Little Evil
| Little Evil | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Eli Craig |
| Produced by | |
| Written by | Eli Craig |
| Starring | |
| Music by |
Marco Beltrami Brandon Roberts Marcus Trumpp |
| Cinematography | Matthew Clark |
| Edited by | Tia Nolan |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $7.5 million |
Little Evil is a 2017 American comedy horror film written and directed by Eli Craig. It stars Adam Scott, Evangeline Lilly, Owen Atlas, Bridget Everett, Kyle Bornheimer, Chris D'Elia, Donald Faison, Carla Gallo, Tyler Labine, Brad Williams, Clancy Brown, and Sally Field. It was released by Netflix on September 1, 2017.
Plot
Gary Blooms marries Samantha who has a son, Lucas, a quiet 5-year-old boy. Gary struggles to create a connection with Lucas, but Lucas ignores him. Gary receives a telephone call from his wedding videographer, Karl, warning him that something very unusual is in the footage. Gary is uninterested. Later that day, Gary stops by one of his properties for sale, an old nunnery, where Father J.D. Gospel, the leader of a Doomsday cult, buys it on the spot. Gary has to leave when he is summoned to Lucas’ school where the principal informs Gary that Lucas spoke out of turn in class and told his science teacher to “go to hell”, after which she killed herself. A psychiatrist stresses that Lucas see a counselor and Gary, the apparent main source of Lucas’ erratic behavior, should do the same.
Samantha is upset by the news and feels that everyone, including Gary, is unfairly blaming Lucas. Gary assures her that he loves them both. At therapy, Gary tries to relate to other stepfathers, including his friend Al. When Gary confides in them that he thinks his stepson might be a little evil, they all sympathize with him. The next day, at Lucas’ birthday party, a clown lights himself on fire. Gary is lead to believe Lucas is responsible, so he goes to see Karl and find out what really happened at the wedding. Karl shows Gary the video, which shows a possessed-looking Lucas untouched by a tornado. Karl tells Gary he thinks Lucas that all of Samantha's previous boyfriends are dead except for one — Gabriel. Karl gives Gary Gabriel's address.
When Gary inquires about Lucas' biological father, Samantha reluctantly admits that years earlier, she was part of a cult and took part in a ritual during which Lucas was conceived. Gary convinces Al to help him find Gabriel. They find Gabriel in the basement of a church where he is self-flagellating. Gabriel reveals that Lucas is the Antichrist and tells them to travel to Bethlehem to find Gozamel the demon hunter. Gary and Al view a television news report on rioting due to the Apocalypse in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and they realize it is where they need to go. They travel to find Gozamel, who informs them they have to kill the child with the Knife of Destiny or the end of the world will ensue. Gozamel is killed in a car accident while driving with them, but not before he gives Gary the Knife of Destiny and says it is up to him now to kill Lucas on hallowed ground.
Gary arrives home to find Samantha with Miss Shaylock, a woman from Child Protective Services. They encourage Gary put Lucas to bed, but this goes horribly wrong, ending in Lucas burying Gary in a sandbox. Samantha digs him up, taking Lucas’ side for being a confused kid, and Gary screams that Lucas is the Antichrist. Samantha is devastated, and Gary later apologizes. He takes Lucas on a trip to Waterland, a park blessed by the Pope, as a treat. Lucas and Gary actually start to bond as father and son. Gary fills Lucas’ floaties with sand and sends him to his death, but sees the word "Love" in the sky and takes it as a sign. Gary saves Lucas and then takes him for ice cream. Both of them apologize for trying to kill the other.
Suddenly, an amber alert for Lucas pops up on Gary’s phone. Police arrive to take Gary, and Miss Shaylock, revealed to be a disciple of Father Gospel, takes Lucas. Father Gospel also kidnaps Samantha. Gary escapes from the police to save her and Lucas, but not without help from the other stepdads. They travel to the old nunnery where Father Gospel and his disciples prepare to kill Lucas and bring about the end of the world. When Lucas opens a tunnel to Hell and starts to fall into it, Gary saves him. Once freed, Samantha knocks Father Gospel into the tunnel. Weeks later, Gary and Lucas race the Okatok Soap Box Derby. Lucas and Gary appear to finally be happy as father and son.
Cast
- Adam Scott as Gary Bloom, Samantha’s husband and Lucas's step-father
- Evangeline Lilly as Samantha Bloom, Gary’s wife and Lucas's mother
- Owen Atlas as Lucas, Samantha's son and Gary’s step-son
- Bridget Everett as Al, Gary’s co-worker and best friend
- Clancy Brown as Reverend Gospel
- Sally Field as Miss Shaylock
- Kyle Bornheimer as Victor
- Chris D'Elia as Wayne
- Donald Faison as Larry
- Carla Gallo as Wendy
- Tyler Labine as Karl C. Miller
- Brad Williams as Gozamel
Production
In May 2013, Universal Pictures acquired the film's script, with Eli Craig directing the film, based upon the screenplay he wrote, while Scott Stuber, Nicholas Nesbitt, would serve as producers under their Mandalay Pictures and Bluegrass Films banners respectively.[1] In September 2016, it was announced Evangeline Lilly, Adam Scott, Clancy Brown, Donald Faison, Chris D'Elia, Bridget Everett, Owen Atlas, Brad Williams, and Marcus Terrell Smith had joined the cast of the film, Dylan Clark and Jason Michael Berman would serve as producers, and Netflix would produce and distribute the film.[2][3] That same month, Kyle Bornheimer joined the cast of the film.[4]
Filming
Principal photography began in September 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio.[5] The film was shot in 25 days with no reshoots.
Music
Marco Beltrami, Brandon Roberts & Marcus Trumpp compose the score for the film.
References
- ↑ Kit, Borys (May 16, 2013). "Universal Picks Up 'Little Evil' from 'Tucker and Dale vs Evil' Filmmaker (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Kroll, Justin (September 15, 2016). "Adam Scott, Evangeline Lilly to Star in Netflix Comedy 'Little Evil'". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Romano, Nick (September 16, 2016). "Adam Scott and Evangeline Lilly to star in Netflix horror-comedy Little Evil". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Hipes, Patrick (September 26, 2016). "Kyle Bornheimer Joins Netflix's 'Little Evil'; Mira Sorvino Goes 'Behind The Glass'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Morona, Joey (September 26, 2016). "Adam Scott, Evangeline Lilly filming Netflix movie 'Little Evil' in Greater Cleveland". Cleveland.com. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
