THE FILM:

British import The Devil's Business feels more like an episode of Hammer House of Horror than a theatrical film, but I am not complaining. This is an unexpectedly tense, slightly bizarre exercise in occult horror that just happens to use a pair of hitmen as its leads. The film is talky in its first half but runs a lean 69 minutes, complete with gonzo climax and Tarantino-esque exchanges between the leads. I am not sure how much replay value this one has, but anyone looking for a horror/British gangster mash-up should give it a spin.

Hired assassins Pinner (Billy Clarke) and Cully (Jack Gordon) enter a shadow-cloaked country home belonging to target Kist (Jonathan Hansler). Mob boss Bruno (Harry Miller) called in the job, and the target is of substantial but unexplained importance. Pinner, the old pro, attempts to remain patient with nervous Cully, and quiets him by telling an extended story about his past hit on a beautiful exotic dancer. The supernatural elements of this tale are not idle chatter, and the men soon realize something is very off about Kist's house. They discover an altar, pentagram and other occult markings, and Pinner begins to wonder exactly how Bruno and Kist became acquainted.

Revealing more about the story would be a disservice to potential viewers, but the film veers into horrific waters around its halfway point. There are also elements of dark comedy and moral drama; impressive given the scant running time. Director Sean Hogan shoots the extended dialogue scenes with tight focus, and manages to create an extreme unease about corners of the house left unseen. The director builds much tension without flashy effects or ridiculous jump scares, and lenses subtly stylish shots that play with light and shadow. Clarke and Gordon stage an excellent back-and-forth that hints at the toll of such a life on one's soul, and Hansler entertains with his mysterious, deadpan character.

I was not familiar with director Hogan before watching The Devil's Business, and this looks to be his most satisfying horror film to date, at least according to IMDb. Elements of this film reminded me of Ti West's The House of the Devil, and I will certainly check out Hogan's next film. A dive into DVD Talk's un-reviewed screener pool occasionally results in an unexpected treat, and The Devil's Business is one such surprise. An unconventional blend of horror, drama and pitch-black comedy, The Devil's Business is a tricky yarn indeed.

THE BLU-RAY:

PICTURE:

The 2.35:1/1080p/AVC-encoded image from Mondo Macabro does a nice job handling this very dark film. Much of the action is draped in shadows, and the Blu-ray keeps blacks inky without crushing all the details within. This is only a single-layer disc, but the image is free from compression artifacts and detail and texture are generally good. There are a couple of shots that look a tad soft, but that may be due to the low-budget production design.

SOUND:

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is also good, and immerses the viewer inside the creepy house. Directional effects make use of the surrounds, and the LFE comes alive at a few key moments. Dialogue is generally crisp and without complaint, and the track handles quieter, dialogue-heavy scenes nicely. An English Dolby Digital stereo mix is also available, but subtitle options are nil.

PACKAGING AND EXTRAS:

This two-disc set contains the Blu-ray and a DVD copy of the film. Extras include several Music Videos (15:26 total/HD); an Outtake (0:54/HD); and an EPK-style Making-Of (9:21/HD). You also get some Interviews (1:08:12 total/HD) with the cast and crew and an Audio Commentary with Director Sean Hogan and Producer Jennifer Handorf.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

British import The Devil's Business recalls the old Hammer House of Horror series, and is a lean, unexpected mash-up of gangster drama and horror. Stylishly shot and more than a little creepy, The Devil's Business is Recommended.

William lives in Burlington, North Carolina, and looks forward to a Friday-afternoon matinee.