Whenever a film is badged with the M. Night Shyamalan insignia it is hard not to begin viewing without some obvious preconceptions. One expects some mystical, spiritual or other-worldliness in it's tale and we inwardly check the closets and shadows anticipating the final twist we have so come to expect from Mr Shyamalan’s offerings. But it seems this is where all similarities end as Devil, part one of the supposedly Twilight Zone-esque Night Chronicles trilogy, is quite clearly a different affair.

Post the initial office-block suicide jumping, the premise of Devil sees five people trapped in an elevator who mysteriously become victim to physical harm and death during random lighting blackouts while hapless security guards look on via CCTV. The claustrophobic atmosphere is indeed palpable while the interjecting subplots can be exhausting but all the time we continue down Shyamalan’s garden path, only briefly leaving the confined space, under the watchful eye of Director John Erick Dowdle.

However, preconceptions aside, Devil does entertain if not for some steely performances from its slimmed down cast, Bojana Novakovic’s fear is believable where Bokeem Woodbine’s take charge Ben Larson dominates the unfolding mystery. But as we alight upon the films climax, with all the usual twists and turns ticked off, one can't help but wonder how a slasher movie dressed up as psychological thriller, ever got past the embryonic stage in M. Night Shyamalan’s imagination. Perhaps this film’s full potential will be realized in context against the next two installments from the mind of the man who has been labeled ‘The King of Twists’.

Both the DVD and Blu-Ray versions of the movie are released this week and feature some good behind the scenes interviews, deleted scenes and bonus material including a Movie short The Devil’s Meeting explaining the mythology behind the movie’s “El Diablo”. Overall Devil is certainly worth a night in and will have you and your buddies on the edge of your seats but perhaps for the more die-hard Shyamalan fan the content may prove to be a lesson in adaptation.