Summary
FromThe Cabinet of Curiosities’creepy episodestoMike Flanagan’s scary TV shows,Netflixis a great spot forhorrorcontent.Horror fans looked forward to many new releases in 2024, and one of the most talked about isThe Deliverance.Directed by Lee Daniels,The Deliverancetells a demonic possession story set in a haunted house, and has strong performances, well-written characters, and serious themes.
Horror filmmakers have been telling tales about this topic sinceThe Exorcistwas released in 1973. However, every film with things that go bump in the night and characters suddenly being taken over by evil spirits has addressed significant subjects.The Deliverancenot only delves into themes that are often found in dramas but also has a memorable ending that properly concludes the main character’s journey.
What is Netflix’s The Deliverance About?
The Deliveranceis about Ebony Jackson (Andra Day), a mother of three with an alcoholic abuse problem who moves into a haunted house.While Ebony is working through her sobriety, a social worker named Cynthia Henry (Mo’Nique) visits them often as Ebony would hurt her kids when she was drinking. Ebony also has a hard relationship with Alberta (Glenn Close), her mother who is now being treated for cancer. This is the backdrop for the movie’s main storyline: the demon living in the house they have just moved into.
The Deliverancebalances serious topics with anunnerving horror movie demonwho possesses Ebony’s three children Shante (Demi Singleton), Nate (Caleb McLaughlin), and Andre (Anthony B. Jenkins).Every cast member does an impressive job portraying their character, and the talented actors makeThe Deliverancegreat.
What Movies Has Lee Daniels Directed?
In an interview withEssence, Lee Daniels talked about wanting to directThe Deliverance. He said he wasn’t sure at first and explained deciding that this would be the next step for his filmmaking career. Daniels said:
“15 years ago, I didn’t want to do this film. I just was nervous about it all. Then I realized, as time progressed, that I wasn’t really telling a horror story. I think that we’re in a dark time and we need to find our higher power, albeit Buddha, Jesus, Allah, somebody.”
Like otherhorror movies about mothers and daughters,The Deliverancehandles important subjects with care and thoughtfulness. This sets it apart from other demonic possession films since it’s about a lot more than just jump scares and creepy moments. While there are definitely scary scenes, the drama between the characters is the heart of the movie.
The Deliveranceis inspired by a true story. While the movie changes things and it’s not a play by play, it’s interesting to hear the background. According toForbes, Latoya Ammons and Rosa Campbell, her mother, began living in a Gary, Indiana home along with Ammons’s three kids in 2011. After the family saw a mysterious figure and heard noise, the children began acting weirdly. They believed that a demon was in the home and alleged that the demon possessed them. After an investigation by the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), the conclusion was that everything was fine and the kids were safe. But they kept acting like characters inhorror movies about demonic possession. In 2012, Ammons got custody of her kids again, and they moved to another home. Since then, everything has been normal. Daniels said of the movie, “It’s my interpretation of her life story.”
How does Netflix’s The Deliverance End?
At the end ofThe Deliverance, Ebony’s childAndre is possessed by the demon in the house.Ebony and Rev. James perform an exorcism, but it doesn’t work easily. Andre acts as if he wants to stop being possessed, but then gets angry and throws the holy water that Ebony gives him around.Andre then turns into Alberta, who has passed away.The demon then turns into Ebony, which represents the tough relationship she has with her mother and the pain she has been in throughout the story.
Ebony wins against the demon by remembering how much she cares about her familyand also asking for help from Jesus. Ebony and her kids move to Philadelphia for a new start and Ebony and her husband are going to work things out in their marriage.Horror movies don’t often have happy endings(takethe sad conclusion ofThe Strangers, for example), andThe Deliveranceending is more bittersweet than completely peaceful. But Ebony gets a satisfying resolution to the hard journey she has been on.
