Phil Roberts 
Barnaby Roper’s All the Devils Are Here is a wonderfully gritty, well-layered, and often brutal thriller that thrusts its cast into an oppressive, psychological timepiece that deserves its acclaim.
The Longdon Gangster genre is experiencing a resurgence lately. After classic films like The Krays, Buster, and The Great Train Robbery established British gangland drama as a genre, last year we returned to those glory days in the streaming adaptation of Sexy Beast. Fast forward to this year, and we have been treated to MobLand on Paramount+, a series that firmly put London Gangsters back on the map.
With the genre thriving under this new renaissance, Barnaby Roper is about to throw his hat into the ring with All The Devils Are Here. The film is being praised as a gripping psychological crime thriller that deserves to be ranked alongside its predecessors. Featuring a star-studded cast that includes Sam Claflin, Eddie Marsan, Burn Gorman, Tienne Simon, Suki Waterhouse, and Rory Kinnear, it shows great potential to become an instant classic. The question remains: Can Barnaby Roper create a love letter to the classics of the past, or is “All The Devils Are Here” just another missed opportunity?
REVIEW
Fear not, film fans, because Barnaby Roper has delivered a rare gem. All the Devils Are Here is a wonderfully gritty, well-layered, and often brutal thriller that thrusts its cast into an oppressive, psychological timepiece that deserves its acclaim. With sensational performances from Eddie Marsan and Burn Gorman, the film delivers a jarring trip to the English Countryside. With its gritty and sharp screenplay by Roper and his collaborator, John Dover, the film is an excellent addition to the British Crime genre.
THE PLOT
From the outside, the plot of the film appears remarkably simple. Thankfully, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The story follows Ronnie Blake (Eddie Marsan), an aging gangster who is forced to undertake one last job for his gangster boss. Ronnie is a reliable, old-school foot soldier renowned for his dedication to getting the job done. His reputation was hard-earned, but he conducted himself in a cool, calm, and no-nonsense manner that assured his ascent in the ranks of his boss’s organisation. Despite his pleas to retire, Ronnie is convinced to oversee one last job before moving on to pastures new.
However, this final job finds him overseeing the theft of a life-changing amount of money and babysitting the other members of the team, who were hand-picked by his employer. The plan is simple: oversee the robbery and flee to the English countryside with his gang of cutthroats, where they will await further instructions from their employer.
GANGSTERS
Unfortunately for Ronnie, his team is made up of individuals he has never worked with before, each as colorful as they are dangerous. First up is Grady, played by Sam Claflin—a slightly unhinged loose cannon who takes pleasure in tormenting his victims and shows no regard for human life. On the other hand, there’s Royce, portrayed by Tienne Simon, a young rookie making his first foray into the gangland lifestyle. Along the way, they encounter their boss’s money man, played by the unswervable Burn Gorman, who will join them at the countryside retreat to oversee the money.
Ronnie’s situation becomes impossible when Grady’s sadistic tendencies escalate with one of the building’s security guards, putting the two of them on a collision course. Their escape becomes even more stressful when their getaway vehicle hits a pedestrian. However, the trio pushes these concerns aside and meets with Gorman’s mysterious financier, known as Numbers, before heading to a tiny, isolated, and rundown cottage in the remote Dartmoor landscape. It is here where our story truly begins.
CABIN FEVER
The film unfolds through four storylines following each of its characters. They are an unlikely team forced to work together. However, as soon as they enter the cottage, seeds of distrust begin to sprout among them, and cabin fever takes a toll. Each goes their separate ways, still within the confines of the cottage. Numbers, following the orders of his employer, retreats to the upstairs master bedroom with the group’s stolen cash and starts dividing it into untraceable amounts.
Meanwhile, Ronnie assumes a mentor role, guiding Royce while distancing himself from Grady, who quickly becomes consumed by self-gratification and alcohol. However, as the animosity between them continues to escalate, the tension quickly comes to a head, and the distrust among them threatens to derail their plans.
