THE Deliverance comes off like some bargain bin Amityville Horror about a struggling single mother grappling with her own personal demons.
Life goes from bad to worse for alcoholic mom-of-three Ebony (Andra Day) after moving her young family into a new home for a fresh start.
When her children Andre (Anthony B Jenkins), Nate (Caleb McLaughlin), and Shante (Demi Singleton) start acting out in school and show signs of mysterious bruises that their hard-nosed parent can’t explain, it raises the suspicions of Child Protective Services employee Cynthia (Mo’Nique).
As the bumps in the night escalate and her children’s wellbeing deteriorates, and with it threatens to tear the family apart, Ebony finds herself locked in a battle for her life and the souls of her children.
New to Netflix, the film, directed by Lee Daniels is inspired by a true story. But then nine out of 10 horrors these days are, he says with an arched eyebrow, or so they claim, anyway!
Short on spills and thrills and more a draining family drama with upturned breakfast cereals and unmade beds, the biggest surprise here comes in the casting of Ebony’s trailer trashy bimbo mother.
Alberta, played by eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close, is a chain-smoking, cancer-riddled matriarch who is tough as old boots and adamant that Jesus has saved her from her sinful ways.
The best scene here is an Exorcist-lite moment towards the end where she boldly tells her daughter, while possessed and speaking in tongues – “I can smell your nappy juice”.
Not a line I ever imagined hearing from Close’s lips, but there you go.
The Deliverance is a by the numbers tale of demoniacal hijacking. The plot is typical of 99 per cent of similar haunted house stories on any streaming service, and the performances are embarrassing at best. That said, it’s worth the admission price just for the fiendish and unforgettable Glenn Close scene at the end.
(2/5)
