Watch Satan's Little Helper
- R
- 2004
- 1 hr 36 min
-
5.3 (6,543)
Satan's Little Helper is a horror-comedy film released in 2004. The movie is directed and written by Jeff Lieberman, and it stars Alexander Brickel, Katheryn Winnick, Stephen Graham, Amanda Plummer, Wass Stevens, and Joshua Annex. The film's plot is centered around a young boy named Douglas Whooly and his obsession with a video game called Satan's Little Helper.
The opening of the movie shows Douglas (Alexander Brickel) playing the video game, Satan's Little Helper, where the goal is to help the devil defeat various enemies. Douglas becomes fascinated with the game and dresses up as Satan's Little Helper for Halloween. On Halloween day, he goes out trick or treating, leaving his mother (Amanda Plummer) at home. On his way, he encounters a man dressed up as Satan (Stephen Graham) who is actually a serial killer. Not knowing any better, Douglas thinks the killer is just another person in a costume and decides to help him carry out his plans.
The rest of the movie follows Douglas as he hangs out with the killer, helps him find new victims, and even tries to introduce him to his family. The killer takes advantage of Douglas' naivety and uses him as a tool to commit murders, while Douglas sees it all as part of the video game he loves. Along the way, the killer becomes interested in Douglas' sister, Jenna (Katheryn Winnick), which leads to another layer of tension between the characters.
The movie effectively explores the fine line between a child's fascination with violence and the actual, horrific consequences of it. As Douglas helps the killer murder people throughout the neighborhood, there is a sense of horror that is undercut by the boy's innocence. He doesn't understand the gravity of death and sees it all as just a game. The movie does an excellent job of implicating the audience in Douglas' actions; we, too, become complicit in the killer's behavior.
The performances in the film are also worth mentioning. Alexander Brickel, who was only 10 years old at the time of filming, plays Douglas with a perfect blend of innocence and creepiness. He doesn't feel like a caricature of a child, but like a real person who is struggling to differentiate between reality and fantasy. Stephen Graham, who plays the killer, does an amazing job of making the audience feel uncomfortable around him. His performance is sinister and chilling, making it easy to see why Douglas is so enamored with him. Katheryn Winnick is also strong as Jenna, playing the protective older sister with conviction.
The movie's direction and cinematography are notable as well. The film's use of color is excellent, with the Halloween decorations and costumes providing a bright, lively backdrop for the otherwise dark and gruesome story. The movie also does a great job of building tension through its use of camera angles and music. The score, composed by Ken Lampl and Rachel Portman, is playful and creepy at the same time, perfectly echoing the film's tone.
Satan's Little Helper is a darkly funny film that explores the impact of media violence on children. It's not just a straight horror movie, but a commentary on the ways in which we glorify violence in our culture. The film is effective in its use of horror tropes to show how easily children can be led down dangerous paths. The movie is not for everyone, as its blend of horror and comedy may not be to everyone's taste. However, for those who appreciate a good horror flick with humor and social commentary mixed in, Satan's Little Helper is definitely worth a watch.
In conclusion, Satan's Little Helper is a gripping and entertaining horror film that defies expectations. Its commentary on the impact of media violence on children is thought-provoking, and the movie's performances, direction, and score all work together to create an effective atmosphere of terror and unease. Even if horror-comedy isn't your go-to genre, this movie is worth a watch for anyone who wants to see how everyday people can be led down a dark path.
Satan's Little Helper is a 2004 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.