CHARACTERS
Thankfully, between the tension and drunken outbursts, director Barnaby Roper manages to add some much-needed depth to his characters. Through a series of carefully placed flashbacks, we are introduced to Harold Laing, played by the brilliant Roy Kinnear, the middleman who assembles the team. Through his interactions with each team member, we gain insight into their history and motivations, adding depth to their characters.
Despite every member of the team being nerfarious in their own right, Roper skillfully weaves these elements into some delightfully rich character development. From Ronnie’s touching struggle with his estranged daughter to Royce’s intriguing and tumultuous past, we are invited to dive into their compelling backstories. This is where the film shines! It provides the talented cast with the chance to fully immerse themselves in their roles, allowing us to witness their remarkable abilities—especially Burn Gorman’s captivating portrayal of Numbers.
BRILLIANT BURN
In his stunning performance, the enigmatic money launderer takes center stage. The eccentricity of his character is gloriously revealed within the confines of his dark and damp bedroom. Accompanied by his trusty retro music player blaring dated ballads, he injects himself with illegal substances, turning his isolation into a mini-vacation of sorts. While under the influence, he indulges in some truly bizarre behaviour that is worth the price of admission alone. Gorman is truly exquisite in these moments, but somehow manages to maintain his slightly unnerving edge throughout. His character is a delight to unravel and will give film fans something to ponder as the thrifty runtime unfolds.
The same can be said for Sam Claflin’s Grady. More of a straight shooter, Grady is a hard-as-nails loose cannon, the type that guarantees friction amongst his comrades. His every move either offends or titillates, and the audience will be waiting with bated breath to see which trait prevails. In contrast, Tienne Simon’s Royce is an innocent among the wolves. Apart from a few minor criminal actions, he is portrayed as a young man ensnared in a spiraling web of crime that he cannot escape. This juxtaposition with his fellow characters is compelling and provides some genuinely intriguing moments. It offers a window into the criminal element at varying stages of their careers, and the contrast is fascinating.
ISOLATION
Although Barnaby Roper cut his directorial teeth as a music video director, his impressive eye for detail effortlessly translates to the big screen here. This is evident throughout the film, but none more so than in the tone. Choosing to set All The Devils Are Here in the past was a bold choice, but it only adds to the charm. The film feels like a timepiece, which is reflected in the characters, the costume design, and the oppressive Dartmoor scenery. The dark and foreboding cottage becomes a character in its own right, dragging the audience into its dark and gloomy confines. From the ever-dripping taps to the dirty toilets, the cottage in its state of disrepair feels like a holiday destination from hell, and it radiates through the screen.
The land beyond its walls offers little respite either. The barren landscape of Dartmoor stretches as far as the eye can see, accentuating the feeling of isolation. With a constant flow of moor fog, the cottage is constantly plunged into darkness, transforming the usually picturesque scenery into something far darker and more sinister. This is the hallmark of a brilliant director, and I genuinely hope he prolongs his stay in the feature film market.
VERDICT
Overall, All The Devils Are Here is a wonderfully gritty and well-layered slice of London Gangster drama. Led brilliantly by the exceptional talents of Eddie Marsan and Burn Gorman, and the impressive directorial vision of Barnaby Roper, the film is a gripping timepiece. If Roper set his stall out to emulate the classics of the past, he has effortlessly succeeded. His film is a love letter to the classic films of yesteryear, reminding us of London’s notorious heritage. With its oppressive atmosphere and equally eerie soundtrack, the film is a rare gem that deserves to be seen on the big screen.
So, book a ticket to Dartmoor and join Eddie Marsan, Burn Gorman, Sam Claflin, and Tienne Simon in the cottage from hell. It may not be your ideal holiday destination, but believe me, once you’re there, Barnaby Roper will never let you leave.
All the Devils Are Here will release digitally on September 26th in the UK. Fans in the United States can look forward to a short theatrical run in select US cinemas.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
