Review of Deliver Us from Evil (2014) by Amber S — 11 Jul 2014

It's not as strong as I would have expected from director Scott Derrickson who brought us the fantastic and haunting Sinister two years ago, but there are enough scares and creepy moments for hard core horror fans to get some enjoyment. The worst part of this film is its script, which feels really thin and doesn't give enough detail to the characters for the performers to do anything with. Because of this all of the performers seem like cartoon characters rather than the real people that they are intended to depict.

Bana's most defining characteristic is his horrible accent, Joel McHale seems like he's doing a parody of the "tough guy, adrenaline junkie" partner, and Olivia Munn is given absolutely nothing to do with. It's sad because all of these actors could have done more if they were given more from the screenplay and better direction. The only actors who are really effective are Edgar Ramirez as the unconventional Jesuit priest and the terrifying villain.

Of course, the only thing terrifying about the villain is how Derrickson portrays this character. With the make-up used, and the way Derrickson portrays him on screen, he is pretty terrifying at times. Derrickson's eye and understanding of the horror genre is what really saves this film from being as terrible as the script would have it be. Even though the film could have been cut a lot, Derrickson is able to squeeze a feeling of dread out of scenes where they don't deserve it. The way he shoots New York City leaves it feeling familiar and realistic, while still holding an air of being other-worldly and supernatural.

It's definitely not a great horror film, and it won't haunt you once you leave the theater. However, if you're a big fan of the genre, there are some things that might make you jump while you watch it.