In the movie realm, Lee Daniels’ 'The Deliverance' presents a complex balance between typical domestic drama and a spooky supernatural narrative. Here, the story revolves around matriarch Ebony, played by Andra Day, juggling her familial responsibilities, her personal issues with alcoholism, and her difficult relationship with her mother, played by Glenn Close. The plot diverts into the supernatural when the movie delves into hauntings and the lessons learned from them. Even though the merging of the two plotlines is a little shaky, the intention is clear - to make them inform one another.
Based on the real-life experiences of an Indiana woman, LaToya Ammons, who claimed her house was occupied by vengeful spirits possessing her children, Daniels charts out the life of a single mother, Ebony. She faces financial hardships, state scrutiny, and the eerie evil forces at the same time. With a gentle start in 2011 Pittsburgh, Ebony and her young son Andre, portrayed by Anthony B. Jenkins, move into their new home. Amidst this, Ebony's mother Alberta is seen spending time at the church with her older grandchildren.
Tensions within the family spark up as Alberta, a recent convert to Christianity, finds faults with Ebony's parenting. The children bear the brunt of their unstable lifestyle, chronic poverty, and their father's absence due to his war deployment.
Written by David Coggeshall and Elijah Bynum, the screenplay takes its time to introduce any supernatural elements. Initially, it portrays a vivid picture of the family's life to draw the audience in. All the while, Ebony is seen grappling with her temper, while Alberta battles cancer.
Daniels offers a deep-dive into the intricate dynamics between Ebony, a biracial daughter, and Alberta, her white mother. Mo’Nique marks her return with Daniels as Cynthia, a Child Protective Services officer investigating Ebony's potential child abuse accusations.
Daniels' portrayal of these instances of abuse is not sensationalized but, rather, shown as a byproduct of generational trauma. Day’s performance as Ebony reflects her brilliant acting range, exposing the softer nuances of Ebony’s abrasive persona.
However, the unveiling of supernatural elements creates cracks in the storyline and in Ebony’s family life. A ghostly presence unravels with creaking doors, peculiar footsteps, a dead crow, and Andre getting entangled in devious deeds instigated by a spirit named Tre. This shift in the narrative from family drama to horror isn't as harmoniously executed as anticipated.
Once the sinister spirit starts overruling the storyline, 'The Deliverance' loses the momentum it had initially built. Instead of a seamless fusion of domestic drama and horror, Daniels falls short by resorting to clichéd effects. His attempt to explicitly draw out the bleak experience of the mother, pushing the audience towards a single perspective, unfortunately, places 'The Deliverance' in a disappointing realm of melodrama.
