Deliverance

A harrowing exploration of human nature’s darkest depths and a brutal struggle against the forces of nature, Deliverance is a film that leaves no one indifferent. Four businessmen (Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox) set out on a canoe trip through the Appalachian wilderness. What was supposed to be a weekend adventure away from urban civilization quickly spirals into a brutal struggle for survival when they are attacked by a group of locals. The film transforms from an adventure movie into a racy horror film. Originally considered for direction by Sam Peckinpah, Deliverance bears all the hallmarks of his unflinching style—it’s a story about heroes forced to survive in a world devoid of rules and any morality, ruled by the law of the stronger and primal instincts. A classic of survivalist cinema that even today can terrify.

Katarzyna Kebernik

John Boorman (b. 1933) is a British director known for visionary and symbolic films. He gained global recognition with Deliverance (1972), a harrowing survival story. His dark take on Arthurian legends, Excalibur (1981), became a cult fantasy classic. Twice nominated for the Best Director Oscar, he also made the war drama Hope and Glory (1987). In later years, he explored different genres, directing The General (1998), a biopic of an Irish criminal. Boorman’s films blend poetic visuals with deep reflections on human nature and civilization.