For the first-half, an eerily raw, surrealistic look at a rapids-ride down South that turns tragic for a group of businessmen. Director John Boorman creates scary, ugly tension and appropriate dread, but the thing could've finished at least thirty minutes sooner. There's really nothing to keep the viewer around after the first hour. It's gripping, yes, but it's all atmosphere and exposition(with a long-winded wrap-up and shock climax that is muffed by Boorman). The film has solid performances(even by a swaggering Burt Reynolds, who does manage to create a character, albeit not a complicated one), but I didn't feel much was happening after a certain point and felt the tension eventually flag, giving way to a meandering narrative. ** from ****
Review of Deliverance
