Deliverance (1972)

Director: John Boorman
Starring: Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty

Synopsis:
City slickers go on a river rafting trip before the area is flooded by the construction of a new dam. They soon come to learn how unprepared they are for what lurks in the backwoods.

Impressions:
Memetic mutation has spoiled the big shock event of the movie. I can only wonder what it was like for the original theater audiences. This movie is an interesting exploration of the effects of urbanization on people and how it separates us from our more wild instincts but doesn't quite take the animal out. You may consider this an example of hillbilly horror, but almost half the movie is devoted to dealing with the fallout of the one major traumatic event. You've got a nice diverse power quartet formed by Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox. I particularly like how Burt Reynolds' character is set up as the sort of action man you'd expect him to play and then subverts it. I like to see actors willing to play against type.

Let's make no bones about it. This movie is a bit of a rough watch. You may only see it once in your whole life and be done with it. I wouldn't blame you, but if you want to see what all the references are about, it is a good, well-made, well-written movie. Just don't wander off too far out in them backwoods now, y'hear?

Rating:
Watch It