escaped my screen habits. I began to champion the film amongst my tiny circle of friends and even though the film has a release date in 2009, I listed The Lovely Ones as the best horror film of 2011. So it is with incredible anticipation that I screen The Devil's Candy, Byrne's latest film which will again compete for the People's Choice Award at this year's Midnight Madness.

Unrecognizable Ethan Embry plays Jesse – husband of Astrid (Shiri Appleby) and father to teenage Zooey (Kiara Glasco). Jesse is an artist without a muse who uses heavy metal music to both propel his adrenaline and inspire his paintings. Looking for a change, Jessie and Astrid put a bid on a remote Texas home. The house is ample for the family of three but the real selling point is the large barn on the property that Jesse foresees as his art studio. The home has a selling price that is ridiculous for the market. But there is a catch. The realtor is obligated to reveal the history of the home. And the history is death. Jesse and Astrid seem unfazed when they learn that a mother fell down the stairs and the husband killed himself in his grief of the loss. But an early scene shows us a different story. One of murder and maniacal behavior. The house may be haunted with supernatural forces tormenting its residents to freakish behavior. And Jesse and his family might just be in situational danger that could cost them their lives.

It doesn't take long for the things to start going awry when the family moves into their new home. Jesse is particularly affected and he begins to paint on canvas pictures that represent the dark and the macabre. His involvement with his work draws a rift between him and his daughter. But these fractured feelings are put aside when Ray (Pruitt Taylor Vince), the large homicidal son of the former owners of the home begins to lurk around Jesse's family.

Ray is unstable. He hears voices in his head that can only be muted by the loud obstruction of noise generated from his electrical guitar and amp. He rocks and rolls with intensity while further slipping from sanity. Ray is a killer. The worst kind of killer. A killer of children. His weapon is his massive frame (well, that and any large rock he can get his giants palms around). Ray's rampage is exhibited in a shallow grave not too far from his childhood home. It's here luggage containing the remains of children he has killed and cut up are buried. Ray's next target is Zooey but the young lass will not go quietly or without a fight. Fueled by satanic forces, Ray is persistent in his pursuit of Zooey. And his objective will leave a trail of bodies in his wake.

The Devil's Candy is the brainchild of Sean Byrne who catapulted himself onto the horror scene with 2009's The Loved Ones. Byrne both wrote and directed The Devil's Candy and although it is not as refreshing as The Loved Ones, it is a competent and crowd pleasing horror film that has the look and feel of a Rob Zombie film but with much better results. Pruitt Taylor Vince is perfectly cast as the tormented Ray and Byrne keeps the film simple with a trickled down call sheet and a story that never fails to move forward.

Although The Devil's Candy may be considered horror, it is more psychological thriller. There are some elements of gore but the crux of the film is on the individual characters all of which are interesting and authentic. With a heavy helping of heavy guitar riffs, The Devil's Candy is a surprising hard rock pleaser filled with atmosphere and sweat. It was given a world premiere as part of the Midnight Madness series at this year's Toronto International Film Festival and it will surely find an audience upon release.

http://theintestinalfortitude.com/

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manuelasaez from New York
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Watching this movie, you get this sense that something isn't right. It doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the film, but the underlying themes presented within. The story of a demonic force that uses a persons talents as a means to channel evil is pretty original, but the way that the story just burrows under your skin like a lesion is just the tip of the iceberg. The acting is great, and each character carriers a nuance that is hard to find in the horror genre. The script is subdued, but what it lacks in any depth it more than makes up for in creep-factor. Like watching a satanic ritual as you hide in a corner, unseen, this movie forces you to witness madness, and how art can be used to channel some twisted and diseased emotions.

This movie is reminiscent of The VVItch, in that both feature no real blood or gore, but still manage to disturb to the highest degree. The is no overt violence, but the few scenes that show it are haunting. I watched this film three nights ago and I am still thinking about it. That guitar riff has been sneaking its way into my dreams, and that in itself is an accomplishment. This is not a movie for everyone, and gore hounds will be sorely disappointed. What it is, however, is a private look into the mind of those affected with psychosis, and how the world seems to bend and warp around you as you battle mental illness.

