The Devil’s Advocate (released in theaters on October 17, 1997) struts onto the screen as a deliciously decadent, morally charged supernatural thriller that masterfully fuses legal drama with gothic horror. Directed by Taylor Hackford, the story follows Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves), an exceptionally talented and undefeated defense attorney from Gainesville, Florida.
Driven by a fierce, ruthless desire to win at all costs, Kevin defends a high school teacher he knows is guilty of child molestation.
His stunning victory attracts the attention of a high-powered New York City law firm, which offers him a lavish salary and a luxury Manhattan apartment to join their elite ranks.
Relocating to New York alongside his supportive young wife, Mary Ann (Charlize Theron), Kevin is taken under the wing of the firm’s charismatic, enigmatic head, John Milton (Al Pacino).
As Kevin becomes increasingly consumed by high-stakes corporate cases – working closely with influential clients like like Alexander Cullen (Craig T. Nelson), and colleagues Eddie Barzoon (Jeffrey Jones), and the seductively dangerous Christabella Andreoli (Connie Nielsen) – Mary Ann begins experiencing horrifying, demonic hallucinations.
Ignoring the solemn warnings of his deeply religious mother, Alice (Judith Ivey), and turning a blind eye to his wife’s deteriorating mental state, Kevin surrenders to his own surging vanity.
Ultimately, he faces a shocking realization about Milton’s true supernatural identity, forcing a harrowing final confrontation over free will, moral accountability, and the salvation of his soul.
Charlize Theron in The Devil’s Advocate (Photo/Warner Bros.)
Reception for The Devil’s Advocate
The Devil’s Advocate grossed $12.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing second at the box office behind I Know What You Did Last Summer ($15.8 million).
The film would gross $153 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave The Devil’s Advocate two and a half out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
The Devil’s Advocate‘s legacy endures as a towering, highly entertaining classic of late-1990s mainstream cinema, celebrated for its bold blend of corporate sleaze and gothic spectacle.
Pacino’s legendary, unrestrained performance as John Milton – delivering a fiery monologue for the ages – remains one of the most iconic villainous turns in modern film history.
The feature also served as a major star-making breakthrough for Theron, whose devastating, vulnerable performance earned immense critical praise alongside Reeves’s compelling lead turn.
The Devil’s Advocate is remembered as a brilliantly stylized, deeply quotable masterpiece of modern cinematic excess.
