THE DELIVERANCE

US, 2024, 112 minutes, Colour.

Andra Day, Glenn Close, Anthony B.J enkins, Caleb MacLaughlin, Demi Singleton, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Monique, Omar Epps, Colleen Camp.

Directed by Lee Daniels.

It is more than half a century since The Exorcist made such an impact on worldwide audiences. And there have been so many sequels, imitations, parodies over the 50 years. The 2020s saw a renewed interest in exorcism films but, at the opening of this film there is a declaration there is a difference between exorcisms and the ritual of deliverance from evil power.

For almost the first half of the film, it is a portrait of a dysfunctional African-American family living in an urban neighbourhood. The focus is on Ebony, played by singer Andra Day, addictions, term in prison, husband away in Iraq, though new house. She tries to manage the children, older teenage Nate, younger teenage Shante, and she favours little boy, Dre. There are tensions in the house, Ebony and her drinking, Irresponsibilities, trying to maintain discipline. The further complication is the presence of her mother living with them, and Ebony’s resentment towards her mother and her upbringing, her mother’s irresponsibilities. Her mother now has cancer, having chemotherapy, but also a religious conversion. And, she is white. And she is played by Glenn Close, obviously enjoying herself in an offbeat role, tough, domineering, echoing her performance as the raucous grandmother in Hillbilly Elegy (the biography film of J.D.Vance, that J.D. Vance).

But, soon there are echoes of The Exorcist as well as such house possession films as The Amityville Horror. And the evil manifests itself in Dre, withdrawn, talking with an imaginary friend, and the house filled with flies, foul smell.

While the parallels with the mother in The Exorcist and Ebony emerge, process of Deliverance is more complex, social welfare arriving to take on the children, Ebony’s mother and her continuing illness, Ebony herself resentful of her mother placing a crucifix on the wall.

In the 2023 sequel to The Exorcist, the ritual is not confined to Catholics. It opened up the possibility of other exorcists from denominations or other religions. This time, the Deliverer is a woman pastor of the church, calling herself an apostle, failing in a past attempt at deliverance but now engaging with Ebony to confront the bizarre behaviour of her children, the alarmingly sinister reappearance of her dead mother, the shape shifting in possession of the various characters by the Demons.

But those sceptical of such stories of possession and exorcism and deliverance, it will just be an equivalent of a social horror film. For those who find such stories credible, this is a different perspective, the experience of the African-American family, the influence of evangelical Christianity and beliefs.

1. The title, exorcisms, the contrast with deliverance from evil power?
2. An African-American urban story, family, dysfunctional, challenges? The transition to the demonic? The religious dimension? Health and psychological dimension? Confronting evil?
3. The city, the neighbourhood, the streets, homes, interiors? Schools? Hospitals? The musical score?
4. The opening part of the film, the family dynamics? Ebony, husband in Iraq, moving, the new home, her personal problems, addiction, drinking, past prison sentence? Custody of her children? Relationship with her children, home life, her responsibilities, irresponsibility, drinking? STONE attitudes? The presence of her mother, her mother’s background, treatment of her as a child? Her mother’s conversion, cancer and chemotherapy? The details of life in the family, meals, conversations, the children’s attitudes towards her mother?
5. The character of Alberta, Glenn Close, raucous and rugged, her past, relationships, African-American partner, the birth of Ebony? Bringing her up, the antagonism? The coming to live with the family, criticisms of the meal, her comments, with the children, her chemotherapy, the flirtation with the assistant? The clashes with Cynthia? Putting up the crucifix and Ebony’s hostility? The buildup to her death?
6. The children, their ages, going to school, the taunts from the children in the street? Nate, his age, contact with his father, the money, hiding the alcohol from his mother, confronting her, wanting to leave? Yet genial with the others? Shante, her age, prim, reading and study, the issue of her birthday party? Dre, his age, talking with his imaginary friend, going to the basement, going to school, favoured by his mother, yet her discipline with him?
7. The new house, the screenplay intimating an evil presence, Dre talking to his friend, going to the basement, the flies, the smell? The visit of Cynthia, her supervision, Ebony’s hostility, wanting to talk with the children? The official position, criticisms, visits, the story of the death of her child?
8. The woman taking the pictures, in the car, assumption she was with Cynthia? The later revelation, the background of the Church and the churchgoing? Her seeing herself as an apostle? The story of the family living there, and not be able to help the boy? The visuals of the family turning on each other, the mother and her killings? The presence of demons, demonic possession and behaviour?
9. Dre, the bizarre behaviour, withdrawals? The scene of the mess in the room and Ebony’s behaviour? Nate and his trying to strangle Dre in the bath? The continued bizarre behaviour? Cynthia, the withdrawal of the children?
10. Ebony, the talking with the apostle, getting herself in order, the attempt at the deliverance ritual, the death of the Apostle? Ebony, gaining strength, her spiritual attitude, prayer?
11. The crucifix, in flames, the death of her mother, the Demon shape shifting, in various forms of family, the diabolical presence of her mother, the teeth, the condemnations?
12. Ebony, overcoming the demonic presence? The future with her family?