Movie review: Deliver Us From Evil

Eric Bana plays a NYPD cop turned demonologist.

The battle between good and evil in this horror film is inspired by true events but still manages to ring hollow.

Deliver Us From Evil is based on details from the paranormal investigations of real-life NYPD cop Ralph Sarchie, who wrote about them his book Beware the Night, all pulled together into a story about three Marines possessed by a "primary evil" that comes directly from the devil.

The Marines had been on duty together in Iraq and on their return to New York one commits suicide, another starts clawing at the floor and beating his wife, and the third convinces a woman to throw her 2-year-old child into the Bronx Zoo's lion enclosure.

Sarchie (Bana) and his partner Sergeant Butler (McHale) investigate these disturbing and inexplicable crimes. As well as the harrowing case, the film also delves into Sarchie's personal life and his transition from lapsed Catholic to demonologist, encouraged by Father Mendoza (Ramirez) who is the first to recognise Sarchie's spiritual gift to sense what others can't.

The ways and means by which this film terrifies the audience are tried and tested. There are a lot of scenes of Sarchie walking down dark hallways and scrounging around basements, which is convenient for director Scott Derrickson as apparently evil interferes with electricity.

Superb sound effects and a musical score add to the intensity - Derrickson has creepy down pat.

What's missing is a sense of originality and authenticity. Eric Bana does a solid job as calm, steely Sarchie, channelling Liam Neeson in Taken as he talks in a deep, breathy voice.

E! Channel's Joel McHale is an unusual choice for Sarchie's partner, but horror films often feature a sacrificial funny guy.

Some amount of creative licence is expected when adapting a real life story, but Deliver Us From Evil is too glossy and loud, and too similar to other entertaining "fright fests". If Derrickson had pulled back a little he may have delivered a more convincing, original and unnerving film.

Cast:

Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez and Olivia Munn

Director:

Scott Derrickson

Running Time:

111 mins

Rating:

R16 (Violence, offensive language and content that may disturb).

Verdict:

A good-looking horror, but too generic and plodding.

- TimeOut