Deliver Us From Evil Review

Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez, Olivia Munn, Sean Harris, Joel McHale

With Halloween being just around the corner, I thought that it would be a good time to feature some chillers that might be worth a look on this spookiest of holidays.

Scott Derrickson has made a name for himself as someone who knows how to make people jump. Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose and even his work on the Hellraiser: Inferno, got a few gasps and shrieks out of his audience. His new offering is no different.

Deliver Us From Evil follows New York police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) who finds himself involved in some strange, almost super natural, crimes. His investigations leads him to Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez), an unconventional priest, schooled in the rites of exorcism. Together they strive to rid the city of an evil which has people chucking their babies into lion enclosures.

It was me. It was me who made her jump.

Firstly, the positives. Deliver Us From Evil looks and sounds great. Scott Derrickson knows how to create a creepy atmosphere. Maybe a bit too much rain… Does it really rain that much in New York? Eric Bana and Edgar Ramirez are also very believable in their respective roles. Bana really goes all out on the New York accent and it’s mostly successful.

The problem is that ultimately the film seems a bit old hack. It’s all been done before and Deliver Us From Evil fails to deliver anything really new. Despite the story supposedly being based on true events, it never really seems entirely plausible. The fact that this has come out after The Conjuring doesn’t help it either. Derrickson also decided to opt for a ridiculously over the top finish which ends up being almost laughable.

Ever since The Exorcist, no horror film involving exorcism has ever managed bring the genre forward. They mostly go over the same ideas and the same scares. Not many directors have realised that sometimes less is more.

Having said this, Deliver Us From Evil is not bad, it’s just OK. If you enjoy jumpy horror films and are less worried about actually being terrified then check this out this Halloween.