The Deliverance: A Possession Movie So Bad It Becomes a Comedy

I didn’t think anything could top Divorce in the Black for absurdity, but The Deliverance certainly gave it a run for its money. From the very beginning, the film presents a script that’s as nonsensical as it is confusing, with characters delivering lines that feel completely out of sync with the supposed tone. The dialogue often feels like it was plucked from a random assortment of horror tropes and mixed with some laughably poor writing choices. It’s hard to take anything seriously when the dialogue consistently defies logic and narrative consistency.

One of the most baffling aspects of the film is Glenn Close’s presence. The actress is clearly trying to give her all, but her performance is so disconnected from the material that it borders on comical. Some of her lines are so out of place that they had me laughing through tears. It’s as if she didn’t realize she was in a supposed horror film and instead was playing a role in some strange, low-budget parody. Her casting is perplexing, to say the least, and it often feels like she’s part of a completely different, more serious movie than the one the rest of the cast is in.

The final act, where the exorcism showdown takes place, is a perfect example of the film's complete tonal confusion. Rather than being a tense, emotionally charged climax, the exorcism feels like something ripped straight out of a supernatural superhero movie, complete with over-the-top spectacle. The emotional weight the film strives for is nowhere to be found, and instead, the scene devolves into camp. Rather than evoking fear or even intrigue, it leaves you wondering how the filmmakers thought this would play as a serious moment.

In the end, The Deliverance is a train wreck of a film. It’s hard to look away from, but for all the wrong reasons. It starts out intending to be a grounded, serious exorcism horror film, but it quickly devolves into a comedy by accident. What could have been a chilling exploration of possession and evil becomes instead a laughable, bizarre spectacle. It's not a film to be feared—it’s one to be bewildered by. If you’re looking for something that combines supernatural horror with unintentional comedy, The Deliverance delivers in spades, even if it wasn’t the intention.