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jtindahouse from Christchurch, New Zealand
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The biggest problem modern horror films seem to have is making the audience care about their characters. Generally, they are so cliché, bland, dumb and unrealistic that within the first 10 minutes of the film no one cares any longer about their fate. So when I saw early on in 'The Devil's Candy' that the main characters were a family of hippy bogans, I'll admit I was worried for the sake of the film. I make no mistake about the fact that these are not people I can relate to in any way, and have had almost universally negative experiences with them in my life. On the contrary though, that turned out to be the strongest element to the film. I loved this family. They were charming, caring, relatable and down to Earth. I genuinely cared about their fate, and that is a large part of what made 'The Devil's Candy' a very fine horror film.

The second thing I loved about this film is that is never cheats. No scare is a false one. Nothing is suddenly revealed to be a dream sequence. No super-natural elements were required simply to make the story work. That is incredibly rare in the history of horror movies, let alone modern ones. Writer/director Sean Byrne needs to be absolutely commended on this. It is a brilliant effort on his part.

There really isn't a lot of negatives I can come up with for this film. The only thing holding it back from being a '10' was an unforgettable ending. Other than that it is basically flawless. Fantastic acting, a simple yet brilliant and effective story, genuine scares that never cheat and characters that are both likable and relatable. In an industry that is seemingly completely lost as to how to make a good horror film, 'The Devil's Candy' needs to be studied by everyone in Hollywood. It is a very good film.

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Brandon Zarzyczny from Williamsport, PA
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I was anxiously awaiting this film's release because I loved the director's previous film, The Loved Ones, and this movie had a really cool trailer. So I watched it last night and absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed how it played with a lot of the common horror tropes, as a result creating something very original and different. The set-up of the movie has been done hundreds of times, where a family moves into a new house after the previous occupants died. At first you think it's going to be something like Amityville, but The Devil's Candy switches things up by having the murderer of the previous occupants still being alive. There are also some very interesting things where it seems like the father, who is an artist, might also be hearing voices, and maybe the house is haunted, or perhaps he's just catching a glimpse into the mind of the crazed killer and/or his victims. Whatever it is, it's inspiring him and his art in a way nothing else has. So there's a temptation to embrace whatever's happening or fight against it.

All of the acting in the film is very well done, and I loved how every character was unique. The father and daughter have a really interesting relationship, and they're both metal heads. The mom has a little less characterization, but she's still definitely not generic. The killer (that kind of looks like an evil Santa Claus) was great too; he was definitely a creepy demented person. My only problem with the film is that it is a pretty short movie at around 1 hour and 17 minutes. I would have liked a couple of more scenes with the family just existing before everything gets weird, or even more of a buildup of the evil presence or whatever it was before the end of the movie.

Still, I'd highly recommend this film, especially if you're a fan of original horror movies. If you want to see my video review for the film, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO9-dBTeClU

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parsonm2 from United States
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Wow a great Horror Movie. I was slightly put off by the cover art of this movie and almost missed this one thinking it was a slasher film, it is not. I am not a fan of simple gore slasher movies and I visually categorized this as something akin to "Devil's Rejects" which is the type of movie I despise. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a good review of this movie which made me pick it up. Anyway, this may be one of the better horror movies of 2015. Pruitt Taylor Vince performance is very memorable and disturbing. Everything from his demeanor to that dirty red tracksuit. Ethan Embry (Late Phases, Incident on a Mountain Road) is no stranger to horror films but I barely recognized due to his long hair and grunge rock appearance, he gives an outstanding performance of a disturbed painter and father who receives an overwhelming urge to paint a sinister painting that is invading his mind. Interesting to note, the voices that the antagonist and the protagonist are hearing are NOT THE SAME. They are different which I think becomes apparent by the end of the film. This movie is full of tension with strong supernatural undertones. There is surprisingly little gore in this movie though we see multiple scenes of bloody aftermaths.

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gavin6942 from United States
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A struggling painter (Ethan Embry) is possessed by supernatural forces after he and his young family move into their dream home in rural Texas (just north of Austin), in this creepy haunted-house tale.

First and foremost, this film deserves credit for working in the metal-horror connection. You don't have to enjoy metal to enjoy this movie, but I think it helps. One reason the 1980s were a great decade for horror is because it was also a great decade for punk and metal. "Devil's Candy" doesn't try to be an 80s throwback, but does offer something of a modern equivalent.

