The Devil All the Time

During World War II, Marine Willard Russell discovers the gruesome fate of Gunnery Sergeant Miller Jones, who has been brutally skinned and crucified by Japanese forces. In a merciful act, Willard puts an end to Jones' suffering with a gunshot to the head, marking a haunting moment that will continue to affect him in the years to come.

After the war, Willard returns to his hometown, Coal Creek, West Virginia. On his way, he stops in Meade, Ohio where he meets Charlotte, a waitress at a local diner, leading to an unexpected yet transformative relationship.

Willard and Charlotte marry and settle in Knockemstiff, Ohio, where they welcome their first child, a son named Arvin. This seemingly idyllic life carries the weight of Willard's past traumas, setting the stage for future turmoil.

In 1950, Helen Hatton marries the eccentric preacher Roy Laferty, who displays his devoutness in bizarre ways, including pouring venomous spiders over himself during sermons. As they start their life together, they welcome a daughter named Lenora, unknowingly paving the way for tragedy.

Roy's life takes a dark turn following a severe allergic reaction to a spider bite. In a delusional attempt to resurrect Helen after he fatally stabs her, Roy is shattered when his efforts prove futile and he flees to avoid the consequences of his actions.

On the run, Roy tragically crosses paths with Carl Henderson and Sandy, a sinister couple known for luring and murdering male hitchhikers. After refusing to engage with Sandy, Roy is slain by Carl, adding another layer of tragedy to the unfolding narrative.

By 1957, Willard is engulfed in grief as he prays fervently for Charlotte's healing from cancer. In a desperate act of faith, he sacrifices their family dog at a makeshift cross in the woods, yet his pleas go unanswered, resulting in Charlotte's death.

After the loss of his parents, Arvin is sent to live with his grandmother Emma. In this new environment, he meets Lenora, who becomes not just his sister but also a symbol of the complicated legacies left by their parents.

In 1965, Arvin receives his father's Luger pistol as a birthday gift amidst a backdrop of turmoil. Lenora faces cruel bullying at school, and in a vulnerable moment, she falls prey to Reverend Teagarden's manipulations, resulting in her pregnancy and eventual suicide due to overwhelming shame.

Upon learning about Lenora's condition, Arvin is driven by anger to confront Reverend Teagarden, whom he holds accountable for her suffering. In a moment of vengeance, he kills the preacher using the Luger, unleashing a chain of violence that marks his transition into a darker path.

As Arvin seeks refuge from the aftermath of his actions, he finds himself hitchhiking once again. However, fate intertwines his path with Carl and Sandy, whose sinister nature compels Arvin to defend himself, resulting in a deadly confrontation where he kills both of them.

In the aftermath of the confrontation, Arvin discovers a stash of photographs in Carl and Sandy's glove compartment, revealing the horrifying rituals and murders they committed. This revelation adds weight to the grim legacy he is inadvertently a part of.

With the local sheriff, Lee Bodecker, now aware of the murders, he seeks to dispose of evidence linked to Sandy's demise. When Arvin returns to his hometown, a tense encounter unfolds in the woods, culminating in a deadly clash, leaving Arvin confronted with the consequences of his actions.

As the film draws to a close, Arvin reflects on his tumultuous journey and grapples with his identity. Torn between becoming a devoted husband or being drawn into the military during the Vietnam War, he contemplates the weight of the past and the unpredictability of his future.