As a lifelong cinephile with a soft spot for eclectic filmmakers, I find myself constantly navigating the fine line between appreciation and criticism. Lee Daniels, with his flamboyant style, is no exception. While some of his work can be overwhelmingly garish, there’s no denying that when he’s at his best, he’s a force to be reckoned with. “The Deliverance,” much like its title suggests, is one of those times where Daniels delivers a kitschy-extreme schlock extravaganza.
In the realm of filmmaking, Lee Daniels often faces criticism for his extravagant and bold style, which can be excessive at times. However, when he’s at his best, Daniels demonstrates remarkable skill as a director. “The Deliverance” is one of his six directed films, and I have admired three out of these: “Precious” (2009), an extraordinary portrayal of a troubled inner-city teenager’s journey out of her miserable home life; “The Paperboy” (2012), a daring and unsettling Southern gothic mystery; and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (2021), a biopic that, despite its flaws, effectively captured the complex intensity of its subject.
In other words, when I describe “The Deliverance,” a movie directed by Daniels about demonic possession for Netflix, as one of his over-the-top, campy films, it doesn’t mean he’s like that all the time. However, there are instances when he does fit this description. Moreover, “The Deliverance” also contains some socially challenging themes characteristic of Daniels’ work.
The movie takes place in Pittsburgh during 2011, and it centers around a family who discover that their new home appears to be haunted from the start. A word of advice for filmmakers: Avoid using flies swarming about a room as a means to suggest sinister forces, as it was overly clichéd and predictable in “The Amityville Horror,” back in 1979, and is even more trite now. In “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” almost every aspect dealing with the supernatural – specifically, the devil – feels overly familiar and thus less frightening than it should be, due to being seen too many times previously.
The compelling aspect of this movie lies in its portrayal of family, a characteristic that is distinctly Lee Daniels. Andra Day delivers an impactful performance as Billie Holiday, portraying Ebony, a single mother grappling with the challenges of raising three children – Shante (Demi Singleton), Nate (Caleb McLaughlin), and young Dre (Anthony B. Jenkins) – on a tight budget, her nerves frayed from years of strain. Her husband is away serving in Iraq.
Ebony, who has served jail time due to her temper, currently appears more sober than not. However, even when she’s not drinking, she still lashes out, such as hitting Dre at the dinner table over a trivial matter about milk. Is Ebony similar to Mary, the harsh mother portrayed by Mo’Nique in “Precious”? Not entirely, but there are some similarities. She exhibits moments of cruelty, yet she also shows a protective side, attacking a bully living nearby.
Daniels intends us to understand that Ebony serves as a channel for the persistent pressures of economic and racial oppression in her life, creating a constant, boiling tension within her. The film does not offer excuses for her actions, but it does highlight that her struggles mirror those of society at large. Day delivers a poignant performance as Ebony, embodying a character who is both sharp-tongued and vulnerable, like an exploding firecracker with a face etched with misery. Monique plays the role of the DCS officer, scrutinizing Ebony meticulously, searching for any sign that she’s faltering and could potentially lose her children as a result.
Despite Day’s intense fury, the standout performance in “The Deliverance” belongs to Glenn Close as Berta, Ebony’s mother, who moves in with them after a reformed life from drug addiction and finding faith, now battling cancer with only sparse hair left on her head. Yet, she dons extravagant blonde wigs and wears provocative outfits, flirting excessively. Berta’s relationship with her daughter is strained, but there’s no denying that she cares deeply. It’s intriguing to watch Glenn Close let loose in this role, which, despite the larger-than-life character, showcases a thoughtful performance that even makes her character in “Hillbilly Elegy” seem subdued.
In the movie, strange behaviors occur among the children. Dre knocks on the basement door and stands motionless, resembling a zombie. At school, all three participate in peculiar, disturbing acts involving bodily fluids. Could this be their way of expressing the trauma from domestic abuse? Or could they be possessed by spirits? Both possibilities are part of the film’s mystery, but when the devil takes control and an apostle (formerly known as an exorcist) portrayed by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor from “Origin” arrives to perform a deliverance, the narrative unfolds. Daniels employs classic techniques like levitation, discoloration of skin, and spider-like limbs that have been a staple in this genre for years. The twist is that Ebony confronts her own inner demons, but these demons lose their intrigue when they become symbolic rather than real.
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2024-08-16 19:47