Deliver Us From Evil (2014)
2.5/4
Starring: Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez, Olivia Munn, Joel McHale, Lulu Wilson
Rated R for Bloody Violence, Grisly Images, Terror Throughout, and Language
Not to be confused with the 2006 documentary
Scott Derrickson knows the "demonic possession" horror genre better than anyone (apologies to fans of "The Exorcist"...it may have been scary when it was released, but I've seen it twice and found it to be a dud both times). "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" used a real-life case of possession to explore the line between faith and science, and delivered a number of truly suspenseful sequences. "Sinister" is the second scariest movie I have ever seen (after "Fear"). He knows his stuff. Which is why his latest film surprised me. It's not a bad movie, but it is disappointing.
The film follows the exploits of Ralph Sarchie (Bana), a Bronx cop who has been seeing some nasty things lately. An Iraq veteran beat the crap out of his wife and a woman tossed her baby into a lion encampment. But there are some disturbing signs left at each crime scene that appear to be connected, and Sarchie and a Jesuit priest named Mendoza (Ramirez) must stop a possessed man from bringing a demon into this world.
Ask any student of horror films, and they'll tell you that two things are absolutely mandatory for a horror movie to succeed: atmosphere and pacing. Without these, a horror film will not work. "Deliver Us From Evil" has a passable amount of the former. The creepiness doesn't ooze off of the screen like it does in "Seven" (a film that shares a certain kinship with this one), but it's acceptable. Unfortunately, the pacing of this movie is all wrong for a horror film. The story hurdles from one scene to the next with breakneck speed, and that is precisely what not to do when making a horror movie. In order to truly scare the audience, the filmmaker must proceed slowly and deliberately, allowing the atmosphere and the plot to build to a terrifying boil. Derrickson knows this, and more importantly, he knows how to do it well. I blame Jerry Bruckheimer, who is better than anyone when it comes to action movie. This is his first horror movie since "Cat People" in 1982 (which he was only an executive producer) and based on the evidence, he should stick to the genre that he knows inside and out.
The acting is effective, which helps the film considerably. Eric Bana is a convincing blue collar cop and a loving dad. Edgar Ramirez is very good as an atypical priest except when he's forced into the usual cliches at the end. Joel McHale is terrific (and very sexy) as Butler, Sarchie's quick-witted partner. Olivia Munn doesn't have much to do as Sarchie's loving wife, but she's good too. And Lulu Wilson isn't insufferably cute as their daughter (and she has a great scream).
Even though this movie is a misfire, at least it's an entertaining one. There are enough tense scenes that I almost recommended it. But in the end I cannot, except for maybe Blu Ray.
Starring: Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez, Olivia Munn, Joel McHale, Lulu Wilson
Rated R for Bloody Violence, Grisly Images, Terror Throughout, and Language
Not to be confused with the 2006 documentary
Scott Derrickson knows the "demonic possession" horror genre better than anyone (apologies to fans of "The Exorcist"...it may have been scary when it was released, but I've seen it twice and found it to be a dud both times). "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" used a real-life case of possession to explore the line between faith and science, and delivered a number of truly suspenseful sequences. "Sinister" is the second scariest movie I have ever seen (after "Fear"). He knows his stuff. Which is why his latest film surprised me. It's not a bad movie, but it is disappointing.
The film follows the exploits of Ralph Sarchie (Bana), a Bronx cop who has been seeing some nasty things lately. An Iraq veteran beat the crap out of his wife and a woman tossed her baby into a lion encampment. But there are some disturbing signs left at each crime scene that appear to be connected, and Sarchie and a Jesuit priest named Mendoza (Ramirez) must stop a possessed man from bringing a demon into this world.
Ask any student of horror films, and they'll tell you that two things are absolutely mandatory for a horror movie to succeed: atmosphere and pacing. Without these, a horror film will not work. "Deliver Us From Evil" has a passable amount of the former. The creepiness doesn't ooze off of the screen like it does in "Seven" (a film that shares a certain kinship with this one), but it's acceptable. Unfortunately, the pacing of this movie is all wrong for a horror film. The story hurdles from one scene to the next with breakneck speed, and that is precisely what not to do when making a horror movie. In order to truly scare the audience, the filmmaker must proceed slowly and deliberately, allowing the atmosphere and the plot to build to a terrifying boil. Derrickson knows this, and more importantly, he knows how to do it well. I blame Jerry Bruckheimer, who is better than anyone when it comes to action movie. This is his first horror movie since "Cat People" in 1982 (which he was only an executive producer) and based on the evidence, he should stick to the genre that he knows inside and out.
The acting is effective, which helps the film considerably. Eric Bana is a convincing blue collar cop and a loving dad. Edgar Ramirez is very good as an atypical priest except when he's forced into the usual cliches at the end. Joel McHale is terrific (and very sexy) as Butler, Sarchie's quick-witted partner. Olivia Munn doesn't have much to do as Sarchie's loving wife, but she's good too. And Lulu Wilson isn't insufferably cute as their daughter (and she has a great scream).
Even though this movie is a misfire, at least it's an entertaining one. There are enough tense scenes that I almost recommended it. But in the end I cannot, except for maybe Blu Ray.
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