The phrase spans several decades of cultural history, moving from political protest in the early 20th century to modern gritty cult cinema. 1. The Anti-War Play (1914)

: Two hitmen—a cynical veteran named Pinner and a nervous novice named Cully—are sent to an isolated house to assassinate a former associate of their boss.

In modern pop culture, The Devil's Business is best known as a low-budget, highly acclaimed British horror film directed by Sean Hogan.

The phrase has also been tied to notorious real-world crimes. During the Manson Family murders in 1969, Charles "Tex" Watson reportedly told one of the victims at the Sharon Tate house, . This quote has since been echoed in various media, including Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood . The Devil's Business Review