The Deliverance (2024)
Directed by: Lee Daniels
Premise: A family moves into a decrepit house and supernatural phenomena begin occurring. The mother (Andra Day) must confront the demonic forces and the domestic strains within her family.
What Works: The Deliverance is a possession film and these movies are often about an evil force undermining the integrity of a family. A lot of these sorts of movies are set in rural or suburban locations but The Deliverance is distinguished by its focus on a low-income Black family living in a dilapidated rental home. The filmmakers link the demonic force to poverty and the portrait of the family is the strongest aspect of The Deliverance. The father is absent and the mother (Andra Day) supports three children and her mother (Glenn Close). The stress of finances and life in a rough neighborhood take their toll on the family and the first portion of The Deliverance is compelling enough as a straightforward family drama.
What Doesn’t: Possession movies tend to be silly. Recent possession pictures have leaned into superhero antics, giving the possessed characters extraordinary strength and similar powers. The Deliverance does this as well and the fanciful parts of the movie are at odds with the more grounded family story. The Deliverance adds little that is new or novel to the possession story. As with most movies in this subgenre, the filmmakers follow the lead of The Exorcist and The Deliverance borrows a lot from the 1973 film. This story is intended to inspire a renewal of faith with the mother rediscovering religion. Her conversion is forced. The big gestures of faith don’t play convincingly. Overcoming the possession is also disconnected from the family’s other problems. The end of The Deliverance plays as though everything has been solved but their domestic problems remain. The conclusion implies that rediscovering faith will solve these worldly problems and that seems superficial and disingenuous.
Disc extras: Available on Netflix.
Bottom Line: The Deliverance is another possession film and it adds little to the genre. The movie is often silly and its attempts to inspire spirituality fall flat.
Episode: #1019 (October 27, 2024)