It’s been 25 years since “The Blair Witch Project” became a cultural phenomenon, using the hook of “found footage” to create a truly original entry into the horror genre.

Since “Blair Witch,” there have been dozens of films that have used that same premise with varying results. The latest film to do this is “Late Night With the Devil” – co-written and co-directed by brothers Cameron and Colin Cairnes.

“Devil” proves to be a film that takes found footage concept to fresh new heights – a meticulously crafted gem that features some great performances, some memorable scary sequences and enough mystery to leave audiences talking long after leaving the theater.

It’s one of the biggest surprises of the year and one of the best horror films since “The Babadook.”

The setup for “Devil” is pretty simple (so much so that it is amazing we haven’t seen this before). David Dastmalchian plays Jack Delroy, the host of a successful late night talk show in the 1970s.

Jack’s aim is to challenge Johnny Carson for late night supremacy, and – as the audience learns in a neat little prologue to set everything up – nearly hits that goal before the tragic death of his wife (Georgina Haig) sends Jack (and the show) into a steady decline.

Desperate to regain his late night footing, Jack opts to go for broke on Halloween night in 1977 – the opening night of sweeps week. The show has several guests meant to draw attention to the show – a psychic (Fayssal Bazzi) who claims he can speak with the dead, a former magician turned skeptic (Ian Bliss), and a parapsychologist turned author (Laura Gordon) and her patient, a young girl named Lilly (Ingrid Torelli), the survivor of a mass suicide who is possessed by an unknown entity.

What starts out as just another episode of the talk show turns into something more sinister – building to a frightening climax.

“Devil” unfolds in real time, with the audience getting to see the original episode in its entirety along with some “never before seen,” behind-the-scenes footage.

This structure allows the Cairnes to effectively build the tension, with the audience knowing something is going to happen but not really sure when or what is going to happen. The filmmakers also take advantage of the film’s 1977 setting, effectively creating the vibe of the era so well that it feels like a real show from that time period.

The cast is outstanding as well, with Dastmalchian effectively creating that wonderful balance of charm and desperation to hold on to his career while also giving off vibes of some dark secrets hiding under the surface. Torelli is a revelation as Lilly, a creepy performance that really gives “Devil” its kick in the final act.

That final act proves to be worth the wait for the audience. While I do wish the filmmakers could have tweaked a sequence late in the film that takes the audience out of the vibe of the rest of the movie, it still leads to a satisfying pay-off that brings it all home in quite a spectacular fashion.

“Late Night With the Devil” is a must for fans of the horror genre, a truly original piece of work that raises the bar for future films in the genre.

Starring: David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon

Directed by: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes

Rating: R for violent content, some gore, and language including a sexual reference.

Playing at: Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10

Grade: A-