Syvä joki

Pure Apocalypse or how a borderline situation in the wilderness does not make us noble and heroic beings, but rather frightened and sly creatures without morality. Originally a romantic pose, it degenerates into final images of total destruction - scenes from the vanishing city are a chilling commentary on the moral decline of the heroes. A film that is extremely physical and intellectually urgent in every respect - it breaks the traditional dichotomy of good and evil and makes the struggle for survival an ethical problem. It's great how Boorman uses the "prejudiced" resistance of the viewer to the backward mountaineers and thus actually puts him in the role of an accomplice, and how in the character of Burt Reynolds he challenges the archetype of a self-confident boy hero. It has aged only in a few technical respects, and it is otherwise a brilliant example of filmmaking with content and a harrowing atmosphere (the banjo duel is a typical sequence for textbooks). (18.03.2012)

Oh yeah, it’s great to be in redneck territory. They make you feel good and welcome, they show you some picturesque nooks and crannies, play something catchy on the banjo and pour you some moonshine to wet your whistle on. But aren’t they a bit strange? Ooh, don’t come here with your prejudices... But John Boorman seems to have a different opinion. Good for him, because this result of his xenophobic paranoia is the best “river raft ride" movie ever to be seen. Despite all that’s going for this movie, the climax occurs somewhere around the seventh minute. Which doesn’t mean at all that the hell we see in the second half isn’t darn powerful. It is and all the more so because it is so chillingly believable. (18.05.2008)

A well-written (especially the dialogues about crime and its consequences), clearly and imaginatively directed (the voyeuristic camera, the oppressive atmosphere of a "survival thriller"), and well-acted adventure for men. It lacks a faster pace in spots but overall is a strongly impressive affair, in which the absence of music (except for the guitar-banjo part) and one unbelievable rape are also noteworthy. An excellent film, after which a trip to the forest will never be the same again. (18.10.2006)

Boorman masterfully ratchets up the tension and fear. Already during the dueling banjos at the beginning I had a strange feeling, without any rational justification, that something was wrong. That feeling grew over time and then suddenly it came, like a punch in the face. The rape scene is impressive and vile, and I've rarely wished death on someone like I did on those two loathsome hillbillies. It's the premature climax of the film, the rest doesn't have that much power. (11.05.2003)

Don’t expect a thrilling pace or even shocking violence, Deliverance is not as disturbing as they say. However, it can captivate both through its economical direction and the survival adventure, or fight for survival, which is presented in the most credible and rawest way, without excessive detours. I appreciate some of Boorman's tricks. For example, that key rape scene is accurately depicted, when the members of the trip encounter two wanderers, their gestures and movements beautifully indicate what is to come, especially when one of the locals touches the face and chest of one of the protagonists. The director delivers similar tension several times, and it is truly worth it. The acting is relatively even and overall quite impressive. However, essentially, it is a very simple and rather ordinary matter. (03.03.2007)