‘The Devil and the Daylong Brothers’ Review: A Fantastic Southern Gothic Musical
The Devil and the Daylong Brothers is a captivating mixture of violence and music.
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What is The Devil and the Daylong Brothers About?
The Devil and the Daylong Brothers is described as a Southern Gothic musical, and it takes the form of a dark action thriller with supernatural undertones and multiple musical sequences.
The story follows three biblically-named brothers—Ishmael, Enoch, and Abraham. They are searching for their father who sold their souls to the Devil before they were born. They’ve made a deal with the Devil’s representative, Clarence, to kill other people who have sold their souls. After a certain number of jobs, Clarence is supposed to tell the brothers where to find their father. When he reneges on their deal, the brothers are forced to enlist the aid of someone from Abraham’s past if they are to have any hope of getting the revenge they feel they’re owed.
The Devil and the Daylong Brothers was directed and co-written by Brandon McCormick. Nicholas Kirk co-wrote the story, and he wrote the music for the film. Starring as the brothers are Brendan Bradley (Ishmael), Nican Robinson (Enoch), and Jordon Bolden (Abraham). Mark Ashworth plays Clarence, and Rainey Qualley is Frankie, the woman from Abe’s past. Also making a featured appearance is Keith Carradine as Nehemiah Daylong.
The Devil and the Daylong Brothers Review
The Devil and the Daylong Brothers is fantastic. If you’re into dark stories, violent action, and musicals, you’re going to have a very good time with this movie. The story is like a Southern Gothic fable, like the legend of Robert Johnson, or Charlie Daniels’ song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” both of which absolutely must have influenced the story of the film. It also feels a bit like Southern Noir movies like Angel Heart (1987), crossed with something like O Brother, Where Art Thou? It’s so much fun!
It all starts with the style. The opening scene introduces us to the Daylong brothers in an opening musical number that incorporates brief animation into the live-action for the introductions of the three main characters. The animation doesn’t return after this scene, but it sets the perfect tone. The Devil and the Daylong Brothers exudes the pulpy aesthetic of a comic book, and the intro sequence establishes that immediately. The cinematography (by Samuel Laubscher) in the opening scene and beyond is dramatic, with individual frames looking a lot like panels straight out of a graphic novel. The first scene also gets us ready for some great music.
The soundtrack and the score for The Devil and the Daylong Brothers are both wonderful. Nicholas Kirk wrote the music, and every musical cue sets the right mood for each scene. The songs are catchy (I’m crossing my fingers for a vinyl release of the soundtrack), and the cast does a phenomenal job singing through their character’s voice. I know that Rainey Qualley has released music in the past under the name Rainsford. I’m not sure about the rest of the cast’s history with music, but they’re all great. Keith Carradine even has his time to sing, and it’s an exceedingly memorable scene.
The visuals and music help the movie to stand out in the best way, but the real heart of the movie is the story. We get to know the Daylong brothers well, and their journey brings out many strong emotions. We get a good sense of their brotherhood in the opening scene, and the rest of the movie tests their bonds as they are pulled in different directions by their inner demons. They are set on a mission of revenge, but through their actions we also see that their personal motivations differ greatly. One might be seeking redemption, another might be looking for closure, and when their path becomes unclear, tensions arise. It’s all well written and well acted.
Frankie also adds tremendously to the story. She is a mystery, a femme fatale in the classic sense, but also a fully developed character with complex emotions. Just the brothers, the audience might have a difficult time determining exactly what Frankie’s goal is, but when it becomes clear it all falls into place. It is a treat to watch her story play out.
The supernatural aspect of the movie is also handled very well. This is a movie about souls being sold to the Devil, so you might expect to see literal depictions of the supernatural. But even though The Devil and the Daylong Brothers contains stylized visuals, the mystical side of the story is grounded. For a lower-budget independent film, it was a smart decision to limit the special effects essentially to gunfire and a small amount of gore. By not showing us anything overtly supernatural, the story feels more gritty. More dangerous.
It’s like we can sense that the Devil is influencing what we see, but we can’t put our finger on exactly how. It brings to mind a quote from The Usual Suspects: “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn’t exist.” The greatest trick The Devil and the Daylong Brothers pulls is making a Southern Gothic musical feel exactly right.
The Devil and the Daylong Brothers Rating and Recommendation
Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5
If you enjoy Southern Gothic movies, revenge thrillers, or musicals, you need to watch The Devil and the Daylong Brothers. Even if you only enjoy one out of those three genres, give the movie a try. I assure you, they are blended together beautifully. After you watch, you might find yourself listening to the soundtrack over and over like me.
Further Reading
- Drained Review: A Seductively Scary Vampire Romance
- Freelance Review: A Suspenseful Psychological Thriller About Editing Snuff
- Southern Gothic Horror Movies
- Best Revenge Movies
- Road Trip Horror Movies
- Best and Worst Horror Movies of 2025
- New/Upcoming Horror Movies
