‘The Deliverance’ (2024) Netflix Movie Review - Social Issues and Evil

The Deliverance starring Andra Day is based on a real story. This horror thriller can be easily divided into two parts. The first half of the movie is based upon family relations as Ebony (the mother) was in jail for a long time due to her being an alcoholic. Cynthia (an officer) regularly checks upon her, to see the state she and the family is living in. Ebony has three kids, two sons and one daughter. They don't share a happy relationship. Recently the family moved into a new home and they are finding it hard to make ends meet financially. Ebony’s mom Morgan has also come to live with them. Morgan wasn't a great mom herself and can be seen challenging her daughter multiple times in front of the kids.

It doesn't take one to have sharp eyes to notice how ruined this family is. Nate, Shante, and Andre aren't satisfied with the lives they're living. They all somewhere want their father to be with them and have opportunities for better things in life. Nate is the smart one among them and he deserves better scenes and screen space. Ebony can be seen saying that she doesn't believe how Nate came out of her because she was the real demon in the house. All the odd things that were initially happening, we're all made to believe that it's because of Ebony. She seems to lose track of time and action after having some drinks. This worries the audience as we all thought that she might be the one who's the real problem and not the bad vibes of this home. No one likes her and the reasons will be visible in the first half of this film. It's the second part that shifts the whole world for the family. There are certain aspects that the audience will not be able to notice and once they're presented, you'll be left wondering how something like this is possible.

Andre on many occasions can be seen talking to himself and when he goes in the basement, it got me worried as isn't that the place where the darkest secrets are buried. And how come Andre was saying that he talks to an imaginary friend who stays in his closet and doesn't worry about his mother initially? Apart from this, the opening scenes of The Deliverance also showed how a crow had died. Any horror thriller has two elements common in them and that's moving to a new home and a crow dying. You see these two things happening, it's a clear indication of some bad omen.

This demonic possession story did excellent in one aspect and that's the portrayal of the evil in the home before the real evil hits hard. The weight carried by the first one is heavier than the second as it's easy to fight the outside demons but what about the ones living inside of you? When the kids are seen as possessed by the evil spirit, it doesn't make a good impression. You're telling me that it's a horror story then why were some good scenes not included? The writer maybe needed more time to figure out the second part so that it could make an impression. Also, better effects were the need of the hour. In all, it's a decent watch and Lee Daniels has excelled in the portrayal of a broken family. The movie also emphasizes the importance of God and why one should be spiritual. Now some of you might say that Morgan was spiritual so why did she die? To answer this question, you've gotta watch the movie and as the hint goes, fear attracts negative energies.

Final Score – [6/10]
Reviewed by - Riya Singh
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Publisher at Midgard Times