The Devil All the Time | 2020

Main Plot

Set in a rural town in post-World War II Ohio, The Devil All the Time follows Arvin Russell, a young man determined to shield his loved ones from the darkness that surrounds them. As Arvin grows up, he faces a web of violence and depravity woven by a cast of disturbing figures, including a twisted preacher, a corrupt sheriff, and a pair of serial killers. Each character’s actions ripple through the community, creating a tense atmosphere of suspicion and danger. With his family threatened by the evil lurking in every corner, Arvin is forced to confront the town’s deep-seated corruption and brutality. The story weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives, exploring themes of faith, morality, and the legacy of trauma. Ultimately, Arvin’s struggle becomes a fight for survival and redemption in a world where innocence is constantly under siege.

Characters

• Bill Skarsgård plays Willard Russell, a troubled war veteran haunted by his past. His internal struggles and desperate choices set off a cycle of violence and faith that shapes his family’s fate.
• Tom Holland portrays Arvin Russell, a fiercely loyal son caught in a web of cruelty and vengeance. His journey tests his morals as he battles the darkness consuming his town and himself.
• Banks Repeta appears as young Arvin Russell, witnessing the unraveling of his family in his formative years. His early experiences with loss and brutality profoundly influence his coming-of-age and resilience.

Ending Explained

The ending of The Devil All the Time brings the film’s web of violence and corruption to a tense resolution. After enduring a series of harrowing encounters with the town’s most dangerous figures, Arvin, the young man at the story’s center, is forced to confront the darkness that has surrounded—and threatened—his family. In a final act of self-preservation and justice, Arvin eliminates the corrupt sheriff and the murderous couple, severing the cycle of brutality that has plagued his life. With these threats gone, he finds himself alone, burdened by the violence he’s committed but also freed from the immediate dangers that haunted him. As Arvin hitchhikes away from the town, the film leaves his future uncertain, reflecting on the cost of survival in a world rife with moral decay. The conclusion underscores the lasting impact of trauma and the struggle to break free from inherited cycles of violence, offering a somber but hopeful note as Arvin seeks a new beginning beyond the shadow of his past.