AtanariaThe Deliverance on Netflix is a frustrating attempt at blending supernatural horror with social commentary, but it fails to deliver on both fronts. Despite a promising premise, inspired by the real-life Ammons haunting, the movie is a muddled mess that struggles to find its focus. Director Lee Daniels, known for more melodramatic fare, seems out of his depth here, unable to craft a cohesive narrative that effectively explores the systemic issues he hints at.
The film attempts to tackle complex themes like race, class, and societal abandonment, but these ideas are only touched upon superficially. The social commentary is overshadowed by poorly executed horror elements that feel derivative and uninspired. For a movie about demonic possession, The Deliverance is disappointingly devoid of genuine scares. Instead, it relies on tired horror tropes that do little to build tension or dread.
Andra Day does her best as Ebony Jackson, a single mother fighting both her personal demons and literal ones. However, even her commendable performance can’t save the film from its many missteps. Characters like Mo’Nique’s social worker, Cynthia Henry, feel more like exaggerated caricatures than meaningful representations of societal failures. What should have been a poignant reflection on the struggles of marginalized communities instead devolves into melodrama and personal vendettas, undercutting any potential the story had for real depth.
The pacing is sluggish, with long, awkward stretches of drama that never quite hit the emotional beats they aim for. The horror, when it finally arrives, feels rushed and clumsy, with imagery that seems lifted from far better films. A self-aware reference to The Exorcist only serves as a painful reminder of what The Deliverance could have been if it had managed to balance its ideas with genuine suspense.
Ultimately, The Deliverance is a missed opportunity. It aims to be both a thought-provoking drama and a terrifying horror movie, but fails at both, leaving viewers with a film that is neither insightful nor scary. Save yourself the disappointment—there are far better horror films on Netflix worth your time.
