In 1945 Willard (Bill Skarsgard) has just returned from World War Two. On his way back home he stops in a small town where he meets and falls in love with Charlotte (Hayley Bennett). In 1957 Charlotte falls ill and Willard implores his young son Arvin to pray with him and ask God to save her. In 1965 Arvin (Tom Holland) tries to protect his stepsister Lenora (Eliza Scanlen) from those who would abuse her trusting nature.

Based on the 2011 novel by Donald Ray Pollock, The Devil All The Time takes place between World War Two and The Vietnam War and focuses on how “the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children” and that if there is a God, they do not listen to our prayers. Set across West Virginia and Ohio we see many different characters and how their paths converge and impact upon Willard and Arvin. We will meet preachers who abuse their power in Roy (Harry Melling) and Preston (Robert Pattinson), serial killers who prey on people hitch hiking the rural roads in Carl (Jason Clarke) and Sandy (Riley Keough) and a power hungry sheriff (Sebastian Stan).

Using the author’s rasping voice as the narrator all of these strands are beautifully tied together by brothers Antonio and Paulo Campos who co-wrote the screenplay with Antonio taking on directorial duties. The large cast put in faultless performances and the ensemble is one of the best I have seen in some time. It is also refreshing to see Tom Holland play a more adult role in a darker film than we are used to.

I have to say that I was often reminded of the excellent The Place Beyond The Pines by Derek Cianfrance when watching this film. The manner in which we see a father’s life lessons and behaviour impacting on his son’s life and the lyrical way in which it is told is incredibly reminiscent. Whilst the scorn the film has for preachers who abuse their power and a God that does not listen adds to the dark mood.

I really enjoyed my time in this sprawling book adaptation and would very much recommend it.