Deliverance (1972)

Synopsis

Longtime friends Lewis (Burt Reynolds), Ed (Jon Voight), Bobby (Ned Beatty), and Drew (Ronny Cox) embark on a canoe trip. Being an outdoorsman, Lewis leads the group, and Ed lacks his courage, while the other guys are newcomers. Along the way, the guys mingle with some locals, with Drew engaging in a banjo duel with a young kid. Eventually, the guys reach their canoes and travel in pairs, but they end up getting separated. Ed and Bobby get ambushed by some mountain men, who tie Ed to a tree and rape Bobby at gunpoint. Thankfully, Lewis sneakily kills the rapist while Drew grabs the shotgun from the lone mountain man before he flees. Given the situation, the guys decide to bury the body and continue like nothing happened, only for things to worsen. With one injured and another lost, the remaining survivors must fight to stay alive.

Review

Deliverance is considered a landmark in American cinema, and it deserves that status for its raw visceral energy. The way the movie is filmed, along with the absence of a soundtrack, contributes to its sense of realism. Vilmos Zsigmond, who won an Oscar for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, shows why he was a legendary cinematographer. He perfectly captures the feeling of isolation that the guys feel as they canoe their way along the river. Adding to this is the absence of a traditional soundtrack, although the Dueling Banjos scene remains memorable. Like many thrillers from the 1970s, the film moves at a slow pace, which might put modern audiences off. However, the pacing adds to the tension that builds throughout as the adventure from hell worsens for our heroes. You could probably shave a few minutes off, but the film only runs at slightly less than two hours.

Though it’s weird seeing him without a mustache, Burt Reynolds shows why he became such a big star. He exudes charisma and gives off a strong presence that makes him stand out from the other cast members. Jon Voight, who earned an Oscar nomination years earlier for Midnight Cowboy, is also excellent. You see him transform from a meek middle-class worker to a hardened survivor as the film progresses. Given that this was the debut of both Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox, they certainly went through a lot. It’s interesting to see Cox, best known for his role in RoboCop, play a free-spirited guitar player. Beatty does a good job as a trauma-ridden rape victim who remains quiet and reserved throughout the film. While many of the mountain men blend in with each other, Billy Redden is memorable as Cox’s banjo-playing rival.

Considering the movie’s legacy, audiences who are familiar with it but haven’t seen it might find the film tame. While Beatty’s rape scene is disturbing, it lacks the visceral quality of The Last House on the Left. It doesn’t help that Craven’s film spent time with its villains, whereas the mountain men here appear briefly. That said, I’d probably rank Boorman’s film higher, as it has a more consistent tone and doesn’t have comedic relief. Also, kudos to the actors for doing many of their stunts, which adds a sense of danger. That aspect also makes the story feel more relatable since almost everyone has ventured somewhere they shouldn’t have. Even if the numerous parodies and references have diminished the film’s impact, it remains a cultural milestone for a reason. Overall, Deliverance is a solid thriller, featuring some great performances and a subtle sense of dread that pervades throughout.

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