Deliverance

⭐ 9.0/10

(Originally written by Joseph)

This is a 50 year old movie about 4 guys who want to go canoeing down a backwoods river and enjoy the beautiful sights, but events along the way turn the trip into a nightmare. Lots of Apocalypse Now vibes here, and I felt similarly enthralled yet disturbed by it.

I'd watched Dueling Banjos on YouTube a few times so I felt good about getting Jess to watch this movie with me (look at this fun music scene!). It was a bad idea. Within 30 minutes there is this long, incredibly uncomfortable scene that kinda makes you sick. But what I loved about this movie is that the scene leads to this great moral dilemma that really challenges you. The characters handle it like real humans which you soon realize is probably more than most movies do because it makes you think in unusual ways. As the movie goes on, the dilemma continues to grow and deepen and you really sympathize with everyone involved (especially young and sexy Mr Sir!).

So yeah, this movie won't be for everyone. It looks amazing, especially for a 70s movie, and I appreciate the effect of this beautiful landscape being the backdrop to this dark story. If being challenged sounds like something you'd like, watch it. If not, well at least watch Dueling Banjos on YouTube cuz that scene will get your boots moving without a doubt.