The biggest stars in the film industry today are some of the most recognizable names and faces in the world. One of those names is unavoidably Tom Holland. Holland has been in the professional acting space for a long time, and at the young age of 26, he has easily become a household name. Holland is probably most known for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this franchise, Holland has showcased his charisma, wit, and physicality in his acting. Well, in Netflix’s The Devil All The Time, Holland switches things up for the better.
Holland plays Arvin Eugene Russell in this Netflix drama thriller. Alongside fantastic performances from Bill Skarsgård and Robert Pattinson, Holland gives audiences a new flavor to his acting that strays far away from the superhero suit. Even with some great movies in his filmography, The Devil All The Time might just be his best movie so far. Per IndieWire, director Antonio Campos called him "one of the greats of his generation." In fact, if he keeps going in this direction, we might just witness the beginning of an incredibly long and successful career for the young actor.
Rising to the Challenge
The Devil All The Time is not the kind of movie we expected from Holland, when his most popular role happens to involve him playing a charismatic and bright, young Spider-Man. However, the payoff of this risk is definitely worth it. As an actor in the entertainment business today, being a one-trick pony is not going to fly. The most versatile talents are the ones that go above and beyond in their careers. The Devil All The Time is the movie that shows audiences how clearly Holland fits into that category. This movie is heavy. It’s dark, and the subject matter is incredibly disturbing. Holland is tasked with harnessing the pain, guilt, and anger required of him in this role. Holland’s acting career is pretty much defined by being Spider-Man: he’s energetic, fun, funny, a kid. In this movie, however, he is forced to be something completely different. Along with this, Holland is meant to hold up his own acting alongside the performances by Bill Skarsgård and Robert Pattinson. Did he deliver? 100%!
Change of Pace
Careers, especially in acting, are defined by unpredictable ups and downs. The pacing can change all the time, and when Holland stepped foot into a movie like The Devil All The Time, it was a surprisingly refreshing change of pace for him. After Spider-Man, people have become fans of Holland as an actor. Therefore, people are willing now more than ever to see what other projects he is in. The Devil All The Time is a drama thriller that is incredibly disturbing and dark, a stark contrast to many of Holland's biggest films. This movie is about a young man who uncovers the dark and twisted secrets that are sewn into the fabric of a small-town community. For an up-and-coming actor like Holland, it is imperative to be dynamic in order to keep the momentum going. It keeps people and fans interested in his career. Holland doing this movie lets audiences see a different side of him, a good (and impressive) change of pace.
An Actor That Can Do It All
Holland is just starting out in his career. However, his massive amount of success has come from playing a young superhero, a bright, and uplifting kid. Playing a character in a Marvel movie is a defining moment in any actor's career. As an audience, sometimes it is hard for us to imagine Holland in any other role without thinking about him as Peter Parker. He definitely proves us wrong with his role in The Devil All The Time. This movie showcases his range and abilities as an actor beyond the thrilling action stunts and hilarious interactions with others. If you were doubting Holland's acting ability at all, you definitely won't after watching this movie.
A Genre That Can Age With Him
Just to point out the obvious, Holland cannot be Spider-Man forever (physically and visually). It has been known that Holland has been involved in performing a lot of his own stunts. In fact, this is a part of his appeal as an actor that makes him stand out. However, in The Devil All The Time, we get to see a new side of Holland that, in terms of longevity, is a great genre for him to fall into. This kind of heavy and emotional drama is a genre he can do for the rest of his acting career. In fact, the older he gets, the more maturity he can utilize and pour into his future performances. This is only a taste of what he is capable of, and that is what makes The Devil All The Time Holland's best movie to date.