Leading us through the film is Ethan Embry. Like many others, my love for Embry is strong. Not to pigeon-hole him, but he has been in a number of horror films in the last decade (such as the brilliant "Late Phases") and as part of the horror community I'd like to claim him as one of ours. Fans of "Grace and Frankie" may fight me, but we would all agree he is a great actor and truly underrate. Casey Affleck an Oscar contender? Really? Embry emotes with his eyes in way that few others can -- we have seen him sensitive, petrified, terrifying, and everything else. Some of that we see in this film (though luckily for us he is more on the good side this time around).

And countering Embry is Pruitt Taylor Vince, who unfortunately is probably best known as a "character actor" who has one of those faces you have seen 100 times but don't know the name. If this is you, make this the movie you start remembering Vince for. Holy smokes. He has had a handful of "idiot" or "incompetent" roles, but he really turns it on here, making us wonder just how much he is tormented inside and having pity on him, even though we know within the first five minutes that he is a tool of the devil.

The plot is thin, but not necessarily in a bad way. Rather than get bogged down or become too cerebral, "Devil's Candy" prefers to keep the pace moving so we can get punched in the face over and over again in its relatively short running time. You like cerebral horror? Great, we can watch "Frailty". This is not that film. But it is one filled with rich atmospheric cinematography and a dark, yet vibrant color palette (if such a combination is possible). With all due respect to writer-director Sean Byrne, it is cinematographer Simon Chapman who sold me on this film.

The only thing that left me wondering, is why did the film take so long for a proper release? Beginning in 2015, it was floating around film festivals, receiving praise. The journey continued throughout 2016, and we finally see a release from IFC in March 2017. I suspect maybe it was securing the music budget, as getting the rights to put Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" on DVD is probably not cheap. But what do I know? Regardless, IFC must be thanked for getting this out to the masses. Perhaps not the best horror film coming out on home video this year, but I assure you it is far from the worst. Any horror fan who has 90 minutes to spare would be investing their time wisely with "The Devil's Candy".

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Peter Pluymers (peterp@cyberdude.com) from Kortessem, Belgium
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"This is different. I've never had a muse before. I don't remember painting this. It's like it's, it's like somethin'.. It flowed through me."

I won't beat around the bush. I thought "The Devil's Candy" was unparalleled. And not because of the demonic story itself. But because of the appearance of Jesse Hellman (Ethan Embry). A true metal-head who throws himself, stripped to the waist, on a canvas cloth with spray cans during the night. A prehistoric looking guy with lank greasy hair, gleaming because of his with oil smeared muscles. He tries to put the energy he receives from listening to squealing and howling guitars into his artworks. In a way he reminded me of Rob Zombie. The day the family Hellman (appropriate name!) decides to move into a sweet-looking little house somewhere in Texas, Jesse doesn't realize that the dark forces that are present there, will inspire him in a very different way.

It's never really frightening so to speak. No paranormal events or sudden jump-scares that'll spook you. The eerie part is developed in a more subtle way here. The demonic character of a former resident who's either possessed by satanic forces or simply mentally disturbed, is the thing that makes for some scary and eerie moments. I'm talking about Ray (Pruitt Taylor Vince). A somewhat fuzzy and labile-like person. Not long after the Hellemans moved, this retarded person shows up at the door and claims that he needs to return to his former home, so he can produce a deafening sound on his red Gibson Flying V again. Noise he needs to produce in order not to hear those adjuring voices. Voices that incite him to perform disgusting acts.

Although it's a horror, it's not really bloody. You can imagine what dreadful murders are happening. And at some point when Jesse is painting again, you'll see fragments of red paint mixed with seemingly bloody fragments. But it's never explicitly shown. There are moments when you can feel the helplessness of a future victim. The powerlessness and the realization what's waiting for them, provide an uncomfortable feeling. Ultimately, you can ask yourself the question whether it's really Satan who's ordering Ray. Or is he just a mentally disturbed person who hears voices and is guided by them. More or less it's explained a bit by the preacher in a religious television program. Satan isn't only that metaphysical character with horns and a pointed tail. It's not only that mask that's being worn at Halloween or the character you'll see in a movie. It's an aggressive anti-Christ who lives among us and uses us to carry out his unspeakable deeds. In a less religious context it simply means the evil that proliferates in humans.

