The Deliverance: Movie Review
“The Deliverance” mixes the family drama Lee Daniels has become known for with a supernatural horror element that, with Glenn Close’s performance, is a notable watch.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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The Gist
The TLDR Recap/ Review
- There is something very wrong about Ebony’s household, and it isn’t just her drinking or her clashes with her mom. It’s the children.
- Something seemingly has possessed them, especially the youngest, Andre, which is threatening Ebony’s custody at best and the lives of everyone at worst.
- First and foremost, Glenn Close, as Andra Day’s mother, was one of the best things about “The Deliverance” because it isn’t the type of character you’d ever expect of her.
- She plays that White woman many people who have lived in an urban area know, and from how she talks to her daughter Ebony, how she flirts, curses, and more? It’s difficult not to be surprised.
- This isn’t to say she is the only highlight as Andra Day continues to show herself as a creative to watch, and even with only three movies out there, her filmography thus far has notable value.
- With that said, despite this being a drama with horror elements, you may wish it went further into details like Ebony’s relationship with her kids’ father, who her dad is, and many other topics sidestepped or not spoken.
- In addition, while there are jump scares and supernatural elements, it’s a lot of what is expected than something as inventive, maybe even over the top, as we usually get from anything with Lee Daniels’ name on it.
- But, overall, the nearly two-hour film is definitely worth your Netflix subscription and makes it so you know you have to keep your eyes out for Andra Day and Lee Daniels’ next release.
Plot Summary
Ebony is going through a hard time. She has Cynthia from Child Protective Services on her behind, her mother Alberta going through cancer, and on her case about how she raises her children, like she was a saint when she was raising Ebony, and the kids? Andre, Nate, and Shante all got something going on. Nate and Shante, the older two, give Ebony no grace and outright talk about how badly they want to leave, hate her, hate being poor, and Andre? Increasingly, it seems that the boy is possessed.
Ebony is expected to deal with all these characters, go to work to pay bills, and not drink. Maybe that’s the horror over what’s festering in the basement and starting to possess members of her family.
Noted Cast and Characters Of “The Deliverance”
Andra Day As Ebony
Ebony is an alcoholic but a functioning one who goes to work and makes an effort to raise and protect her kids. However, she lives in the hood, her kids don’t show her much respect, her mom is getting on her nerves, she has unresolved childhood traumas, and her ex isn’t trying to co-parent as much as undermine her and make her life harder.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.”
Mo’Nique As Cynthia
Cynthia is from child protective services, and with her background, she hates women like Ebony, who she thinks isn’t doing right by her kids.
- The actor is also known for their role in “My Name is Mo’Nique.”
Glenn Close As Alberta
Alberta is Ebony’s mom who has always loved the attention of Black men, and when not flirting with one, she used to be on that stuff. However, now she is a nurse, goes to church, has given her life to the lord, and tries to help her daughter raise her babies.
- The actor is also known for their role in “5 to 7.”
Anthony B. Jenkins As Andre
Andre is Ebony’s youngest, and he has started to act weirdly from talking to himself, banging his head on the wall, and other things that raise an eyebrow.
Caleb McLaughlin As Nate
Nate is Ebony’s eldest and has seen her at her worst. Even though things aren’t as bad as they were, that doesn’t mean he is willing to give grace or forgiveness. If anything, his mom not pulling a 180 like his grandma just gives him more reason to get out of dodge.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The New Edition Story (Part 1).”
Demi Singleton As Shante
Shante is just tired of being poor, having an old phone, sharing a room with her brother, and misses her father something awful.
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor As Apostle Bernice James
Reverend James knows all too well what is going on in Ebony’s household and what plagues it, but she hopes to provide more than assistance but a solution.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Origin.”
Collected Quote(s)
- If it’s not spoken in faith, it’s just words. – Reverend Bernice James
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
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Highlights
Glenn Close As You’ve Never Seen Her Before
Glenn Close’s career is iconic. From “Fatal Attraction” to multiple movies that should have won her an Academy Award many times over, like “The Wife” she is an actress who has a pedestal in the industry that many look up to. But, her playing Alberta is a whole different kind of role.
I mean, playing an urban White woman who isn’t just enamored with Black appendages but can do a sew-in, raised a Black daughter, and isn’t just a tourist but is fine with living in the hood? That wasn’t in our 2024 Bingo Card. But, to really push how masterful of an actress Close is, you don’t really have a single moment sitting there, questioning why she would do that or make that choice. Depending on how you grew up, it all feels authentic and may trigger your memories of someone.
Andra Day Holding Her Own Against Veterans
While Andra Day has had minor roles since 2016, in terms of leading roles, she started in 2021 and only has three, including this film and the upcoming release “Exhibiting Forgiveness.” Despite that, she holds her own against Mo’Nique, an Oscar Winner, and Glenn Close, an Emmy and Tony Award winner. It’s quite incredible to see for as much as you could say that Ebony taps into something similar to Billie Holliday, the horror element challenges that.
Watching Day face demons, of a literal or internal kind, reminds you of how horror can be used in a more serious matter, without excessive blood and gore, yet be effective in telling a story and driving quality performances.
The Performances Of The Kids
When it comes to Andre, Shante, and Nate, you could submit that even with Andre getting possessed, and Nate to an extent as well, their performance is mostly in creating an adversary for Ebony than anything else. However, I’d like to add that, as with most elements of “The Deliverance,” you could see these characters as assets even without the horror elements.
As the youngest, Andre is Ebony’s fresh start since he doesn’t know the worst things his mother did, while his older siblings know oh too well. Nate, who has maybe experienced the worst, has a low tolerance for any of his mom’s slip-ups, thus making a contentious relationship, and Shante? Sadly, not much is done with her, but you can see there is something about her having a relationship with her father that might stir something in Ebony, whose dad isn’t mentioned.
Combined, these three are more than just stressors on Ebony but people you see are essential for telling Ebony’s story, whether to stay faithful to what “The Deliverance” was inspired by or not.
On The Fence
You May Wish It Went Further
Considering the amount of cursing in the film, you’d think it would have no issue delving deeper into the wounds of characters (either literally or mentally/emotionally), but it doesn’t. “The Deliverance” often feels like it wants to do enough to feel authentic rather than do as we usually see from a Lee Daniels’ production, which is go a bit over the top. For example, the depiction of the demon feels very by the books from using people’s sexual history, saying they shouldn’t have been born, bringing up their trauma, but the shock wears off quickly.
General Information
Film Length
1 Hour 52 Minutes
Date Released
August 30, 2024
How To Watch “The Deliverance”
Distributor
Netflix
- The distributor is also known for “His Three Daughters.”
Director(s)
Lee Daniels
- The director is also known for “Star: Season 3.”
Writer(s)
David Coggeshall, Elijah Bynum
- Elijah Bynum is also known for “Hot Summer Nights.”
- David Coggeshall is also known for “Orphan: First Kill.”
Genre(s)
Content Rating
Content Information
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Family Violence, Blood, Torture, Self-Harm, Notable Fight Scenes
- Sexual Content: Nothing Notable
- Miscellaneous: Depiction of Corpses, Body Horror, Drinking, Vomiting, Smoking
- Are There Jump Scares: Yes
- Is There a Chance It Will Make You Cry: Maybe
Why Is The Movie Named “The Deliverance?”
Because that is the wording, Bernice James uses for her type of exorcism.
Is There A Mid-Credit or Post-Credit Scene For “The Deliverance?”
Nope
