Devil's Knot (2013)

The savage murders of three young children sparks a controversial trial of three teenagers accused of killing the kids as part of a Satanic ritual.

Director:

Atom Egoyan

Writers:

Paul Harris Boardman (screenplay), Scott Derrickson (screenplay)

Stars:

Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Alessandro Nivola

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Reese Witherspoon	...	Pam Hobbs
Colin Firth	...	Ron Lax
Alessandro Nivola	...	Terry Hobbs
James Hamrick	...	Damien Echols
Seth Meriwether	...	Jason Baldwin
Kristopher Higgins	...	Jessie Misskelley (as Kris Higgins)
Amy Ryan	...	Margaret Lax
Robert Baker	...	Detective Bryan Ridge
Collette Wolfe	...	Glori Shettles
Rex Linn	...	Chief Inspector Gitchell
Bruce Greenwood	...	Judge Burnett
Kristoffer Polaha	...	Val Price
Matt Letscher	...	Paul Ford
Michael Gladis	...	Dan Stidham
Stephen Moyer	...	John Fogleman

Storyline

Based on the actual events of the West Memphis Three, where three young boys were savagely murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993. Spurred on by the demand from a grieving town, the local police act quickly to bring three "devil-worshipping" teenagers to trial. With their lives hanging in the balance, investigator Ron Lax is trying to find the truth between the town's need for justice and the guilt of the accused.

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Plot Keywords:

west memphis three | angry mob | police interrogation | police investigation | knife | 

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Taglines:

They say the crimes were satanic. The truth may be scarier.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 2014 (Philippines)

Also Known As:

Condenados

Filming Locations:

Morrow, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Worldview Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A track playing in and the guitarist's photograph on the wall of Ron Lax's (Colin Firth's) office are of Robert Johnson's (1911-1938), a highly influential blues artist, who was rumored to have sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his mastery of the blues guitar. It turned out that the rumor and story was stolen from another blues musician named Tommy Johnson.

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Goofs

West Memphis police cars in the movie are correct in terms of make, model and markings. But the lightbars used are red & blue. West Memphis patrol cars have always featured all-blue warning lights.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Stevie Branch: [sings] Well, that's all right, mama / That's all right for you / That's all right, mama, just any way you do.

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Connections

Features Race with the Devil (1975)

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Soundtracks

Angel of Death
Written by Jeff Hanneman (as Jeffery John Hanneman)
Performed by Slayer
Courtesy of American Recordings, LLC
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

a decent summary of the defense's case

I have seen a lot of people trash this film, and if you are looking for something on the level of Angelina Jolie's "Changeling", you will be disappointed. If though, you are tolerant of a low budget but effective dramatization of a very tangled, disturbing, and tragic story about 3 young boys losing their lives to murder and 3 young men losing their lives to a group of detectives and justice system blinded by emotion, you will appreciate this film. Reece is fantastic as the mom of one of the victims. She is the big name in the film, though you will recognize several actors who are not quite up to her level of star power. I am a bit of a junkie on this case, and I was not disappointed. I think it does a fair job of presenting the defense's perspective. Granted, if you think they are guilty, and there are many who do, then you will be angered by its presentation. Nonetheless, I was very pleased with it.