Late Night with the Devil’s Ending Explained: Fame, Demons, and Dark Secrets

The movie Late Night with the Devil blends possession horror with late-night television, telling the chilling tale of a TV host desperate for success. In this film, a demonically possessed girl is invited onto his show for a special occult-themed episode.

As the movie progresses, we learn about Jack’s troubled past, which explains his unrelenting drive for fame. Despite unsettling events that have already cost lives, Jack insists on pushing forward with a live demonic possession segment.

As the demon takes full control of Lilly, it kills everyone on stage in a brutal fashion. The film’s haunting climax changes into Jack’s tormented memories, culminating in a shocking act of violence. The film intentionally blurs the lines between reality and fiction, terrifyingly delivering its central theme.

Late Night With The Devil’s Mr. Wriggles Demon & Connection To Abraxas Explained

Lilly calls the demon inside her “Mr. Wriggles,” due to the way it “wriggles” its way into her body when it possesses her. Though the demon’s true name is never revealed, there are hints that it could be a subordinate of Abraxas, the demon worshipped by the cult that Lilly survived.

After the cult’s mass suicide in a fire, Lilly became the host for Mr. Wriggles, though it’s implied that the demon’s influence led to her surviving the blaze. Though Mr. Wriggles may serve Abraxas, it is he who wreaks havoc during Jack’s show.

Mr. Wriggles acknowledges having encountered Jack before, possibly hinting at his involvement in the events surrounding the show. The demon’s presence is felt by the psychic Christou, who succumbs to its influence, and the audience finally witnesses its true form at the climax—a fiery being of light that bursts out of Lilly.

Jack’s Visions In Late Night With The Devil Explained

Throughout Late Night with the Devil, Jack’s tragic backstory is gradually revealed, initially through voiceovers and flashbacks. He is presented as a man crushed by the untimely death of his wife, who succumbed to lung cancer despite never having smoked.

The film takes a dramatic turn when Jack insists on slowing down footage of Lilly’s demonic possession, revealing a haunting image of his late wife standing behind him.

This moment triggers the demon inside Lilly to seize control, leading to a gruesome sequence where it kills Jack’s assistant, Gus, burns Carmichael the Conjurer, and strangles Dr. Ross-Mitchell with her necklace, all through sheer mental power.

As Jack surveys the carnage, the audience is pulled into his crumbling mental state. Gus’ death is a clear nod to The Exorcist, where the possessed character’s head turns around similarly.

Through visions, we also see Jack’s past: his involvement with a secret men’s club, his rise to fame, and a tragic encounter with his wife on her deathbed, where she tells him that her death was the cost of his success.

Jack is then transported back to the studio, where he repeats the violent act, but this time, it’s Lilly who falls victim to his actions.

Did Jack Kill Lilly In Late Night With The Devil?

Jack may have thought he was ending his wife’s suffering in his mind’s breakdown, but in reality, he was stabbing Lilly, severing the demon’s hold over her and ending the horrific spectacle on Night Owls.

This moment represents the confusion between illusion and reality throughout the film, making it difficult for the audience to determine which scenes are staged for the camera and which are genuine moments of fear. Jack’s act of stabbing Lilly also symbolizes the consequences of his past actions.

While he tried to keep his involvement with The Grove a secret, it’s strongly suggested that this cult played an important role in his rise to fame. Jack may not have killed all the victims directly, but his pursuit of success led to their deaths, making him responsible for their demise.

Did The Skeptic Carmichael Hypnotize The Audience?

A standout scene in the film is when Carmichael hypnotizes the entire studio audience, including Gus, to believe they are seeing things that aren’t real. He convinces them, through suggestion, that Gus is infested with worms and needs to rip open his stomach to remove them.

This moment challenges the perception of reality, leaving the audience questioning whether what they’ve seen is real or merely a trick of the mind. The film forces us to confront the ambiguity of Jack’s character: is he a tragic man, undone by his past, or a man so desperate for fame that he would sacrifice anything to achieve it?

What Happened To Christou In Late Night With The Devil?

Christou, portrayed by Fayssal Bazzi, is a psychic medium who, along with other performers, is part of Jack’s supernaturally-themed show. His act initially seems like a fake performance, but when he starts to experience real pain, it’s clear that something far more sinister is at play.

This “presence” is Mr. Wriggles, who torments Christou, suggesting that the psychic might have genuine abilities—or perhaps the demon is simply punishing him for his fraudulent claims. After vomiting a black substance, a typical exorcism trope, Christou is rushed away in an ambulance but dies from the trauma caused by the demon’s influence.

What Happened To Jack Delroy’s Wife, Madeleine?

There are strong indications that Jack’s wife, Madeleine, did not die of lung cancer as the film suggests, particularly since she had never smoked. Instead, her death appears to be a cost Jack had to pay for his success as a TV host.

The highest-rated episode of Jack’s show revolves around his wife discussing her illness and Jack’s support, emphasizing the unsettling reality that her death contributed directly to Jack’s rise to fame. Jack’s final vision of his wife confirms the tragic truth: her death was the price he paid for his career.

Jack’s Connection To The Grove Explained

The film uncovers that Lilly was rescued from a Satanic cult connected to The Grove, a secret men’s club that Jack once belonged to. The Grove is depicted as a powerful institution of wealthy and influential men, whose success is tied to their involvement in dark rituals.

This club bears a striking resemblance to the real-life Bohemian Club, which has been linked to powerful figures in history. The demon Mr. Wriggles seems to have crossed paths with Jack during one of the cult’s ceremonies, further suggesting that Jack’s rise to fame is tied to the sinister dealings of The Grove.

The Real Meaning Of Late Night With The Devil’s Twist Ending

The brutal emergence of the demon and the subsequent chaos on the set of Night Owls serve as a clear consequence of Jack’s involvement with The Grove. Jack made a dangerous deal in exchange for success, with his wife’s life being the price.

Whether or not Jack knowingly sacrificed his wife is left unclear, but what’s certain is that he was willing to pay any cost for his fame. The demon’s appearance on the show serves as a warning about the dangers of pursuing success at any cost.

The film underscores the destructive nature of such ambition, not only for Jack but for everyone around him, as they too suffer because of his choices.

Late Night With The Devil’s AI Controversy Explained

Late Night with the Devil faced controversy over the use of AI-generated imagery, which led to some boycotting of the film. Despite the limited use of AI in certain segments of the movie, it sparked a debate over whether such technology should replace human work, especially in areas where humans could outperform machines.

Though brief, these AI moments have raised questions about the future of filmmaking, and the controversy is likely to be a key point of discussion going forward.

How The Late Night With The Devil Ending Was Received

Late Night with the Devil was a commercial and critical success, receiving praise from critics and audiences alike, despite some backlash regarding its use of AI. It earned a 97% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a solid 81% from audiences.

Financially, the film made over $12 million at the box office and set streaming records on Shudder. However, some critics were less impressed with the film’s ending, with some calling it a letdown, while others saw it as a fitting conclusion.

Audience reactions were largely positive, with many praising the film’s aesthetics and suspenseful buildup. Some even noted that the shocking ending added a new layer to the film upon a second viewing.