Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Feb 1, 2021 3/5

Does a good job of telling a fascinating, if somewhat familiar story. Egoyan has stripped away the clinical nature of the documentary retellings of the story to reveal the personalities behind the headlines.

Go to Full Review

Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site Aug 13, 2020

Devil's Knot is an adept, straightforward recounting of a judicial travesty.

Go to Full Review

Alberto Abuín Espinof May 14, 2020

A disappointment that is only partially saved by its actors. [Full Review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Paul Freitag-Fey Daily Grindhouse Aug 5, 2019

It never quite finds a reason to exist, and that's a genuine shame, as a case as multi-dimensional as the one it used as source material should have more than enough inspiration.

Go to Full Review

Cinemanía Staff Cinemanía (Spain) Jul 17, 2019 3/5

Today we find a director more concerned with recovering his idiosyncrasy than with deepening our fears. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Andy J Smith One Room With A View Jun 14, 2019 2/5

The passion of the two leads is not enough to carry the film to any satisfying conclusion.

Go to Full Review

Paula Fleri-Soler Times of Malta Mar 5, 2019

Despite solid performances from the bulk of the cast, overall, the characterization is so shallow there is little that allows us to empathize with the protagonists.

Go to Full Review

Abbie Bernstein Assignment X Jan 15, 2019 B

The courtroom drama is powerful enough to make us wish that they'd given less time to Ms. Hobbs and more time to showing us the rest of what's known to have occurred.

Go to Full Review

Jamie Neish CineVue Aug 13, 2018 2/5

The true story is undeniably a fascinating one, full of tragedy, anguish and scandalous injustice, yet Egoyan has stripped Devil's Knot clean of all that and fashioned a run-of-the-mill TV movie in its place.

Go to Full Review

Kiva Reardon Cinema Scope Oct 2, 2017

Devil's Knot feels strangely clean. This, at least, meshes with the film's made-for-TV quality and style, although at this punishing duration, such tidiness hardly seems worth celebrating.

Go to Full Review

Neely Swanson Easy Reader (California) Sep 16, 2017

"Devil's Knot" is a misguided attempt to tell the story of the West Memphis Three, something that was told infinitely better in the brilliant documentary "West of Memphis" by Amy Berg.

Go to Full Review

John Fink The Film Stage Jun 27, 2016 B+

Devil's Knot is a fine film, but those searching for Egoyan's signature touches (which would seem apparent) will be left wanting more.

Go to Full Review

Nora Lee Mandel Maven's Nest Jan 1, 2016 7/10

Sound and look are key to atmosphere of ominous inevitability of conviction. . .Admirable for using only local points-of-view. ..Worth seeking out for thoughtful perspective.

Go to Full Review

Richard Haridy Quickflix Dec 7, 2014 1/5

If anything positive can be gained from Devil's Knot, it's that hopefully it will lead new viewers to the magnificent experiences that await them by watching the superior Paradise Lost trilogy and the conclusive West of Memphis

Go to Full Review

Graham Young Birmingham Mail Oct 10, 2014 3/5

It doesn't quite gel as either a proper whodunnit, an insight into a killer's mind, a debate about lyrics in heavy metal music or a gripping legal case.

Go to Full Review

Peter Galvin sbs.com.au Aug 1, 2014 3.5/5

In its way, this is the most terrifying horror movie I've seen in a long time; the woods where the kids die are like something out of Evil Dead. I was left angry and wrung out.

Go to Full Review

Jim Schembri 3AW Aug 1, 2014 2/5

This blandly made dramastisation by Atom Egoyan is an extremely average courtroom piece that, despite strong work by Reece Witherspoon and Colin Firth, feels like a 1970s telemovie.

Go to Full Review

David Stratton The Australian Jul 30, 2014 2/5

It compares most unfavourably with the recent Prisoners, which told an entirely fictional story about missing children with far more intrigue, suspense and cinematic skill than Egoyan's muted effort.

Go to Full Review

Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) Jul 24, 2014 3/5

It is really down to Egoyan's cast to find a way to connect with the viewer on a personal level. Thankfully, one and all are more than up to the task.

Go to Full Review

Jason Di Rosso At the Movies (Australia) Jul 24, 2014 2/5

It's a pity to see [director Atom] Egoyan fumbling around here, unable to create anything great with the material - be it mood, drama or social critique. It's far from his best work.

Go to Full Review