'Twas the Devil (2021)
Set in England's dark past, Zachary (Simon Cleary), desperately hauls his wife's corpse towards her final resting place. You - the viewer - guide Zachary and make choices along his journey, as he encounters a host of deranged locals through a mind-bending landscape in a unique interactive experience.
'Twas the Devil is a feature-length interactive choose-your-own adventure folk horror experiment in digital storytelling with multiple endings. Watch here:
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Crew
Written and directed by Mark Garvey
Produced by Máiréad Fitzpatrick, Callum Oakaby-Wright, Mark Garvey
Co-produced by Rachel Cuthill, Tom Gillson, Michael Manning
Cinematography, editing and sound design by Mark Garvey
Sound recording by Máiréad Fitzpatrick, Michael Manning, Jheryl Stewart, Callum Oakaby-Wright
Music by Tasha Fights Tigers
Artwork and illustration by Brad Robert Benford
Makeup by Rachel Cuthill
Cast of Characters:
Zachary Makepiece: Simon Cleary
Agnes Makepiece: Máiréad Fitzpatrick
Mary: Rachel Cuthill
Maddox: Scott Robinson
Martin: Philip K. Meadows
Mephistopheles: Gerry George
Man-animal: Mario St. Phillips
Miles: Callum Oakaby-Wright
Mourner: Keir Husband
Medicine Man: Marco Marconi
Mage: Caroline Fitch
Motionless man: Alex Laurence
Mowed man: Ben Drake
Matthew Montague: Michael Manning
Musician: Bill Hooper
Mercer: Chris Nicholls
Moor: Akar Faraj
Man-fool: Chris Punter
Marionette man: Moses Quinby
Merchant: Nathan Loughran
Medium: Maureen Roche
Man O the Woods: Mark Garvey
Mirth maker: Ian Tucknott
Marchamont: Stuart Offord
Mesmerised: Emma Tozer
Mesmerised: Sam Sergeant
Mesmerised: Matt Harvey
Mesmerised: John Cameron
Mesmerised: Gary Karvem
Millicent: Rosie Hooper
Minister: Brad Robert Benford
Major Matrell: Tom Gillson
Trivia:
All of the place names mentioned in East Anglia are real places: Boxford, Boxted, Broxted, Buxhall, Claxton, Croxton, Exning, Felixstowe, Flixton, Foxearth, Hoxne, Ixworth, Laxfield, Lexden, Oxborough, Oxen End, Saxlingham Nethergate, Saxmundham, Saxtead, Spexhall, Spixworth, Thaxted, Waxham, Wixoe, Wroxham, Yaxham, Yaxley and Yoxford, and each has "X" in their name.
FAQ:
In what way is ‘Twas the Devil an “interactive” film?
‘Twas the Devil is an interactive film in that you - the viewer - interact with it to influence its narrative. At various stages along the journey, the viewer must make choices as to what Zachary will do, where he will go, how he will act etc., and your choices have consequences in terms of what happens next ... or later 0n.
What choice should I make ... how should I choose?
Choose whatever you want. The choice is yours. Literally. There are no right or wrong choices; no good or bad choices; just different choices, which lead to different experiences. If you want to, you can return to previous choices and choose different options in order to see alternative outcomes of the various decisions.
So, I can watch it again and make different choices?
Yes, the choices you make lead to different journeys and eventually to unique outcomes. You can re-watch the film and make different choices to have an alternative experience. Some choices lead to entirely different journeys; whereas, others generate varied versions of similar scenarios, and the film has at least eight possible endings.
Do I complete the game if I get Zachary to Thaxted?
Zachary’s aim is to reach Thaxted. Whether you guiding him there or not constitutes success of any kind is for to do decide. Your experience of the narrative and whatever happens as a result of your choices is not judged or scored in any way by anyone but you. ‘Twas the Devil is a film, not a game, and is “completed” once the end credits roll.
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