Based on the non-fiction book Beware the Night by Ralph Sarchie and Lisa Collier Cool, Scott Derrickson directs Deliver Us from Evil, a film about a New York police officer who joins forces with a priest to combat evil spirits terrorising the city.
Set in New York is the story of police officer Ralph Sarchie who finds himself investigating a series of paranormal crimes. From the opening mission in Iraq, coming together with a trouble priest to the obligatory exorcism, this film treads the usual horror clichés in a tedious and drawn out way.
Eric Bana plays cop Ralph Sarchie, who finds himself struggling with his own demons as well as real ones. Bana’s performance is measured but somewhat impenetrable, as is Edgar Ramirez as the unorthodox priest whose singular tone also fails to engage. The supporting cast of Olivia Munn and Chris Coy are nondescript and don’t last long in the memory.
Like the performances the film also suffers from being one tone, this is exacerbated by the fact the film itself is pulling in two different directions. Half the film with its Iraq prologue, slow build up and theological bar conversations clearly wants to steps in footsteps The Exorcist, with the other half setting out to be a thriller. The problem isn’t that the film fails to bring these elements together; it’s that these elements don’t even work in their own right.
The main problem however is that the film is plainly dull. The thriller element is un-engaging and the possession element is confused and lacks atmosphere. That this film it is supposedly based on actual events on top of everything else is both ridiculous and offensive.
Overlong and over dull this film only delivers disappointment.
‘Deliver Us from Evil’ opens in cinemas around the UK from August 22nd.
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