The Devil All the Time

The film’s ending leaves us with a sense of grim closure, but also a hint of unresolved tension. Arvin, having taken justice into his own hands by killing Preston Teagardin and other characters involved in wrongdoings, appears to have freed himself from the cycle of violence that has haunted his life. As he prepares to leave Knockemstiff, the sense is that he believes he’s done what needed to be done to cleanse the town of its evil. However, the closing scene, where Arvin considers his future—possibly heading to join the Vietnam War following a radio broadcast—suggests that this cycle may continue elsewhere. It hints that violence and darkness are perpetual forces, capable of passing from one person to another, as symbolized by the recurring themes of sin and corruption in the town.

The presence of the serial killers Carl and Sandy reinforces this idea: even outside Knockemstiff, evil persists in different forms, and darkness isn’t confined to one place. Their macabre deeds—posing victims for photographs after death—highlight how corruption can permeate seemingly unrelated worlds, and that evil often lurks just beneath the surface of everyday life. By weaving their stories into the fabric of the film, the story emphasizes that nobody is truly innocent or heroic; instead, each character is simply trying to find meaning or salvation in a corrupt world.

Ultimately, the film leaves viewers with a complex picture: that violence and evil are woven into human nature, and the struggle to escape or defeat these forces might be an ongoing, perhaps unwinnable, battle. The ending suggests a cautious hope—that individuals like Arvin might find a moment of peace—yet also underscores the sobering reality that the darkness in human hearts continues to burn, ready to resurface in another form, somewhere down the line.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58