Certain moviegoers might roll their eyes at the 'true life' accounts of Sarchie the demonologist but Bana and Derrickson present the man with a very straight face in this big screen adaptation. As with any exorcism movie, suspension of disbelief will be required but Derrickson advances the plot into darkness with a subtle and restrained hand - albeit a hand that might be slightly too subtle and restrained for those expecting a stock horror movie.įortunately, for filmgoers who are open to a true crime story that includes demonic possession, a decayed visual aesthetic and authentic performances combine for a unique viewing experience - with a relatable turn from Bana in the lead role. Even though Deliver Us From Evil contains paranormal elements, Derrickson unravels the film's mysteries with careful patience - ensuring that revelations come through plausible investigation instead of shock value or forced coincidence. Still, the core story and its depiction of supernatural mythology is captivating - especially since Sarchie's journey from a close-minded police sergeant to a penitent believer, capable of standing face-to-face with demons (and other ancient evils), is grounded by adherence to the true crime genre. For that reason, the movie attempts to strike a balance between true crime and paranormal thriller - ultimately delivering an intriguing character story, with gripping moments of grotesque horror, that is short on actual scares. Derrickson assembles a captivating world and fills it with smart variations on exorcism subgenre staples yet, in spite of its premise, Deliver Us From Evil isn't outright scary - meaning that viewers who want to be terrified will likely walk away underwhelmed. Directed by future Doctor Strange helmer Scott Derrickson ( The Exorcism of Emily Rose), the film serves as an 'origin' story (of sorts) for Sarchie's career in demon hunting. Together the pair attempt to unravel the source behind a series of disturbing crimes - before an ancient evil can take hold in the city streets.ĭeliver Us From Evil is based on the investigations of the real life Ralph Sarchie, an NYPD officer turned demonologist, that chronicled his investigations and exorcisms in the book Beware the Night (coauthored by Lisa Collier Cool). A 'recovering' Catholic, Sarchie is reluctant to accept that the supernatural tales of his childhood might be real - until he is befriended by a mysterious Catholic Priest, Mendoza (Édgar Ramírez), who claims to have been hunting demons (and performing exorcisms) for years.

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