The Devil X reviews: DBoss shines, but film is dull and dated, say netizens

Challenging Star Darshan fans were hoping to make a celebration of the release of the actor’s latest film, The Devil, which comes two years after his last, Kaatera. But if the reports from Day 1 at the box office are anything to go by, this joy is likely to be short-lived, much like Kranti. The Devil is a Prakash Veer directorial, and features an ensemble cast including the likes of Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyuth Kumar, Rachana Rai, Sharmiela Mandre, Vinay Gowda, Roger Narayan, Shobaraj, Huli Karthik, Gilli Nata, among others.

Here's what netizens are saying about The Devil

Darshan is seen in double roles in the film, which a section of fans have loved, but others are on the fence, given that the styling and presentation of both are not great. “It’s shocking to see that this comes from the same hero who gave us Kaatera,” wrote an agitated fan, while another urged the actor not to choose scripts like The Devil again."The film is dull and dated," wrote a third. 

Outdated is the buzzword around The Devil, with netizens also pointing out that the VFX work was shoddy, while Ajaneesh Loknath’s music also left a lot to be desired. “No proper story,Routine presentation, No high moments, Streched, apart from that, feels like regular commercial movie without anything new to offer,” wrote a fan, adding that the film’s only positives were Darshan’s screen presence and the face-off between his two characters. “DBoss fans deserve better movies,” wrote another.

Also read: The Devil movie review: Darshan vs Darshan in outdated snooze-fest tale of power and love 

Interestingly, rating and reviews were disabled on ticket aggregator BookMyShow for The Devil, with a note stating that it was owing to a court order. No further details were available about the reason for the same.

The Devil FAQs

Q. What was Darshan Thoogudeepa's last release?

A. Darshan Thoogudeepa was last seen onscreen in 2023's Kaatera , which is available on Z5 (via OTTplay Premium also).

Q. What is Darshan's new film?

A. Darshan's new film is The Devil, which has him reuniting with Tarak maker Prakash Veer. The film had been announced as a December 12, 2025 release, but was then advanced by a day. The film has released in the actor's absence, as he is currently in jail in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case.

Q. List the cast of The Devil

A. The Devil is led by Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is paired with Rachana Rai. The film also stars Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyuth Kumar, Vinay Gowda, Chandu B Gowda, among many others.