Deliver Us From Evil artistically and successfully commingles two routinely disparate film genres: police crime drama and paranormal horror. Scott Derrickson skillfully and realistically captures the dark ambiance common to both in powerful ways(via the depiction of aversive elemental and environmental settings; an absence of light; an absence of sound; an ominous musical score; and initially disbelieving characters driven to self-discovering belief through their exposure to overwhelming events).
The film’s portrayal of police tactics, dialogue and procedures is spot-on and its descriptive narration on uncommon subject matter such as primary evil, diabolical oppression, and possession is likewise noteworthy. Moreover, the explicit detail provided on the six stages embodying every genuine exorcism could have been given by the Jesuit Exorcist, Malachi Martin, himself.