Kannada cinema has always had a loyal audience that embraces its mass entertainers with unmatched enthusiasm. Darshan, often celebrated as the Challenging Star, enjoys a massive fan following that guarantees box-office buzz even before a film hits theatres. The Devil, released on December 11, 2025, is no exception. The excitement surrounding the film was tremendous—partly due to the star’s ongoing controversies, and partly because fans believed the movie would redefine the political-thriller genre in Karnataka, with even international viewers searching for The Devil Movie Review in Canada as buzz around the film grew.

But unfortunately, The Devil fails to live up to that hype. Despite promising trailers, a dual role for Darshan, and a political setup ripe with drama, the film collapses under weak writing, outdated execution, inconsistent editing, and painfully loud background music.

In this in-depth The Devil movie review, we break down what worked, what didn’t, and why this big-budget entertainer ultimately misses the mark.

The Devil: Hype vs Reality

Ahead of its release, The Devil enjoyed record-breaking early-morning show bookings in Karnataka. Darshan’s absence from promotions didn’t stop fans—many flocked to theatres solely to support their star.

The trailer hinted at an intense political drama featuring Darshan in a dangerous anti-hero avatar. Expectations soared. Viewers anticipated a story with depth, stylish action, and emotional impact.

But after watching the film, audiences and critics agree: the hype simply didn’t translate into quality.

Plot Overview: A Messy Political Setup With No Payoff

The story opens strong:
The Karnataka Chief Minister, Rajashekar (Mahesh Manjrekar), is jailed on corruption charges. Inside, he learns that his imprisonment was orchestrated by his own nephews, who want to take over the CM’s position. To stop them, he instructs his loyal secretary, IAS officer Anant Nambiar (Achyuth Kumar), to bring his estranged son Dhanush (Darshan) back to India and position him as the next CM.

But Dhanush is introduced as a violent, arrogant, and entitled brat. He murders people for trivial reasons and rejects the offer to join politics.

A twist emerges when Anant meets Krishna, a soft-hearted lookalike of Dhanush, who dreams of becoming a beloved star someday. Krishna runs a small eatery, lives a simple life, and treats everyone with warmth and dignity.

Anant convinces Krishna to impersonate Dhanush and lead the political campaign. This sets off a chain of events where the real Dhanush returns, falls in love with the same woman—Rukmini (Rachana Rai)—and clashes with Krishna.

What could have been an engaging dual-role drama quickly loses direction. The screenplay becomes chaotic, predictable, overly dramatic, and painfully outdated, Click For More.

Where The Devil Completely Fails

1. Weak Screenplay & Chaotic Execution

Despite an interesting premise, the narrative is messy. Scenes jump abruptly, emotional arcs feel incomplete, and conflicts resolve conveniently without any depth.

There is no subtlety—everything is loud, direct, and overly dramatic, making even serious political moments feel cartoonish.

2. Darshan’s Dual Role Is Uneven

Darshan as Krishna delivers a decent, nostalgic performance reminiscent of his earlier films.
However, as Dhanush (The Devil), his character suffers from poor writing. Instead of being menacing, he appears one-dimensional and exaggerated.

3. Shoddy Technicals: Editing, CGI & Production Design

The film’s technical flaws are its biggest downfall:

Bad CGI
Artificial-looking sets
Disjointed editing
Outdated action sequences
Visible props that look like toys
These elements drastically reduce the film’s impact.

4. Worst Music & Background Score

A major complaint from viewers is the ear-splitting background score.
Songs appear out of nowhere and contribute nothing to the narrative. The loudness becomes physically exhausting.

5. Wasted Supporting Cast

Talented actors like Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyuth Kumar, and others barely have anything meaningful to do. Most characters exist only to push the story forward mechanically.

6. Outdated Mass Moments

Instead of offering modern fan-service moments like stylish mass entries or sharp punch dialogues, the film resorts to early 2000s tropes—exaggerated heroism, forced romance, and tired political clichés.

What Works in the Film?

Though limited, there are a few redeeming qualities:

Darshan’s portrayal of Krishna shows glimpses of charm
Some emotional moments land decently
Presentation of fan culture and homage scenes may appeal to die-hard fans
One action sequence in the second half stands out
A few dialogues about the common man feel grounded

But these moments are too few to save the movie from its many flaws.

Audience Reaction: Mixed to Negative

While hardcore Darshan fans cheer for him regardless, neutral audiences and critics have expressed strong disappointment. The film feels long, cluttered, emotionally flat, and technically subpar.

Most viewers agree:
👉 The Devil could have been a powerful political thriller, but poor execution turned it into a missed opportunity.

**Where to Watch The Devil (2025): Streaming & Availability Guide**

As interest in Darshan’s latest film continues globally, many viewers—especially the Kannada diaspora—are searching for where to watch The Devil online or in theatres. Here’s the current availability status:

1. Theatrical Release

The Devil was officially released in theatres across Karnataka and select cities in India on December 11, 2025.
Fans within India can still catch the film in cinemas depending on theatre schedules and regional demand.

2. International Screenings (Including Canada)

For viewers searching where to watch The Devil in Canada, the movie has limited theatrical screenings in cities with high Kannada-speaking populations.
These include:

Toronto
Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Many Kannada film distributors collaborate with local theatres for short-run releases.

3. OTT Release Status

As of now, The Devil has not been officially released on any OTT platform.
However, based on previous releases of Darshan’s films, the OTT rights are likely to be picked up by:

Amazon Prime Video
Zee5
Sony LIV
Sun NXT

Once the OTT platform is announced, the movie will become widely accessible for viewers in India, Canada, the USA, the UAE, the UK, and other regions.

4. IPTV Streaming Options

For international audiences, especially in Canada and the USA, IPTV services often offer regional movie channels that broadcast new Kannada releases.

Platforms like Genius 4K IPTV provide:

Kannada HD movie channels
Theatre print telecasts (legal channel broadcasts only)
Smooth, high-quality streaming without buffering

This makes it one of the easiest ways for Indian audiences abroad to watch regional content legally and seamlessly.

**FAQs (The Devil Movie Review in Canada)**

**1. Is The Devil available to watch in Canada?**

Many Kannada films release in select theatres or digital platforms internationally. Viewers looking for The Devil Movie Review in Canada can check local listings or OTT platforms once the film becomes available.

2. How are audiences reacting to The Devil in Canada?

Based on social discussions, The Devil Movie Review in Canada mirrors Indian reactions—fans appreciate Darshan’s performance as Krishna, but most viewers find the overall film disappointing due to weak execution.

3. Is The Devil worth watching for Canadian audiences who enjoy political thrillers?

According to most The Devil Movie Review in Canada opinions, the film may not satisfy thriller lovers due to its messy narrative. However, Darshan fans may still watch it for his dual-role performance.

4. Does The Devil offer good action sequences for international viewers?

The action sequences are inconsistent. As per multiple The Devil Movie Review in Canada posts, only one fight scene stands out, while the rest feel outdated.

5. Should I wait for OTT release instead of visiting theatres in Canada?

Many reviewers advise waiting for the OTT version. Most The Devil Movie Review in Canada feedback suggests the film is not worth a theatrical experience due to its loud sound and uneven pacing.

The Devil Movie Review: Darshan’s Political Thriller Misses the Mark on Every Level

The Devil: Hype vs Reality

Plot Overview: A Messy Political Setup With No Payoff