Creatures of War #2: The Devil's Rock (2011)
Stuck between a sexy demon and a Nazi... I'll take the demon
Preamble
Next up on my weird WWII journey is: The Devil's Rock. Some Kiwis get more than they bargain for when they infiltrate a Nazi bunker on the Channel Islands. If someone told me this was a lost episode of the tv show Supernatural, I'd believe them. Take that for what you will.
I watched this while cocooning on my couch a month after getting laid off from my dream job. I had to pause halfway through to cry (it turns out a month is not enough time to get over such an event), and finished it later that night with some popcorn. I don't think the angst added much to the viewing experience, but I would recommend watching with popcorn.
Here's a life lesson, popcorn fixes a world of hurt. I prefer kettle.
Review
We open with 2 New Zealand soldiers on what should be a swift mission to destroy a German bunker, but quickly decends into broken bodies and paranoid visions. This isn't a movie for action or gore fans though, most of the film hinges on the claustrophobic setting.
Our main protagonist essentially has to choose whether to trust a Nazi, or the shapeshifting demon he found in the basement— I find that to be a very engaging premise right off the bat. The plot is fantastical, but also more grounded in reality than I expected. Sure there were no real demons on D-Day, but there are several references to actual semi-niche WWII events that show the filmmakers did their research.1
Above is the real life inspiration for The Devil's Rock, an observation post in Guernsey. Take a deep dive into the German fortification of Guernsey (or the Wikipedia page on occultism in Nazism) and thank me later. Who said B movies are mindless, I'm learning tons.
The Devil's Rock takes the right approach to a low budget production. One location, few characters, practical effects, simple plot. Most of the budget appears to have been allocated to the design of the demon, which is almost reminiscent of a Hellboy character. The makeup and prosthetics were done by Wētā Workshop, best known for their work on Lord of the Rings. Immediately I was obsessed with the demon. Gina Varela really is the star of the film. She is giving it her all, the rest of the film is just trying to catch up.
The Devil's Rock is a movie that feels loved by its creators, and that lends itself to being loved by others.
That being said, I did not love it. I wish it pushed further. The whole thing felt almost too safe (dare I say classy?) for my sensibilities. Too slow, just lacking some octane. Add in some sleaze, some more slop, more unnecessary horniness, just more. Or maybe my recent 80s Italian horror kick is messing with my brain.
The Devil's Rock doesn't reinvent the wheel here, but it makes a very nice tire.
Sexy or Sexist?
The Devil's Rock plays on an old (and often sexist) trope of she-devils and evil female seductresses. Personally, this didn't bother me. I think that's another testament to Varela's performance, I was seduced.
However, part of being a female horror fan is accepting a certain level of sexism. I've been a Stephen King fan since I was probably 11 (much too young for those books btw) and so I'm accustomed to questionable female characters.
B movies are not the place to be overly critical of mildly sexist tropes, but I often wonder if I've gotten too used to being demeaned.
Final thoughts?
The Devil's Rock is the definition of a hidden gem. If you go in with reasonable expectations, you'll find yourself a solid little nugget of schlock and beautiful effect makeup. Maybe it's not a movie that will stick with you well past the runtime, but I know someone out there will adore it for what it is. At the end of day, I'd recommend it. I don't think Paul Campion has done much in the way of directing since2, but I hope he knows he's got a new fan.
Bonus
Some double feature ideas with no real explanation.
The Void (2016)3
Last Shift (2014)
Hellboy (2004)
I'm not a WWII history buff despite all evidence to the contrary. Sure I know a little, but no more than your average American. I'm not looking for accuracy in these movies, but it never hurts
He's got some lovely concept art on his website (https://www.paulcampion.com/). I'd figure out how to actually link it if I wasn't typing this on my phone while stuck on an Amtrak that's currently running 6+ hours late. The joys of the USA rail system
I actually don't love The Void, but I think it would vibe well with The Devil's Rock. Great practical effects and Lovecraft energy, but oddly soulless in my opinion