The story isn't very original, but the undertone of the film is fascinating. The fact that the film is filled up with brutal metal sound, creates of course an extra satanic dimension. Personally I still think it's absolutely ridiculous, but the association of Satan with metal is never far away. Well, probably there still are some blockheads who think that Ray's actions are a result of listening to heavy metal. Ultimately, the film balances between a psychic, demonic story, and the story of a serial killer who's guided by an evil influence. I thought it was fascinating enough anyway!

More reviews here : http://bit.ly/1KIdQMT

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gregking4 from Australia
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A variation on the home invasion thriller, The Devil's Candy is the sophomore feature from Australian director Sean Byrne (2010's The Loved Ones). A film about parenthood, murder, madness, possession and heavy metal music, it is best described as The Amityville Horror meets Metallica. Jesse Hellman (Ethan Embry) is an artist who moves his family into a large farmhouse in rural Texas where he has more freedom to continue his work. And the house comes with a dark history, as the psychotic Ray Smilie (Pruitt Taylor Vince, from Heavy, etc) killed his parents. Both deaths were ruled accidental and the house was put on the market. But soon after, Ray knocks at the door, and wants back in his house. Ray becomes obsessed with Jesse's goth metalhead daughter Zooey (Kiara Glasco, from David Cronenberg's Maps To The Stars, etc). Meanwhile Jesse is haunted by the same bizarre voices that drove Ray to kill his parents and he becomes obsessed with a somewhat dark themed painting. Ray is a nasty piece of work, and a killer of children. Vince is perfectly cast as Ray, with his lumbering gait, his untidy red jumpsuit, his empty gaze and intimidating manner he brings this hulking man child to life. Embry is largely cast against type here, and with his beard and long hair vaguely resembles a Jesus-like figure, which complements the more religious undertones of the film. Glasco is also very good as the Zooey and brings a feisty quality to her performance. As he demonstrated with his first film, Byrne is adept at gradually building up the suspense and uneasy atmosphere before unleashing a rather violent climax. He suffuses the home invasion tropes with a touch of the supernatural. However, the horror here is a bit more restrained and less graphic than the torture porn of The Loved Ones. The discordant aural soundtrack provided by Sunn O)))) adds to the gradual air of uneasiness. Hopefully it's not another six years before Byrne makes another film.

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wildsparrow16 from United States
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I watched this without much expectation because there was nothing on. I did not know it would suck me in like being in a black hole during a hurricane. The entire cost was awesome - Embry gives Oscar-worthy performance, and I think he has one of the most expressive faces on the Silver Screen. Vince never disappoints, and proved to be a most emotionally tortured villain. He gets glimpses that what he is doing is BAD, but he cannot overcome his demon. The daughter is incredibly likable - not an obnoxious smart-a** like the character's of so many kids in movies these days. At first, I found the wife dull, but she rocks, and gave a great performance. I disagree with some of the others that this was not gory. It was quite gory and violent, both in imagery and played out scenes. This movie flew by in no time - you won't even have time to get a snack. It brings forth the notion that people -both good and bad - can summon up strength we never knew existed within us. To what purpose do we want to use it?

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farchettiensis
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This movie is tense, disturbing, with some heavy imagery, gripping, and has great acting. It's not so much scary as it's disturbing - different things, the way I see it. Watching it was an intense experience. There's some lack of imagination in the underlying plot, in portraying evil and how it acts through people, but I guess that this would be asking too much of an already good movie. It lacks subtlety in key moments. Decisive scenes where the main theme of the movie are discussed are presented hurried way; they aren't properly explored. To be fair, this shouldn't be generalized, though. But I do feel the focus ended up being too much on the unfolding of the actions - a classic goal to goal rather aspect to aspect sort of thing.

The scarcity of good horror genre movies is really saddening, few artists are willing to delve into the nature of fascinating subjects such as evil and fear, but I'd say this movie is one of the good ones and I definitely recommend it.

painting|kidnapping|rural setting|tattoo|underwear|hearing voices|religion|gun|father daughter relationship|police|bare chested male|death|teenager|serial killer|devil|voices|demonic|artist|fire|child killer|heavy metal|murder|psychotic|satan|tied feet|title spoken by character|

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Certifications:
Australia:MA15+ (2016) / Canada:14A / Russia:18+ / USA:Not Rated