Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) is a cop whose internal demons have driven him to work all day and all night. Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez) is a Spanish priest who used to be a junkie. The two team up to solve several mysterious possessions in New York City. Along with its traditionally troubled protagonists, "Deliver Us from Evil" is filled with demons screeching in tongues, pseudo-religious exorcism mysticism, detailed gore, hyper-violence and things popping out from under beds.
In other words, "Deliver Us from Evil" is your average exorcism thriller, albeit one with a few pleasant surprises.
When it comes to atmosphere, "Deliver" delivers. Writer / director Scott Derrickson abuses rain, fog and darkness to great effect. The best scenes are the ones where you can practically smell the must, the dirt, the mold. Forget monsters in the dark; think about the upper respiratory problems Ralph Sarchie probably developed hunting his demons. That stuff'll kill you.
While Bana is the star of the movie, Ramirez is by far the highlight. Father Mendoza, a plainclothes man of the cloth, fits nicely into the role of journeyman priest, a religious authority who doesn't follow traditional ritual except when it suits him. It's a standard archetype, reducing a centuries-old religion into what amounts to a magically wise superhero. "Deliver Us From Evil" exploits bits and pieces from Catholicism particularly, and Ramirez sells it with sultry stares and subtle joviality.
I scare easily. Heck, I wrote a column about it. But "Deliver Us from Evil" didn't bother me very much. Most of the shocking moments involve bloody faces appearing for a split second. While the atmosphere is a highlight, it's not one that fills you with dread so much as vague discomfort. It's senses-stimulating, but only the first five; there won't be any hairs standing up on the back of your neck. If you're a squeamish moviegoer, "Deliver Us from Evil" is a nice way to celebrate the horror holiday without keeping yourself up at night.