Disc Reviews

Deliver Us From Evil Review

• 2nd Jan 2015

Scott Derrickson may have just hit the big time with the incoming Doctor Strange movie, but before we get there he is working away here as he often does in the horror/thriller realm. Since his inception as a director in the Hellraiser series, Derrickson has proved that he has more than just generic tricks to play. The Exorcism of Emily Rose is perhaps a more apt title to mention as this film also features similar antics and solidified him as a name working in cinema.

Police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) is on a rather mysterious case that points at a series of cult crimes. Not being much for the supernatural, Sarchie is approached by a priest with a past (Edgar Ramirez) who offers his help in deciphering some of the more supernatural aspects of the crimes.

The two form an alliance as they uncover more details on what appears to be a series of possessions, and prepare themselves to come face to face with an ancient evil that eventually turns its evil eye on their families and pasts.

Anyone that has seen enough possession and exorcist movies will be in very familiar territory here. The plot itself isn’t going to blow anyone’s minds. What makes Deliver us From Evil so watchable is Derrickson’s efforts as a director to keep it visually interesting (even if it does go a little bit too all out in the end), but the rapport between the two leads and the dialogue between their characters is perhaps the films strongest elements. Deliver Us From Evil presents two men with two very different pasts with two very different relationships with their religion. The interaction between the two is a strong focal point for the movie to base its drama upon.

Sure there is plenty of chills, spills, thrills, flash cats, figures looming in the dark, striking unlikely poses for the camera – but it’s the drama that keeps this one afloat.

Steven Hurst