Demon 79

"Demon 79" is the fifth and final episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction anthology series Black Mirror. It was written by series creator Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali, and directed by Toby Haynes. Alongside the rest of the sixth series, it premiered on Netflix on 15 June 2023. It stars Nida (Anjana Vasan), a mild-mannered sales assistant who accidentally releases the demon Gaap (Paapa Essiedu), whom only she can see. Gaap tells her she must commit three murders to prevent the end of the world. The episode was released under the label Red Mirror, the result of Brooker experimenting with supernatural horror and past settings. It was the first episode written in the sixth series, with which Brooker aimed to rethink the programme's scope. Set in 1979, it shows anti-immigration politics of the Conservative Party and National Front. It was filmed in June 2022 in Harrow, London at The Landmark. The demon Gaap, initially written as a punk, has a look influenced by Bobby Farrell of Boney M., whose music is used in the soundtrack. The episode draws from horror fiction, fashion and settings of the 1970s. It is unclear throughout the episode whether Nida is imagining her interactions with Gaap. Reviews were positive, with Essiedu's and Vasan's acting widely praised, alongside the episode's comedy. However, it was ranked relatively low on critics' lists of Black Mirror installments by quality. The episode received seven nominations at the 2024 British Academy Television Awards, winning Best Writing: Drama for Booker and Ali, and Best Photography and Lighting Design: Fiction for Stephan Pehrsson.