Demon 79
Year: 2023
Directed by: Toby Haynes
Starring: Paapa Essiedu & Anjana Vasan,
Runtime: 74 minutes
Published: 30/06/23
Directed by: Toby Haynes
Starring: Paapa Essiedu & Anjana Vasan,
Runtime: 74 minutes
Published: 30/06/23
Since 2011 Black Mirror has been telling cautionary tales about technology gone wrong and for the most part, they’ve been pretty amazing. They’ve covered just about any genre you can wave a stick at, and they have usually dissected complex issues to promote moral and ethical discussion on the topic. But whilst creating Series Six, creator Charlie Brooker envisaged expanding the show beyond technology, creating a sister anthology series dubbed ‘Red Mirror’, based around more supernatural themes. To test the waters, the final episode of Black Mirror’s Series Six, Demon 79, is our first glimpse at what Red Mirror could hold in store; and I’m all in.
Nida Huq (Anjana Vasan) is a shoe sales assistant at a department store. When she stumbles upon a talisman that she accidentally smears in blood, she awakens the demon Gaap (Paapa Essiedu) who tells her that she must make three human sacrifices in three days or the world will be consumed by flames. Swearing only to kill those who have committed evil deeds, Nida and Gaap become judge, jury, and executioner to save the world.
Series Six has had a peculiar aversion to technology, and for the most part it has not worked in Black Mirror’s favour. Black Mirror stories are at their strongest when technology we have, or technology we want is turned against us. So, when I discovered that Demon 79 was to intentionally have no link to technology, but instead to the supernatural I was sceptical. Horror short films are a dime a dozen because they’re cheap to make and usually thrive off a more constrained production. So, what would make Demon 79 stand out?
The answer is the comedy, something I also did not expect from Black Mirror. The dynamic between Nida and Gaap is incredible, and I really loved how the episode always made an effort to put both of their characters out of their comfort zone. Nida being an introvert who is cast out by society because she’s a foreigner in a time where racial prejudice was rife and openly accepted. Gaap being a demon in training who doesn’t fully understand his assignment and is making it up as he goes along to help made Nida feel better about her situation.
Nida Huq (Anjana Vasan) is a shoe sales assistant at a department store. When she stumbles upon a talisman that she accidentally smears in blood, she awakens the demon Gaap (Paapa Essiedu) who tells her that she must make three human sacrifices in three days or the world will be consumed by flames. Swearing only to kill those who have committed evil deeds, Nida and Gaap become judge, jury, and executioner to save the world.
Series Six has had a peculiar aversion to technology, and for the most part it has not worked in Black Mirror’s favour. Black Mirror stories are at their strongest when technology we have, or technology we want is turned against us. So, when I discovered that Demon 79 was to intentionally have no link to technology, but instead to the supernatural I was sceptical. Horror short films are a dime a dozen because they’re cheap to make and usually thrive off a more constrained production. So, what would make Demon 79 stand out?
The answer is the comedy, something I also did not expect from Black Mirror. The dynamic between Nida and Gaap is incredible, and I really loved how the episode always made an effort to put both of their characters out of their comfort zone. Nida being an introvert who is cast out by society because she’s a foreigner in a time where racial prejudice was rife and openly accepted. Gaap being a demon in training who doesn’t fully understand his assignment and is making it up as he goes along to help made Nida feel better about her situation.
Vasan and Essiedu’s performances are really brilliant here, I loved how each of them committed to their role. It was great seeing Vasan adapt the character of Nida to become more confident and rebellious as the episode went on, and Essiedu not only had excellent comic timing in his line delivery but also his physical mannerisms and the way he wore the costume inspired by Boney M’s Bobby Farrell.
Even when the story becomes cliché, it never becomes tiresome or tedious because of these two electric performances thrusting the narrative forward. Every moment they were on screen was a delight and they both go down as two of the best performances in Black Mirror history for me.
Demon 79 has a great retro aesthetic too. We’ve seen Black Mirror do the 80’s with Bandersnatch and to see that same level of commitment here for the 70’s was a real treat. The footage has been made to look like it’s been shot on film too, with grain and film imperfections giving it a grimy video nasty vibe. The soundtrack is also excellent, with several Boney m hits used throughout the episode, which works excellently as both music for a funny moment, and a horrific moment.
If this is what Brooker has planned for Red Mirror then I am really looking forward to more of it. As a Black Mirror episode it actively works against most of what the show is known for, but I feel that even if you’re not into supernatural horror that Demon 79 has enough to offer you in its great writing and brilliant performances that you could enjoy it anyway. Personally, I loved it, and I really hope Brooker gets to create more stuff like this in the future…but I don’t want it to come at the cost of Black Mirror’s usual output.
Even when the story becomes cliché, it never becomes tiresome or tedious because of these two electric performances thrusting the narrative forward. Every moment they were on screen was a delight and they both go down as two of the best performances in Black Mirror history for me.
Demon 79 has a great retro aesthetic too. We’ve seen Black Mirror do the 80’s with Bandersnatch and to see that same level of commitment here for the 70’s was a real treat. The footage has been made to look like it’s been shot on film too, with grain and film imperfections giving it a grimy video nasty vibe. The soundtrack is also excellent, with several Boney m hits used throughout the episode, which works excellently as both music for a funny moment, and a horrific moment.
If this is what Brooker has planned for Red Mirror then I am really looking forward to more of it. As a Black Mirror episode it actively works against most of what the show is known for, but I feel that even if you’re not into supernatural horror that Demon 79 has enough to offer you in its great writing and brilliant performances that you could enjoy it anyway. Personally, I loved it, and I really hope Brooker gets to create more stuff like this in the future…but I don’t want it to come at the cost of Black Mirror’s usual output.