What if we could see how the “devil” tortures those who wish to achieve fame or fortune, along with the price they pay along the way? Writer/director Justin Gilbert’s The Day We Meet the Devil is a psychological thriller set against the desolate backdrop of the Palm Desert. What begins as a roadside breakdown quickly turns into a harrowing encounter with evil and betrayal.
Gloria (Tess Rianne Sullivan) and Owen (Tomek Kosalka), a newly married couple, find themselves stranded on the side of a desert road. Gloria is on the side of the road and takes a pregnancy test. Meanwhile, Owen rummages through their car and discovers alarming items in Gloria’s bag: large sums of cash, fake IDs, and a nondescript burner phone. As Owen inspects the phone, a mysterious man in a white suit, singing “This Little Light of Mine.” He introduces himself as Lou Cipher (Travis Joe Dixon). He approaches Owen by the car and tells Gloria he’s figured out how to unlock her phone, only to discover that Gloria’s husband is on a burner phone. In the moment when Gloria arrives, Lou disappears, and Owen is staring down the barrel of Gloria’s gun.
“…tells Gloria he’s figured out how to unlock her phone, only to discover that Gloria’s husband is on a burner phone.”
The Day We Meet the Devil was originally a proof-of-concept for a feature film, and both the idea and execution are commendable. Gilbert’s film is fast-paced and complex, particularly in its manipulation of time, making each revelation feel like one twist after another. He gets excellent performances from his cast, but the real star of the film is the editing.
The Day We Meet the Devil succeeds with its tight pacing and sharp editing. In the end, the film leaves you wondering whether the devil’s greatest trick was tempting his victims, or revealing who they truly are.
"…fast-paced and complex..."
