Deliver Us from Evil is a 2014 American crime-horror film directed by Scott Derrickson, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and co-written with Paul Harris Boardman, based on a 2001 non-fiction book entitled Beware the Night by Ralph Sarchie and Lisa Collier Cool. Starring Eric Bana, Édgar Ramírez, Sean Harris, Olivia Munn, and Joel McHale, the film was released on July 2, 2014.
The movie is based on the real life events of Ralph Sarchie, a New York cop who meets a Castilian priest when he is pulled into a case which the priest convinces him, against the officer's religious beliefs, is demonically related. Together, they work to solve the case and combat paranormal forces working against them. The two exorcise a demon from a man who is now the sole survivor of a small group of people who became possessed in a cave in Iraq. The film concludes with Ralph and his family and friends gathered for Ralph's newborn child's christening—performed by the same priest who helped Ralph. It is made known that Ralph quits the police force and begins working with the priest against evil
Deliver Us from Evil is a mix of The Exorcist and Sinister. Director Derrickson (Sinister/The Exorcism of Emily Rose) creates a creepy surreal evil feel. What the movie calls the first and or primary evil is of a spiritual nature and secondary evil which is man made such evil grosses, intimidates and burns the viewer. The two lead protagonists Bana (the cop) and Ramirez (the priest) are alpha male adrenaline junkies who are balanced with empathy and compassion. Only such strong/balanced people could survive, against Deliver Us from Evil's assault. Bana's character follows a similar story to the priest from The Exorcist, a man who has lost his faith, but is spiritual. Ramirez character is similar to the older priest from the Exorcist, a man who understands evil. Evil we can not understand, but appears to create destruction for its own sake.
Evil turns our own frailties against us. Wrath creates vengeance which burns those who have wrath. Deliver Us from Evil's story exposes that evil has a plan, which is hidden, and must be confronted or it destroys. The exorcism is similar to Emily Rose but harsher. Only through faith and strength does one survive. Eight out of ten.
