The Devil All The Time: A Crime Thriller With Tom Holland’s Best Performance On Netflix

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Look, everyone knows Tom Holland as Spider-Man, but I honestly think his work in the 2020 Netflix film, The Devil All the Time, is even more impressive. It’s a really dark and atmospheric Southern Gothic story, full of revenge, but it’s also a surprisingly thoughtful movie that makes you think about good and evil.

Even though it’s considered one of the best films from Holland, this movie hasn’t received much attention from critics or audiences, likely because it wasn’t shown in theaters. However, the lead actor delivers a remarkable performance as Arvin Russell in The Devil All the Time, powerfully portraying a young man deeply affected by the damaging effects of religious hypocrisy. He truly grounds the film with his performance.

The movie The Devil All the Time is based on Donald Ray Pollock’s 2011 novel of the same name. It’s a dark and gritty story about life in small-town America in the mid-20th century. Robert Pattinson gives a particularly unsettling performance as Reverend Preston Teagardin, a deceptive preacher. The movie is narrated by Pollock himself, and he connects all the different storylines, especially those involving Arvin’s family.

Tom Holland is on track to become one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, with two new movies – The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day – coming out this summer. However, some consider his most captivating performance to be in The Devil All The Time, a film that wasn’t a box office success but is now available to stream on Netflix and well worth watching.

What Is The Devil All The Time About?

This film mainly takes place in the isolated village of Knockemstiff, Ohio, and explores the nature of evil through a series of unsettling events. Tom Holland plays Alvin Russell, a hesitant and unwilling participant who is pulled into these dark circumstances and forced to confront difficult questions about right and wrong in a brutal way.

Nearly everyone he cares about is affected by terrible crimes, often committed by people who appear devout or religious. This extends even to people he has indirect connections to – like his mother’s former fiancé – who also fall victim to unfortunate and criminal events.

Despite the moral lessons he hears at church, Alvin feels he must take justice into his own hands when people in power do wrong. While the movie The Devil All the Time makes its point a bit too obvious, the story itself is beautifully brought to life on screen.

Beyond Tom Holland’s exciting performance, the film showcases a standout role for Robert Pattison. He completely dominates every scene as the villain – a disturbingly deceptive preacher who twists the idea of sin to justify his own dark desires.

Tom Holland Gives One Of His Best Performances In The Devil All The Time

Although Robert Pattinson is excellent in the film, The Devil All the Time truly showcases Tom Holland’s talent. Similar to his impressive work in Crowded Room, Holland plays Alvin Russell with a subtle but powerful energy, proving he can completely transform into characters very different from how he usually appears on screen.

Without Holland’s compelling portrayal of Alvin’s sense of right and wrong, The Devil All the Time would get lost in the very darkness it tries to observe. However, his performance lifts the film, making it comparable to the most impressive examples of neo-noir and Southern Gothic cinema.

Alvin Russell in The Devil All the Time feels like a turning point for Tom Holland, moving him away from the lighthearted, adventurous roles he’s known for and into more complex, mature characters. Hopefully, he’ll continue to take on similar challenging roles, even though the film itself didn’t receive overwhelmingly positive reviews or strong box office numbers.

While Tom Holland is famous for playing superheroes, that fame sometimes overshadows his skills as an actor. His performance in The Devil All the Time really demonstrates his range and ability. Although the movie isn’t perfect, Holland’s acting in it is outstanding.

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2026-04-04 02:38