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5.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Flying Devils remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies where people talk in stilted, clipped sentences and look like they’re about to jump out of a plane just to escape their own dialogue, then yes. It is definitely for you.
However, if you need modern pacing or characters who act like actual human beings instead of cartoon villains, you’re gonna hate this. It is short, though. So, you know, just watch it.
The whole thing is built around this flying circus group. They spend most of their time looking very serious about their barnstorming while wearing helmets that look like leather skullcaps. It’s honestly kind of charming in that dusty, black-and-white way.
Speed Hardy is our leading man, but he’s got that WWI injury thing going on, which is basically the 1930s version of saying “this guy is going to do something truly unhinged.” He finds out his wife is getting a little too close to the new guy, Bud, and he decides the best way to handle this is not therapy, but a plane crash.
The stunt they plan is just pure, unadulterated madness. Flying planes at each other and jumping out at the last second? It makes me think of The Santa Fe Trail, just in terms of that era’s obsession with big, messy action setups. You can see the wires, you can see the fake sky, and honestly, that’s why it’s good.
The scene where he messes with the lines is so quiet it’s actually kind of creepy. It’s just a guy doing something really dark while everyone else is busy checking their gear.
There’s no big dramatic monologue. He just cuts the line. It’s a very specific, weird detail that stuck with me long after the credits rolled.
It’s not as polished as Tol'able David, but it’s got this weird, twitchy energy. You can feel the movie trying to be a serious drama while secretly knowing it’s just a pulp magazine story brought to life. ✈️
I found myself wondering if they actually had to jump out of those planes. Probably not. But for a second, you almost believe it. And then they cut to a shot that looks like a miniature set, and you remember: Oh yeah, it’s a movie.
It’s not high art. It’s just a story about a guy who really, really needs to find a better hobby than murder. If you want something that doesn't demand you think too hard, pull up a chair.
IMDb —
1928
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