Released by Netlflix, The Devil All the Time is the most-talked-about film of the year. Critics and audiences are raving about the movie for its spectacular performances by its ensemble cast and its superbly crafted dark and depressing story.
Throughout the film, different characters are introduced with individual stories. Some characters are cruel and wicked, while other characters are innocent and righteous. Though some characters mostly deserved their endings, other characters experienced multiple tragedies and suffered devastating fates.
Carl Henderson
Carl (portrayed by Jason Clarke) was one of the least liked characters in The Devil All the Time. He was a serial killer who enjoyed watching young men being seduced by his wife. He even took pictures of his victims as a token for his murders, which further illustrates his psychopathic nature.
Eventually, Carl is shot and killed by Arvin Russell. His death on screen was one of the satisfying ends to watch, considering Carl's long list of crimes and dispicable personality.
Reverend Preston Teagardin
Like Carl, there is nothing redeemable about Reverend Preston (portrayed by Robert Pattinson), who is a creepy and wicked preacher.
Not only did he insult the Russell family in front of all the churchgoers for their poor upbringing, but he also manipulated many young girls. When Lenora comes to him about her pregnancy with his child, Reverend Preston puts the blame on her and refuses to take responsibility, resulting in her suicide. Like Carl, his death was a satisfying one for viewers to watch on-screen.
Sheriff Lee Bodecker
Initially, Sheriff Lee (portrayed by Sebastian Stan) seemed like any cop doing his job. He responded to Arvin's call regarding his father's suicide. After realizing that Arvin was now an orphan, he tried to accompany and comfort Arvin by sharing his story with his sister.
Unfortunately, his personality changes as he becomes a corrupt sheriff who tries to protect his reputation during an election year. His acts include hiding his sister's crime spree and working with criminals. Following the death of his sister by Arvin, Sheriff Lee eventually becomes the antagonist and tries to get his revenge on Arvin. However, justice is served when Arvin kills Sheriff Lee.
Roy Laferty
Married to Helen Hatton Laferty, Roy Laferty (portrayed by Harry Melling) had a corrupt mind. However, most of his delusions occurred from the resulting symptoms of a spider bite.
He murders his wife in the forest, believing that he could resurrect her. However, after coming to his senses, he tries to run away but lives with the guilt of murdering his wife. He eventually becomes a victim of Sandy and Carl's murder spree. He justifies his punishment as a message from God for his crimes and asks God to look after his only daughter.
Helen Hatton Laferty
Helen Hatton Laferty (played by Mia Wasikowska) was a pious woman married to Roy Laferty. She was great friends with the Russell family, especially with Emma Russell. She was also a loving mother to Lenora Laferty.
Unfortunately, she was faced with misfortune as she was stabbed and killed by her husband. Her death makes her one of the more tragic deaths in the film, considering she was completely innnocent and did her best to be a loving mother and wife.
Sandy Henderson
As the wife of Carl Henderson, Sandy (portrayed by Riley Keough) worked with her husband to murder countless young men for many years. She was used as a seductive object to manipulate their victims before eventually killing them and taking photos during the process.
However, Sandy is one of those cases of someone who got involved with the wrong people. She realized what she was doing with her victims was wrong and tried to get away from Carl. She even had a gun to defend herself against Carl if that time ever came. Not only was she one of the more complex characters, but her life choices and her flaws only showed how little control she had in her abusive life, leaving viewers to somehow feel sympathetic towards her.
Charlotte Russell
Charlotte (portrayed by Haley Bennett) was one of the kindest characters in The Devil All the Time. She was first seen giving out food to a poor person, which caught the attention of Will Russell. She eventually married him and had a son, Arvin.
With Will, Charlotte planned on saving money for a new house as she hoped great things for her family's future. Unfortunately, Charlotte dealt with an unexpected turn in her life when she was diagnosed with cancer. Her fatal illness broke Will. Considering she never did anything bad and was good-natured, her death comes out as one of the saddest and unluckiest tragedies in the Russell family.
Will Russell
Will Russell (portrayed by Bill Skarsgård) lived through too much devastation in his life, which made him one of the more tragic characters in the film. Before returning to Ohio, Will fought in WWII, where he shot a crucified man to end his suffering. The image of the suffering man becomes a memory for Will to remember for the rest of his life.
Though he returns to Ohio with a loving wife and a son, his life turns upside down the moment his wife becomes diagnosed with cancer. He does everything to save to his wife, including endless prayer and killing their family dog as a sacrifice. Unfortunately, his wife dies, leaving Will heartbroken. He is so devasted that he ends his life, to add another tragedy to the Russell family.
Lenora Laferty
Lenora (portrayed by Eliza Scanlen) was struck with horrible luck since she was a baby. Like Arvin, she too became an orphan after her parent's deaths. Because Lenora had no one else to raise her, Emma Russell adopted her as her daughter.
During her teenage years, Lenora had the same religious upbringing as her mother and Emma. She dealt with bullying and molestation from schoolboys, which required Arvin to step in and save her. She even visited her mother's grave and shared that she forgave her father for her mother's death. Despite being one of the purest and most innocent characters, she was sexually assaulted by Reverend Preston and became pregnant. Sadly, her misstep on the bucket leads to her death. Considering all the horrible things that happened to her, Lenora has one of the most tragic stories in the film, and viewers agree that she deserved better.
Emma Russell
Even though Emma Russell (portrayed by Kristin Griffith) was a supporting character, she suffered too many tragedies throughout her life. Though she is alive by the end of the movie, most of her family is gone. She loses a son, a daughter-in-law, and her adopted daughter. She was publicly humiliated by Reverend Preston for her low economic status.
She also can no longer see her grandson since he is fleeing the law for killing Reverend Preston. Emma was considered to be one of the sweetest and caring characters in the film, yet she suffers the most pain, as she loses everyone in her family.
Arvin Russell
Arvin (portrayed by Tom Holland) lived through too many tragedies, watching everyone he loved die in front of his eyes. Their deaths led Arvin to become a vigilante of sorts, to stop all the wicked people in Knockemstiff, Ohio. He watched his mother slowly pass away as his father goes full frenzy to save Arvin's mother. Not only did he watch his favorite dog get killed by his father, but he also discovered his father and step-sister's bodies.
His family also suffered through the shame set upon by Reverend Preston, leading Arvin to seek revenge for his sister. Even after leaving town, misfortune continued to hit Arvin, as other people tried to kill him. Though he got justice, he still lives with the memories of the people he lost, while also leaving behind his only living relative, Emma.