I won’t lie; they had me in the first half! Going in blind, the setting, the performances, the wardrobe, and the camera work lulled me into the pretense that it wouldn’t be a mess. However, I was wrong. I watched this movie with two friends on a Saturday night, and it was a chaotic ride! I recommend watching it with friends for their commentary. Also, to experience the performances because they shine through despite the dialogue. I was entertained, but I wouldn’t watch it again. The Deliverance is based on a true story. It follows a single mother and her children as they experience supernatural occurrences in their new home. Good luck (you might enjoy it) and godspeed (but you might suffer) if you decide to check it out.
The Good Word
To highlight the positives first: the performances were top-notch! The cast made some of the silliest lines believable while complimenting the stronger scenes and dialogue. Although Alberta’s character was a choice I disliked, Glenn Close played the role exceptionally. There were complicated character moments that gave the characters depth. Andra Day’s performance blew me away, although I would have called CPS on her character swiftly ( I am a mandated reporter). I was happy to see Mo’Nique in another horror movie after The Reading because, with the right direction, she EATS. She did great, and I’d look forward to seeing more of her in the genre. The young actors were believable and terrifying in some scenes.
I loved the setting. I want to see more horror happening in neighborhoods that feel familiar to my upbringing. There’s a spark of excitement when the demons go past the gates of the suburban culdesac and pop up on your block and blow off your grandma’s wig. The set and the camera work did some heavy lifting for the visuals. The wardrobe reminds me of Richmond, VA in ‘08; horror can use more final girls with quick weaves and French tips. This is one of the few times I’ve seen a sew-in scene (Bad Hair gives us a tense sew-in scene).
The Devil Works Hard
While much of the familiarity felt good, some of it felt stale. The first half was promising, and then the film became a generic demon possession film. The last half felt formulaic, although multiple possessions were happening at once. The possessed behave erratically (usually after showing signs of being off), there are trials of figuring out what’s going on, and the characters find out demons are responsible (clearly!). Then there’s a fight between one of God’s soldiers and the demon: the day is saved. The big demon battle felt unserious because of the dialogue. The digital effects during the demon activities took me out of the movie, but I have seen worse. People died, so at least the stakes were high.
The dialogue is what delivered me to hell. I would be deeply engaged in a compelling scene, and then a wild conversation would snatch me right out of the film. There’s a viral quote from the film that made me roll my eyes until I saw my skull. Once the movie reached the demon boss fight, I was checking my watch. Listening to cringe conversations over a nearly 2-hour runtime felt exhausting. It’s a shame because there are moments of great dialogue.
Overall, I think it’s a film you should explore with friends for an entertaining time. Treat The Deliverance like a sporting event; it might be a blast (but not for me though).
