The Devil’s Candy is a dark, atmospheric, disturbing horror that doesn’t get the flowers that it deserves. With a metal soundtrack, powerful performances and haunting visuals, it is an absolutely beautiful film.

The second feature from The Loved Ones and Dangerous Animals director Sean Byrne, The Devil’s Candy fits firmly into a subgenre that I love – metal horror. Painter Jesse and his family move into an isolated, rural home and his sudden artistic inspiration comes from an unexpected source. Jesse and his daughter are metalheads – long hair, tattoos and headbanging on the school run. It’s always nice to see metallers in a film that feel authentic – not what a fancy dress shop says we look like. Ethan Embry, who plays Jesse, is a heavy metal fan himself so it really was an authentic performance. There is an incredible original score from Michael Yezerski and a bangin’ soundtrack featuring Metallica, Sunn O))), Pantera, Machine Head and Slayer.

The Devil’s Candy is also visually stunning. The editing and cinematography masterfully juxtapose horrific acts with Jesse’s creative process. (The scene with the bathtub is just gorgeous.) The Satanic and religious imagery littered throughout is unsettling and works perfectly with the metal soundtrack and score. Dark imagery and dark music, paired with a loving family that feels full of light.

Ethan Embry as Jesse

The cast is small, but perfect. Ethan Embry is fantastic – he is able to balance the loving, devoted father and husband side of Jesse, with the “tortured artist” side without either ever feeling like a stereotype. The intensity of his performance is captivating and I think it’s Embry’s best role. Pruitt Taylor Vince is chilling as Ray, a genuinely intimidating presence who somehow elicits fear and sympathy. Shiri Appleby as Astrid and Kiara Glasco as Zooey are also brilliant as Jesse’s wife and daughter, anchoring him to reality.

Limited edition release from Second Sight

The ever-wonderful Second Sight have given The Devil’s Candy a beautiful release on limited edition 4K UHD & blu-ray, which you can preorder now and will be available from 25th May. There’s a fantastic commentary from Sean Byrne, interviews with Embry, Director of Photography Simon Chapman, Editor Andy Canny and Production Designer Tom Hammock. There’s also a vfx feature and two of Byrne’s short films, Advantage Satan and Work? The limited edition boxset also includes 6 art cards and a 120 page booklet of essays – one of my favourite things that Second Sight does with their releases. This is a 5 star movie, with a 5 star special release and I can’t recommend it more.

Thank you to Second Sight and Aim Publicity for sending me the release to review.