Acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels delves into the horror genre with a gripping tale of a troubled family’s terrifying struggle with demonic possession.The Deliverancelands a knockout blow by exploringpowerful themes of abuse, alcoholism, and attempted reconciliation against a creepy supernatural backdrop. Andra Day and an unrecognizable Glenn Close lead a dynamic ensemble cast through a raw, brutal ordeal. A renewed faith in Jesus becomes their saving grace inan unabashedembrace of Christian ideology. Daniels makes his personal conviction felt.You don’t have to agree with his beliefs to be moved by a deeply emotional experience.
A Mother on the Edge and a Family Falling Apart
The Deliverance
Ebony Jackson, a struggling single mother fighting her personal demons, moves her family into a new home for a fresh start. But when strange occurrences inside the home raise the suspicions of Child Protective Services and threaten to tear the family apart, Ebony soon finds herself locked in a battle for her life and the souls of her children. Inspired by a true story, The Deliverance is directed by Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels and stars Andra Day, Glenn Close, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Mo’Nique in a genre-defying take on darkness, possession, and finding a higher power.
Set in 2011 Pittsburgh, Ebony Jackson (Day) relocates to an old house with her three children and cancer-stricken mother, Berta (Close). The biracial and alcoholic Ebony has a volatile relationship with the flirtatious and outgoing Berta, who’s become a born-again Christian to atone for her past sins. The film periodically flashes back to fleeting images of Ebony as a young girl in the clutches of Berta’s heinous boyfriend. Ebony has never forgiven Berta for this betrayal, but begrudgingly supports her through Berta’s chemotherapy treatments.
Andre (Anthony B. Jenkins), Ebony’s youngest child, begins to have mysterious conversations with an imaginary friend. Ebony ignores his strange behavior. The dilapidated house needs repair, bill collectors hound her constantly, and she’s lost the respect of her older teenage children. Nate (Caleb McLaughlin) and Shante (Demi Singleton) walk on eggshells around their fierce mother. She takes no guff and lashes out violently when her authority is challenged.
Ebony’s past transgressions have her monitored by Child Protective Services. Cynthia Henry (Mo’Nique), a city social worker, views the temperamental Ebony as an unfit mother. She’s worried about the children under her care. Cynthia becomes alarmed when Nate, Shante, and Andre start showing signs of mistreatment. A now frightened Ebony doesn’t understand what’s happening to her kids. Berta wonders, can she actually be responsible? They’re both unaware of their new home’s sinister past.
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Andra Day’s Problems Are Scarier Than She Thinks
Daniels, Oscar-nominated for producingMonster’s Balland writer/director ofPrecious, uses hard-hitting, graphic dialogue to frame the fragile truce between Ebony and Berta. They curse at each other in bitter spitefulness that’ll burn your ears. The women try to develop trust but are both scarred by their failures as mothers. Berta did not protect Ebony from sexual abuse. This pushed Ebony to grow into an alcoholic with uncontrollable rage. Anger became her shield against pain. She can’t contain fury or disgust, but is keenly aware of how this reaction affects her children.
Ebony strives to be better than Berta. She’s barely holding on with her world crashing down. You empathize with her despite significant flaws.Day is superb in a riveting portrayal of a desperate mother fighting to be believed.She’s easily painted as the villain. Ebony has to convince Cynthia that she’s not responsible for what’s happening in her home. But that’s a tough sell when outside appearances are damning. Day sheds buckets of tears before finding her religious fortitude to battle pure evil.
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Glenn Close Is Remarkable in a Role We Never See
Berta is a rarely-seen character on screen. She’s a white woman who identifies with Black culture in every possible way. Scenes of her braiding Ebony and Shante’s hair show comfort relating to Black lifestyles. Race isn’t the source of her division with Ebony. Berta has a mountain to climb in her daughter’s eyes, but she cannot be discounted. They share a traumatic bond; there’s a foundation of love beneath their angst and resentment.Close delivers one of the most remarkable performances of her stellar career.
The Deliverancetakes a hard second act turn from intense family drama to wicked horror.Daniels goes full William Friedkin withThe Exorcist’sstoryline reshaping the narrative.This change isn’t subtle. Ebony is confronted by a dark presence with murderous intentions. The younger supporting cast bears the brunt of its wrath in truly disturbing scenes. Anthony B. Jenkins gives Linda Blair a possessed run for the money with a devilish transformation that will scare the daylight out of audiences.Daniels aims to shock and initially hits a bullseye with the tonal shift.
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A Christian Message Explodes in an Excessive Ending
The Deliverance’sChristian message is present throughout the film. Ebony mocks Berta for her faith as misguided and foolish. That sentiment crumbles when Ebony finally grasps the Satanic source of her problems. She must quiet self-doubt and accept Jesus Christ as her savior, which she sees as the only path to defeat a cruel entity that threatens her children. Daniels preaches hellfire and brimstone in a bonkers, Bible-thumping showdown.The film goes overboard in an unrestrained climax that’s just too excessive.But its well worth getting to that point.
The Deliveranceis a production of Lee Daniels Entertainment, Tucker Tooley Entertainment, and Turn Left Productions. It will have a limited theatrical release on August 16th, followed by a Netflix streaming premiere on August 30th. You can stream it there through the link below:
