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‘The Deliverance’ Is the Evangelistic Christian Horror Movie You Didn’t Know You Needed to See
Loosely based on the real-life experiences of the Ammons family in Gary, Indiana, the film tells the story of Ebony Jackson (Andra Day), a single biracial Black mother battling alcoholism while struggling to raise her children, and keep the peace with her White mother, amid a terrifying haunting.
“The Deliverance” stands out in the horror landscape for its focus on Black identity, trauma, and resilience within the context of demonic possession. The film’s exploration of these themes is reminiscent, in some ways, of “The Wailing” and “Hereditary,” delving into the intergenerational workings of a deeply traumatized family preyed upon by demonic forces — but also dramatically differs in its redemptive elements.
It’s a Christian Movie
While it might not be your typical “Christian movie,” “The Deliverance” is reverently rooted in Christian themes. The opening epigraph from influential Chinese Christian theologian Watchman Nee sets the stage for the film’s exploration of sin and deliverance, while the closing hymn, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” reinforces the message of hope and redemption. The movie also features scenes about God’s resurrection power, dialogue about genuine faith over empty words, and a powerful display of how Jesus defends and delivers the oppressed and conquers evil.
We see a believing grandmother (Glenn Closes’ Alberta) urge her unbelieving daughter (Ebony) to turn to God, while Ebony views religion as just another “fix.” Ebony’s three children would be unchurched if not for their grandmother’s efforts. As their story unfolds, we see that this beautiful yet broken family is haunted by more than the consequences of past sins and the long memory of filial grudges.
“There’s something evil in our home, and it’s feeding on my family,” Alberta tells her powerless pastor.
Ultimately, that evil is defeated but not in the way typically presented in possession films when the priest shows up to cleanse the home. The priest, in this case, is Apostle Bernice James, and she is most effective at helping to empower Ebony to take on the fight against evil. That journey begins with Bernice taking on the issue of theodicy and reminding a troubled Ebony that a relationship with God is “not transactional.”
“You’ve got to know that you’re loved…God loves you,” Apostle Bernice tells Ebony.
When all is said and done, Ebony has to face her literal and figurative demons alone and rally the courage to choose faith over fear. Like Lazarus, she prevails over death — though not unscarred — and gives God the glory, in English and in tongues.
The Horror Elements
“The Deliverance” is significant in its storytelling approach, cultural setting, and how it empowers the main character to combat evil. The Netflix movie also boasts strong performances from Andra Day, Glenn Close, and Mo’Nique (social worker Cynthia Henry), with Day delivering a particularly impressive and believable portrayal of troubled mother Ebony Jackson.
But the movie doesn’t break the mold when it comes to the genre, choosing instead to stay within the lines of what’s stylistically expected of a haunted house/possession film. That means there are plenty of familiar tropes (creepy music, a child’s malevolent imaginary friend, an unidentifiable foul smell), but also several scenes that feel more awkward and over-the-top than genuinely terrifying.
However, the most unfortunate aspect of “The Deliverance” is how the suspension of belief necessary for even this kind of story takes on a bigger and bigger demand as the final act gets into full swing and we see characters conveniently get away with incredible feats or utterly wild behavior.
Yet, the film gets points for offering a fresh perspective grounded in the experiences of a Black family, a rarity in the demonic possession/haunted house subgenres. In addition, the writers reject the typical exorcism movie fare of centering the priest as the intermediary for deliverance and instead offer a powerful portrayal of a mother’s love fueling the fight for her children.
The victory scene in “The Deliverance” also differs from your typical possession or haunted house film. Usually, after the priest comes in and expels the evil aggressor, the family moves on with no apparent internal spiritual changes. But as we see in “The Deliverance,” Ebony overcomes only because she experiences a radical spiritual shift by submitting to God.
Overall Impression
Despite its flaws, “The Deliverance” is a compelling Christian possession film that doesn’t sanitize faith. It takes on faith, doubt, and redemption in a raw and honest way. It doesn’t shy away from difficult questions, offer simplistic pat answers, or rely on forced morals.
The film explores the idea that the turmoils of life may have a spiritual solution that can empower us to overcome those challenges, break generational curses, and walk in freedom.
“The Deliverance” is rated “R” and is almost two hours long. It was directed by Lee Daniels and written by David Coggeshall and Elijah Bynum.