Now streaming on Netflix is the supernatural horror movie, The Deliverance. Inspired by the real-life case of the Ammons haunting, and directed by Lee Daniels, the movie stars Andra Day, Glenn Close, and Mo’Nique, and tells the story of a young mother who encounters demonic possession in her home.
In the film, Ebony Jackson is a mother to three children: Andre, Nate, and Shante. Ebony is bringing up her children alone while her husband is away, but things aren’t going well and there are signs of mistreatment and abuse amongst her kids.
After moving into a new home along with her religious mother, Alberta, Ebony begins to notice some strange occurrences. One of these occurrences centres around Andre, who claims there is someone called Trey living in the house.
Ebony dismisses Andre’s claims, but it soon becomes clear something is very wrong. All of her children begin acting strange, and this in turn attracts the attention of teachers, medical professionals, and child services.
With her family under threat, Ebony has to accept the fact she needs help. But is the threat something she can control or does it go beyond the Earthly realm?
OK, so let me cut to the chase: The Deliverance is essentially a movie of two parts. One part hits just right and is quite successful in what it does, and the other is less successful and may leave audiences feeling disappointed.
To put it more clearly, when The Deliverance is focusing on family life, the interactions between Ebony and Alberta, and Ebony’s struggles bringing up her kids, the movie hits all the right notes. The acting is strong, with superb turns from Andra Day and Glenn Close; the tone and atmosphere are just right; and there are some strong scenes of melodrama throughout.
But when The Deliverance switches its focus to horror, attempts to create suspense, and leans into elements of possession, it struggles. It doesn’t fail, but it does struggle and the climax isn’t particularly satisfying.
As such, for some horror fans this movie won’t work – and that’s perfectly fair. The Deliverance does little to excite, the slow burning nature of the narrative may prove off-putting, and overall it does lack energy.
If you watch 20 minutes, lose interest, and switch it off, no one will lambast you. However, if you find yourself being won over by the actors and you stick with it, you may find there are enough elements to keep you invested.
For me, I have to say I quite liked The Deliverance. While I can see its flaws, and I do wish it offered a bit of excitement, I enjoyed enough of the movie to keep going.
All of the Day/Close scenes held my interest and I like the way the story places its focus on Ebony as the cause of the family’s problems. Sure, demonic possession is one heck of an issue, but so too is a mother who is struggling with her own demons, and this worked for me.
Director Lee Daniels, and writers David Coggeshall and Elijah Bynum, place the focus of the story on the ‘horror at home’ and I like this angle. OK, so I don’t believe the writing always hits as intended, but it certainly has the bones of the story right and this is enough for me.
Those looking for a straight up horror movie may find The Deliverance underwhelming and it certainly isn’t for everyone. The film isn’t packed with scares, it doesn’t really deliver any frights, and it is a little too slow for its own good.
But if you’re after a dark, twisted melodrama, then give The Deliverance a go. The film looks good, is packed with great performances, and you may find it offers an alternative to the usual jump scares that are served up at this time of year.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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