Deliverance (1972)

Deliverance (1972) — Adventure / Drama / Thriller Four Atlanta businessmen — Lewis, Ed, Bobby and Drew — set out on a last canoe trip down the untamed Cahulawassee River before a dam floods the valley. What begins as an escape into pristine wilderness and a test of outdoor skill quickly descends into a brutal fight for survival when violent rapids, isolated terrain and hostile locals turn their weekend adventure into a nightmare. Stripped of the comforts and rules of city life, the men are pushed to physical and moral extremes as they struggle to get out of the valley alive. Seeing Deliverance is an intense, immersive experience: you’ll feel the claustrophobic isolation of the backcountry, the rush and danger of whitewater canoeing, and rising dread as ordinary men meet escalating violence and make agonizing choices. The film combines stark, beautiful river cinematography and evocative sound (including the famous banjo duel) with raw performances and a slow-building, relentless suspense. It’s as much a survival thriller as a probing study of masculinity, civilization versus nature, and the costs of pride — a powerful, often unsettling film that lingers long after the credits.

Actors: Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty

Director: John Boorman

Runtime: 109 min

Genres: Adventure, Drama, Thriller

7.3 /10 80 /100 7.7 /10 7.7 /10