Netflix’s latest horror drama flick, The Deliverance, directed by Lee Daniels, leaves a fairly bad aftertaste as far as conventional haunting movies are considered—by trying to ape every irritable genre trope viewers can think of. But the singular aspect that makes the movie worth a watch is the ensemble of prolific female actors and the characterization at work, which elevates an otherwise mediocre, forgettable movie to somewhat tolerable drama. Family turmoil, parental anxiety, generational trauma, racial and social stigmas, addiction—there are a number of issues The Deliverance tries to address, and as a result, there is a lot that the actors can chew on. However, the nonsensical third act reflects the utter weakness of the script, which ultimately derails the movie, which otherwise had a great potential of turning out to be a character-driven drama, keeping the horror part excluded, that is.Â
Spoilers Ahead
Ebony Jackson Played by Andrea Day
The estranged, bitter yet occasionally touching, supportive relationship between mother-daughter duo Alberta and Ebony Jackson is the heart of The Deliverance, and as the lead of the narrative, Andra Day absolutely aces the role of Ebony Jackson—the daughter forever on the verge of either breaking down or losing it, thanks to how miserable life has treated her so far. The physical and mental trauma Ebony had experienced while growing up thanks to her abusive, alcoholic, careless mother had purged her sense of self-worth entirely. As a result, she finds herself trapped in the same self-destructive, violent loop while taking up the role of a mother herself. Even without the otherworldly presence, the Jackson family is a house of horrors in a sense, as generational trauma has tightened its vice grip around every member of the family. As the biracial daughter of a White mother, social stigma and prejudiced worldview have always made their way to expose Ebony’s vulnerability, and with time, she has become more jaded and reactive as a result. Ebony’s marital life is a mess as well, as her negative tendencies have driven off her husband, and she has to raise their three children all on her own. As if broken family dynamics weren’t enough to deal with, child service, Alberta’s medical expenditure, and taking care of three kids pile on top of Ebony’s burdens, robbing her of any possibility to attain peace of mind.
A sense of failure as a mother and fear of ending up just like Alberta have troubled Ebony through and through, and the worst part is there is no one she can turn to to share her mental burden. To alleviate herself from the guilt, hurt, and regret, a foulmouthed Ebony turns to quick, cheap relief through addiction, which makes situations dicier than usual. She is a tough as nails mother who can take on everything for the sake of her children but too often fears that she herself is the threat that endangers them in the first place. With so much on her plate, faith was never going to be her go-to remedy for troubles in life, which is why, finally, when she had to depend on it, Ebony had to learn to love herself, cherish the bond she had with her close ones, heal her mind, and rise against her fear and insecurities, which ultimately allowed her to conquer the demonic presence.
Alberta Played By Glenn Close
Glenn Close shows off her acting chops as the sarcastic, occasionally frivolous Alberta, the mother who is majorly responsible for a number of behavioral and psychological issues Ebony suffers from. The selfish, reckless lifestyle of Alberta during her youth turned Ebony into a mess later in her life, and she wastes no chance to lay it out on her mother whenever things go south. Alberta has found her peace with religion and suggests her daughter to do the same, but she too knows pretty well that the deep wounds in Ebony’s psyche will not be healed by prayers or miracles. Alberta’s remorse for ruining her daughter’s life is genuine, but just as Ebony cannot forgive her despite wishing for it in her heart, Alberta finds it impossible to ask forgiveness from her—due to how much of Ebony has turned out like her. Still, at the end of the day, remnants of the bond between the mother and daughter still help the duo heal, irrespective of their acknowledgment.
Cynthia Henry, Portrayed by Mo’Nique
Despite having fairly limited screen time, Mo’Nique does a great job of playing the sympathetic, frustrated DCS officer Cynthia Henry, whose personal tragedy of losing her own child motivates her to continually try to direct Ebony in the right trajectory of life. The little bit of Cynthia’s life we learn about comes through her own admissions, but still, the impact of her past experiences conveyed through the acting allows the viewers to connect with the character and get behind her motivations as well.
Bernice James Played By Aunjanuye Ellis-Taylor
The evangelical pastor/self-proclaimed apostle Reverend Bernice James, played by Aunjanuye Ellis-Taylor, has a rather basic role of spiritual healer whose presence in exorcism movies is a given. Despite the fact, the strength of her character, reserved demeanor, expressed solely through the actor’s conversation and screen presence go a long way toward making the character stand out amidst numerous similar roles in other movies. Also, having a female exorcist is a rare thing in movies like these for unknown reasons, and The Deliverance breaks the weird convention through Bernice’s presence.
The Jackson Siblings
Anthony B. Jenkins plays the role of the youngest member of the Jackson family, Andre—the main victim of the possession—and does a decent job of showcasing the corruption of innocence—a stereotypical horror movie trope at this point. Older siblings Shante, played by Demi Singleton, and Nate, played by Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things, didn’t have substantial roles to begin with, except representing the trauma in the younger generation in a dysfunctional household and later becoming victims of demonic possession.Â
