Release Date – TBC, Cert – TBC, Run-time – 1 hour 37 minutes, Director – Ernesto Martínez Bucio
When their parents don’t come back home, a group of siblings are left to fend for themselves, and their grandmother (Carmen Ramos), as being stuck in the house plays with their minds, or are their visions real?
It takes some time for the parents in The Devil Smokes to seemingly leave their children, by the time that they do co-writer (alongside Karen Plata) and director Ernesto Martínez Bucio has decided to focus on all five siblings left at home with their grandmother (Carmen Ramos), who keeps them inside, away from the threats and dangers of the outside world. With the film switching between the perspectives of five children the narrative that follows can feel more wandering rather than jumpy. Even when held in a relatively short 97-minute run-time.
The narrative itself, perhaps because of how many times the perspective switches to show us the blending visions and reality unfolding inside the house, feels slight. The pacing is slow, but with how much changing around seems to happen, even before the children are left alone, it almost feels as if there’s an attempt to make it seem like The Devil Smokes has more happening than is actually the case, despite the different experiences for the characters at the centre of it.
Yet, I would be lying if I said that my attention wasn’t held; especially during moments which sustain the questioning, and an almost sense of hope, from the children. The final shot in particular proves to be very effective, making me wish that the film had struck more of a mysterious supernatural tone. Horror certainly doesn’t seem to be the genre at play here, more dramatic with themes relating to the former genre – despite the idea of visions and minds being played with in the confines of the same structure.
Much of this is dealt with in rather surface-level form, often I found myself wanting the film to get more involved with what was happening, to flesh itself out that bit more to create greater interest. For what there is, there’s a watchable film that has some good moments and ideas but, due to just how tonally restrained it is, in addition to what it shows, proves to be very forgettable once it’s over.
Watchable but never fully engaging, The Devil Smokes has some good ideas, especially when sustained in a moment and leaning more into the horror themes at hand, but never quite rises above surface level detail.
Just A Little Bit Random 