Classic Review: Deliverance (1972)

The 1970’s were such a prolific time for U.S. cinema that sometimes it’s shocking that so many great fantastic films came out of a decade that essentially started in 1967. It was also in the 1970’s that directors had a level of freedom that would never be seen again in the industry. That freedom gave delivered some all-time classics like The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, Jaws, and Taxi Driver. Another of these all-timers, for sure, is Deliverance.

The story of Deliverance is so simple it makes it hard to convince people of how extraordinary the film is just by reading the synopsis: four friends decide to kayak a river that is going to disappear when a dam is constructed in the area. What was supposed to be a fun trip out on the wild turns out a nightmare when they are confronted by two mountaineers. Don’t let the simplicity of the story be a distraction: this film is masterpiece in storytelling and character development. The film follows four classic male North American types: Lewis (Reynolds), the alpha male who’s all about nature, sports and physical superiority; Ed (Voight), the quiet, stern everyday man; Bobby (Reynolds), the overweight nerd, and Drew (Ronny Cox), the moral compass. When they head to the river, they are paying tribute to nature, but in a way, they are also paying tribute to themselves. There is a superiority complex in all of these men, in a way of them being arrogant enough that they see themselves as wise and strong enough to take what nature can give them until its last drop. Boy, they were wrong.

Deliverance‘s script has a very clear three act structure, one that works wonders for its storytelling. First, we meet these men, and we again see their feelings of superiority not only about nature but most importantly, about the people who live near the river. They act like they are in a zoo watching animals interact with them, completely dehumanizing these people. They are jokes, laughingstocks, lesser people. These scenes feature the first unforgettable moment in a film that was filled with them: the banjo brawl between Drew and the kid. It’s a very powerful moment with no dialogue that shows the control director Boorman had over the narrative. It’s not the only moment.

When they hit the water, the film takes its time, moving very slowly and letting us fell the rhythm of the stream. And here we also have great moments of the cast kayaking in the river for real, something that would probably not be allowed today. These almost idyllic moments are again very simple scenes, these men interacting with nature and with each other. Again, Boorman shows his dominion of the narrative, slowing things down before the horror show begins. On the second day, the group splits; Ed and Bobby take the first kayak ahead while Lewis and Drew stay behind. When they stop to rest, they meet to mountaineers and what comes next is one of the strongest scenes in cinema. As a result, the group is shattered, all their beliefs left in shambles, and everything they want is to leave nature behind and go back to civilization. But the journey still has some surprises ahead, and especially Ed will have to step ahead and take leadership of the group.

Deliverance must have had the same impact on camping that Jaws had about swimming in the ocean. It’s easy to imagine countless people deciding to skip camping the year after it was released. After things turn south, the tension is nerve wrecking. Especially because the cast turn in beautifully layered performances, especially Voight, who portrays the changes happening in Ed with a lot of verisimilitude. It’s impossible not to cheer for him. Technically the film is fantastic, and it has a killer cinematography by the master Vilmos Zsigmond

In the end, Deliverance is a classic thriller and a fantastic experience that still has the same impact it had when it was released over 45 years ago.

still courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

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