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Plot Summary

Devil (2010) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2010 · 80 min · English
JustWatch #1,454 13
Directed by
John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle
Starring
Chris Messina, Bokeem Woodbine, Caroline Dhavernas

When an elevator breaks down in a Philadelphia office building, five strangers find themselves trapped together. As tensions rise and claustrophobia sets in, their hidden secrets and troubled histories begin to surface. Paranoia escalates when they realize one of them may be concealing a sinister identity, leading to a terrifying ordeal that tests their sanity and forces them to confront their deepest fears.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Devil
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Devil (2010)

Where can you watch Devil? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Free and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Devil: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Devil (2010) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

The film begins with a haunting narration from Ramirez, who recounts how his mother always warns of the Devil roaming the earth, with each tale starting with a suicide. In a jarring incident in Philadelphia, a man jumps from a skyscraper, prompting Detective Bowden to investigate the scene. Bowden, a recovering alcoholic haunted by the tragic loss of his wife and child in an unsolved hit-and-run, grapples with personal demons as he delves into the case.

Meanwhile, five individuals with checkered pasts find themselves trapped in an elevator within the same building. Among them is Ben Larson, a temp security guard with a history of violence; an elderly woman (played by Jenny O'Hara), plagued by compulsive stealing; Vince McCormick, a mattress salesman tangled in fraudulent schemes; Tony, a war veteran seeking a new job; and Sarah Caraway, the wife of the building's security owner, currently in a legal meeting.

As the plot thickens, tension rises within the elevator as it abruptly stalls between floors. After an eerie power outage, Sarah suffers an unexplained injury, leading the others to suspect Vince of malice. The situation deteriorates further when the occupants begin to die one by one, with the first victim being Vince, who meets a gruesome end via a shard of glass. Detective Bowden, sensing an eerie link to the earlier suicide, is driven to uncover a deeper truth as he scrutinizes the building's guest log, noting that four individuals have missed their appointments, including Sarah, Vince, Ben, and an individual misreported as Jane Kowski.

The plot escalates with the shocking conclusion that the old woman is actually the Devil in disguise, as she reveals herself amidst the chaos, claiming Tony as her next victim. The story reaches its climax when Tony, burdened by the guilt of his past actions—a fatal drunken hit-and-run—confesses, uttering, > "I'm so sorry." This moment of penance disrupts the Devil's intentions, allowing him to escape her grasp. As the fire rescue team breaks through to the elevator, Bowden is left stunned by his encounters.

Ultimately, as the film draws to a close, the revelation that Tony is arrested for the death of Bowden's family emerges, yet forgiveness unexpectedly follows. The narrative ends on a reflective note, with Ramirez remarking, "If the Devil is real, then God must be real, too," leaving the audience to ponder the implications of good versus evil in the shadows of their fates. The chilling story ends with the screen fading to black, evoking thoughts of redemption and morality.

Last updated: November 08, 2024 at 03:40

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Plot questions answered

Devil Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Devil (2010): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Who is the Devil among the people trapped in the elevator?

The elderly woman (played by Jenny O'Hara) is revealed to be the Devil in disguise. She unmasks herself during the chaos inside the elevator and announces her intention to claim Tony as her next victim. This twist comes after the group has been dying one by one, with her manipulating the situation to prey on their guilt and fears.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Ramirez's narration establishes that his mother told him stories about the Devil roaming the earth, with each tale beginning with a suicide.

  • elderly woman
  • devil identity
  • twist
  • supernatural
Q2

Why does the Devil target Tony in the elevator?

The Devil targets Tony because he is guilty of a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed Detective Bowden's wife and child. Tony is a war veteran who has been carrying this guilt, and the Devil preys on people burdened by their sins. During the climax, Tony confesses to the crime, admitting 'I'm so sorry,' which disrupts the Devil's plans to claim him.

Foreshadowing: Detective Bowden's investigation reveals he is haunted by the loss of his family in an unsolved hit-and-run, establishing that the driver has never been caught.

  • tony
  • guilt
  • hit-and-run
  • bowden family
  • confession
Q3

How does Tony survive the Devil's attempt to kill him?

Tony survives by confessing to his past crime, the fatal hit-and-run that killed Bowden's family. When he voices his guilt and says 'I'm so sorry,' this moment of genuine penance disrupts the Devil's intentions. The Devil's power appears to be weakened by confession and moral reckoning, allowing Tony to break free from her grasp temporarily.

Foreshadowing: The Devil's pattern throughout the film involves preying on guilt, suggesting that moral truth weakens her hold.

  • tony survival
  • confession
  • penance
  • redemption
Q4

Why do the elevator passengers start dying one by one?

The passengers die because the Devil, disguised as the elderly woman, is systematically killing them. She manipulates the situation to create paranoia and fear among the trapped individuals, then kills them through seemingly accidental means, Vince dies when glass from a broken light fixture impales him. The Devil targets those with moral transgressions, using their guilt against them.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that the Devil 'roams the earth' and preys on sinners, with Ramirez's opening narration about tales starting with suicide.

