The idea of the Devil has always been fascinating for horror filmmakers. Yet, there isn’t a single depiction of this character that stands out as being definitive. By looking at some of the most interesting Satans in horror, we can see how the directors have drawn on different aspects and legends in each case.
The Devil’s Advocate – 1997
This supernatural horror stars Al Pacino as John Milton, who is the head of a New York law firm and is also the Devil. He lures lawyer Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) into working with him, and then slowly drags him into a web of corruption and lies. It was well-received by audiences and won the Saturn Awards for Best Horror Film, following in the footsteps of classics like Scream, the Silence of the Lambs and Beetlejuice.
The depiction of Satan as a slick lawyer was an inspired move, taking his typical image as a horned devil and transforming it. We can see the more traditional image of the Devil in many other aspects of popular culture. The Kingdom Below slot game features a fiery demon with a trident. A flaming pumpkin adds a Halloween-type feel, and themed symbols such as skulls ensure that the game is consistent with the hellish theme. Lil’ Demon Mega Cash Collect and Play with the Devil follow a similar theme and show how this type of imagery has become popular in the slots world.
Constantine – 2005
Keanu Reeves has another brush with the Devil in this horror film. He plays John Constantine, who is an exorcist who can communicate with angels and demons. He eventually creates a showdown between Lucifer (Peter Stormare) and Gabriel (Tilda Swinton). Reviews were mixed, with some reviewers claiming that the “goofy” ending ruined a lot of the earlier good work.
In the real world, people in most cultures have been fascinated by the idea of Heaven and Hell over the centuries. In Mexico, researchers have recently discovered a series of underground caverns that were thought to be the entrance point for the Zapotec underworld before Spanish explorers arrived and destroyed the city. In this culture, Pitao Bezelao was known as the Zapotec God of death, but the European settlers built a church over this entrance meaning that it was lost for centuries.
End of Days – 1999
This action horror movie was considered so bad that it was nominated for several Razzie Awards. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays retired police officer Jericho Cane, who gets caught up in a titanic battle between good and evil. In this movie, the Devil appears as a winged creature who takes over Cane’s body at the end of the millennium. Some reviews complain of over-reliance on special effects that have aged poorly, but this review suggests that Gabriel Byrne brought the right sort of menacing mood to the role of Lucifer.
We should continue to see the Devil shown in many different ways in horror movies. The way that this character is portrayed in so many ways in different cultures is helpful for filmmakers, as it gives them the freedom to try out different approaches when bringing him to life.