Devil's Knot | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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Where to Watch Devil's Knot What to Know Critics Reviews Audience Reviews My Rating Cast & Crew More Like This Related Movie News Photos Devil's Knot

26%

Tomatometer

98 Reviews

39%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

The Arkansas town of West Memphis makes national headlines when three teenagers are arrested for the brutal murders of three little boys.

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Devil's Knot

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Critics Consensus

Devil's Knot covers fact-based ground that's already been well-traveled with multiple (and far more compelling) documentaries.

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Critics Reviews

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David Stratton

The Australian

It compares most unfavourably with the recent Prisoners, which told an entirely fictional story about missing children with far more intrigue, suspense and cinematic skill than Egoyan's muted effort.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 30, 2014

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Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

In literary adaptations such as Felicia's Journey and The Sweet Hereafter, Egoyan has shown that he can depict darkness and explore loss. But here, he feels mired in stereotypes, or dependent on images that documentaries have already created.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 23, 2014

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Haunting artistry aside, it's hard to see what Egoyan brings to the table that hasn't already been covered in print (Mara Leveritt's book provides source material), on screen and elsewhere in the media.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 15, 2014

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Does a good job of telling a fascinating, if somewhat familiar story. Egoyan has stripped away the clinical nature of the documentary retellings of the story to reveal the personalities behind the headlines.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 1, 2021

Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Devil's Knot is an adept, straightforward recounting of a judicial travesty.

Aug 13, 2020

Full Review

Alberto Abuín

Espinof

A disappointment that is only partially saved by its actors. [Full Review in Spanish]

May 14, 2020

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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sean a Amazingly done. Brings to light the corruption in the american justice system. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/18/24 Full Review Dani G Interesting, but mediocre, much like most of Egoyan's work. He delivers entertaining with intriguing stories like this one, but always with a low ceiling, really Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/20/24 Full Review Wolfgang G Devil's Knot – Im Schatten der Wahrheit ist eine Filmbiografie von Atom Egoyan. Der Film basiert auf dem gleichnamigen Bestseller von Mara Leveritt, der den Fall der West Memphis Three beschreibt.… Drei Teenager werden angeklagt, drei Kinder bei einem Ritualmord getötet zu haben. Doch der Privatdetektiv Lax ist nicht von der Schuld der Jugendlichen überzeugt… Ein durchaus sehenswerter Film, aber er will die gesamte Geschichte erzählen… Es ist schwierig, sie so zu komprimieren und in zwei Stunden zu erzählen… Die Wahrheit ist seltsamer als die Inszenierung und das ist mangelhaft für eine Filmbiografie… Kurz gesagt, Devil's Knot hat Schwierigkeiten, sich zu entscheiden, zwischen einer Filmbiografie oder einem Kriminalfilm… Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/01/23 Full Review billy a This movie was very suspenseful. I would've liked to see a different ending. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/25/23 Full Review Jen G Don't waste your time. "Based on a true story" is no excuse for lazy storytelling and inept character development. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/16/23 Full Review Sonia W Don't do it! No satisfactory conclusion - no 'bad guy' caught - just bumbling half dramatic information in a whirlpool that leaves you haunted (note - Ms Witherspoon pregnant when filming and ... DO NOT look at the real life photos of the dead children 😱😱🥶 Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Devil's Knot

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Cast & Crew

Atom Egoyan Director Colin Firth Ron Lax Reese Witherspoon Pam Hobbs Dane DeHaan Chris Morgan Mireille Enos Vicki Hutcherson Bruce Greenwood Judge David Burnett

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Devil's Knot

A scene from "Devil's Knot."

Reese Witherspoon as Pam Hobbs in "Devil's Knot."

A scene from "Devil's Knot."

Reese Witherspoon as Pam Hobbs in "Devil's Knot."

Colin Firth as Ron Lax in "Devil's Knot."

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Synopsis The Arkansas town of West Memphis makes national headlines when three teenagers are arrested for the brutal murders of three little boys.

Director: Atom Egoyan
Producer: Elizabeth Fowler, Richard Saperstein, Clark Peterson, Christopher Woodrow, Paul Harris Boardman
Screenwriter: Paul Harris Boardman, Scott Derrickson
Distributor: Image, RLJ Entertainment
Production Co: Worldview Entertainment
Genre: Drama, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 9, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 30, 2017
Runtime: 1h 54m