  • deaths
  • murders
  • devil
  • supernatural
  • guilt
Q5

What is the connection between the opening suicide and the elevator events?

The man who jumps from the skyscraper at the beginning is connected to the Devil's presence in the building. Detective Bowden investigates this suicide and senses an eerie link to the elevator killings, noting that four individuals in the building have missed their appointments. The suicide serves as the Devil's entry point to the building, following Ramirez's narration that each Devil story begins with a suicide.

Foreshadowing: Ramirez's opening narration explicitly states that stories about the Devil begin with suicides.

  • suicide
  • connection
  • bowden investigation
  • building
Q6

What is the twist about Tony and Detective Bowden?

Tony is revealed to be the hit-and-run driver who killed Bowden's wife and child, an unsolved case that has haunted Bowden throughout the film. This connection is discovered after Tony confesses in the elevator. At the film's end, Bowden arrests Tony for the crime, but then offers forgiveness, creating a bittersweet resolution where justice is served but mercy is also extended.

Foreshadowing: Bowden's character is established as a recovering alcoholic haunted by his family's death in a hit-and-run that was never solved.

  • tony
  • bowden
  • hit-and-run
  • arrest
  • twist
  • forgiveness
Q7

Why does the Devil appear as an elderly woman?

The Devil takes the form of an elderly woman, a seemingly harmless, vulnerable person, to manipulate the other trapped individuals. This disguise allows her to gain trust and observe the group's dynamics while they suspect each other of malicious intent. The contrast between her innocent appearance and her true nature amplifies the horror and betrayal within the confined space.

Foreshadowing: The elderly woman is described as having a compulsion for stealing, a minor sin that makes her appear more human and less suspicious.

  • devil form
  • disguise
  • elderly woman
  • trick
Q8

How does Vince die in the elevator?

Vince dies when a piece of glass from a broken light fixture impales him. After the power outage, the elevator lights flicker and glass shatters, seemingly an accident but actually orchestrated by the Devil. The other passengers initially suspect Vince of causing Sarah's mysterious injury, making his violent death appear as divine justice or tragic coincidence.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tension builds when Sarah is injured after the power outage and Vince becomes the prime suspect.

  • vince
  • glass
  • death
  • murder
Q9

Why does Detective Bowden forgive Tony at the end?

Bowden forgives Tony after arresting him because the experience of confronting evil in the elevator has led both men to a moment of moral reckoning. Tony's confession and apparent remorse in the elevator, combined with Bowden's own spiritual awakening through the Devil's presence, leads him to offer forgiveness despite the devastating loss of his family. This choice reflects the film's theme that the existence of evil implies the existence of good.

Foreshadowing: The Devil's defeat through confession sets up the possibility of redemption and mercy.

  • bowden
  • forgiveness
  • tony
  • ending
  • redemption
Q10

What does Ramirez mean when he says 'If the Devil is real, then God must be real too'?

Ramirez's closing line suggests that the existence of pure evil in the world necessitates the existence of pure good. After witnessing the Devil's presence and the moral struggles of the trapped individuals, Ramirez concludes that the cosmic battle between good and evil implies both forces are real. This reflects the film's exploration of morality, redemption, and the duality of human nature.

Foreshadowing: Ramirez establishes his mother's tales as the frame for understanding supernatural evil throughout the film.

  • ramirez
  • quote
  • god
  • devil
  • theme
  • philosophy

Movie threads

More Movies Like Devil, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Devil tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about group paranoia like Devil

Confined spaces where strangers unravel and hidden threats emerge. If you liked the tense, trapped dynamic of Devil, you'll enjoy these claustrophobic thrillers where characters turn on each other. Discover similar movies about paranoia, hidden identities, and the terrifying ordeal of being stuck with a potential killer.

  • claustrophobic
  • paranoid
  • tense
  • suspenseful
  • sinister
  • anxious
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, dark
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A group of people, often strangers, are forced into a confined space. As a threat becomes apparent, paranoia escalates, leading to accusations and violence as the characters' darkest secrets are revealed one by one.

Why they belong together: They share a core structure of isolation, escalating suspicion, and the chilling revelation that the danger comes from within the group, creating a consistently tense and paranoid atmosphere.

Supernatural judgment stories like Devil

When supernatural forces expose past sins for a final judgment. Fans of Devil's theme of hidden sins being exposed will find these movies compelling. Explore similar supernatural thrillers and horror films where dark pasts are brought to light, testing characters' morality and offering a chance, however bittersweet, for redemption.

  • sinister
  • heavy
  • guilty
  • supernatural
  • judgment
  • redemptive
  • Tone: sinister, heavy, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast, focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A seemingly random supernatural event targets individuals connected by a shared, hidden sin. The confrontation with this evil force becomes a personal trial, forcing each character to face their guilt and leading to a conclusion that blends punishment with a glimmer of moral clarity.

Why they belong together: They are united by the central theme of a supernatural presence acting as an agent of judgment, creating a heavy, morally complex atmosphere where characters' past misdeeds directly influence their fate.

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Movies Like Devil

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Every angle

Devil (2010) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Devil in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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