Lee Daniels' "The Deliverance" debuts with emotional scare on Netflix

August 30, 2024

Lee Daniel's "The Deliverance," the highly anticipated supernatural horror film written by David Coggeshall and Elijah Bynum, premiered on Netflix on August 30.

 We first covered The Deliverance on June 11 (https://www.therealperspectives.com/post/first-look-at-netflix-lee-daniel-s-the-deliverance), when Netflix released its first promotional photo, giving us a glimpse into this highly anticipated film. It is inspired by the real-life story of Latoya Ammons and her Pennsylvania family, who were victims of demonic possession, that garnered international media attention.

Andra Day (The People vs. Billie Holiday) stars as Ebony Jackson, the fictionalized version of Latoya Ammons, an alcoholic and single mother battling her own demons, who moves her family into a new home for a fresh start. However, 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.

Courtesy: Netflix

The ensemble cast includes:

• Glenn Close as Alberta

• Anthony B. Jenkins as Andre

• Caleb McLaughlin as Nate

• Demi Singleton as Shante

• Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Reverend Bernice James

• Mo'Nique as Cynthia Henry

• Omar Epps as Melvin

• Miss Lawrence as Asia

• Colleen Camp as Doctor Hoffsteder

• Juanita Jennings as Mrs. Tucker

• Kimberly Russell as Mrs. Ross

• Tasha Smith as Pastor Powell

Courtesy: Netflix

When speaking of the film, Daniels, the acclaimed director behind powerful movies such as Precious and The Butler, said, "In recent years, we've gotten some brilliant horror movies like Get Out, but my goals were different," Daniels told Netflix. This is supposed to scare you into believing in a higher power because it actually happened. It's a story about demonic possession and the power of faith that's grounded in reality. And that kind of dramatic storytelling has always interested me."

Like most of the horror films that came before The Deliverance, it is very similar to timeless classics such as The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby, and Poltergeist, however, Daniels has gone on record as saying The Deliverance is a faith-based thriller and felt he needed to get reconnected to his higher power and urged others to reconnect to theirs. Taking liberties with Amonns' story to cultivate his directorial narrative for the film, Daniel depicts that the exorcism is more of a "deliverance" in the family's home as the focus is less on exorcising a demon from someone and more on the transformation about the experience of deliverance in its entirety.

With riveting performances by the entire cast and special consideration to Day, Close, and Monique, The Deliverance is easily one of the best horror movies of the year. This is a film you definitely do not want to miss.

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The Deliverance is currently streaming now on Netflix.