Erik Singer thinks the music and melody of Robert Pattinson’s accent in The Devil All the Time is fascinating work

IndieWire spoke with Hollywood dialect coach Erik Singer (apparently the internet’s go to expert on accents) who had this to say about Rob’s accent in The Devil All the Time:

“I mostly loved it,” Singer said of Pattinson’s accent. “First of all, I haven’t seen this noted anywhere, but the character’s actually from a different world. He’s from down in Tennessee. The fact that he does sound a little bit different from everybody else is in support of the story that they’re telling. There are a great many sharply and specifically observed features that are right for the place and time.”

“He’s a preacher who is absolutely in love with his capacities with language,” Singer added, noting the exuberance in Pattinson’s vocal delivery is a character trait and thus not a slight on his accent work. “He’s buying into his own magic, and he’s intoxicated by it.”

The one flaw Singer shared about Pattinson’s accent was his character’s opening monologue about chicken livers, to which Singer said he believed the actor was “not completely dialed in.” Other than that, Singer said, “I think his music and rhythm and melody is really fascinating work. It’s both of the place and time, but also of the character and his profession, and deeply idiosyncratic.”